I want to move to USVI

I takes a bit to get established,sounds like you are on the right path. The degree is absolutley a plus. I was actually amazed at how many job openings require a higher education. With your diverse expirence you'll make it fine!
p.s. I'm feelin' ya on the snow. I am tired of being frozen,stinging cold too!

You wil probably have to take the plunge and move here, find temp housing and any kind of job. Then begin the search for the job and housing you want. I'm assuming you've been here before and are traveling alone? If that is the case, $10,000 is enough to get you here and settled.

Quoting Nike, "Just do it!"

You have enough experience in enough areas that you will not have a hard time finding employment. From what I understand, there is a long list of people waiting to become part of the fire department. But, it never hurts to add your name to the list of applicants. With $10k and the desire to make your dream come true, you can make it happen!

MJ

Hey!! you stole my tag line! Like Nike-Just do it! (copyright nike shoes co.)

It will be just me. How is the temporary housing situation down there these days? Can I get a room rather than a apt or condo? I really just want to get some roots established before getting anything permanant. Can you find a place in a day? If I were to just show up some day could I find a place to stay or should I line something up? My fear is committing without seeing a place...

Shawn

Assuming you have visited here before with moving in mind, definitely sounds like you are on the right path. If I were in your shoes, I'd plan to line up a hotel room for the first week and use that as home base for my search -- but that's just me; your desire for security may vary. Very smart not to commit to anything sight-unseen. Come, get a sense for the neighborhoods that you like and that you feel safe in, and then decide where to live.

Don't rent anything sight unseen unless it's a hotel or guest house.

When you are ready I have a short term rental for $90/night during high season - look at www.stthomasvirginisland.com. Other short term places are Villa Fairview, Island View Guest House.

Donna Wheeler
Realtor

Could I get some opinions as to which neighborhoods are the ones to look into? I don't know where I'll be working obviously, but are there neighborhoods that are known as nice places to live? Not wealthy gated communities that I cant afford, but places where there are restaurants, shops, bars, beaches etc. Make sense?? Good social living...

You've not been here, have you?? Unless you have the $10,000 in hand, I strongly suggest you come for a visit first.

It's been said so many times before, but this time of year, as cold weather descends on much of the mainland and many more people begin dreaming of island life, it bears repeating....

One of the reasons the USVI have such a transient population of statesiders is people move here with the fantasy of island life but no experience of the reality. No amount of reading about island life can really give you the picture of what it's like to live here -- how comfortable you'll be, how easy it will be for you to find friends, and a million other little details. Time spent vacationing is NOT the same thing. Just buying a week's worth of groceries down here can be an eye-opening experience.

If you are serious about making the move, better to take $2K of that savings and do a pre-move visit than have to save another few thousand so you can move somewhere else if you don't like it as much as you expected -- it's harder to save $ when you're living down here.

YMMV. It might work out fantastic for you to "just do it"; it happens. But often it turns out the other way.

fdr, you are SO right about having to actually live here to know what to expect.

Before moving, I thought I was well versed STT reality. I'd been coming down for 20+ years but only staying 1-2 weeks at a time.

I was kidding myself when I thought I was mimicking "ordinary" activities on some of my vacations. Grocery store, post office, etc.

Perhaps I was better prepared than most, but it's been 2+ years and I'm STILL adjusting.

My type A personality markedly softened when I visited STT prior to my move. I thought I'd become more mellow living here.

Of course, that was artificial. My personality did not really change and there are still times when the insanities of island life drive me nuts.

Case in point, renewing my car registration yesterday. Arggggggh!