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leaving stories?

(@speee1dy)
Posts: 8871
Illustrious Member
Topic starter
 

i am always curious as to why people move here and why they leave.

I think it would be interesting to hear the stories of those who do leave , why did they come here, why did they leave. especially those who were only here for a short time.

went to the dentist yesterday and found out the dental hygienist had left back in december. i dont even think she was here a full year

 
Posted : April 21, 2015 10:52 am
(@the-oldtart)
Posts: 6523
Illustrious Member
 

It's always been a revolving door and very few who move here stay forever and for a cornucopia of reasons. I've known people who've left after one weekend and others who've left after decades and all in between. Jobs, health, children, family - the reasons are wide and varied.

 
Posted : April 21, 2015 11:10 am
(@SausageInTheCan)
Posts: 396
Reputable Member
 

1. Employers

 
Posted : April 21, 2015 11:50 am
(@RUMDRNKR)
Posts: 16
Active Member
 

2. Employees

 
Posted : April 21, 2015 2:11 pm
(@speee1dy)
Posts: 8871
Illustrious Member
Topic starter
 

thats a given ot

what i would really be most interested is in actually hearing from those who left-their story about why they came and what made them want to leave , as was stated in the op

 
Posted : April 21, 2015 2:14 pm
(@the-oldtart)
Posts: 6523
Illustrious Member
 

thats a given ot

what i would really be most interested is in actually hearing from those who left-their story about why they came and what made them want to leave , as was stated in the op

The majority who leave doesn't continue to post here as they go about their lives in their new homes. I seem to recall that you're planning on leaving so you have your own particular reasons just as do others.

There are several people still "members" of the forum who've come and gone and some of them may be willing to explain at more length the reason for their leaving if you contacted them via PM. I have a few score and ten personal friends with whom I stay in touch and each and every one has left for one or more of the reasons I quickly listed. A few of them may be willing to share their stories with you but I'm not sure you'll learn anything much by hearing from them directly. Many of them are on FB so I can always PM you some names and you can contact them that way.

 
Posted : April 21, 2015 2:38 pm
(@alana33)
Posts: 12365
Illustrious Member
 

Not gone yet but wish to move to FL next year for a year to see if
it suits me. If so, I'll make it permanent. That's the plan at any rate.

My reasons are a disenchantment with the VI government, the constant waste and BS that goes on here with our inept leadership that gets me absolutely crazy, the continuing increasing costs of living, the lack of affordable and available individual health insurance, proximity to family that has already moved stateside and a need for a change. That's the short list.

I'll keep my home here, rent the main house and use the apt. as a home base to come and go as needed until I figure if I can adapt to stateside living and if I enjoy it. If I do, then I will sell my house and make the move permanent. If I don't, my tenants will have to find elsewhere to live when their lease is up.

I'll miss my gorgeous views and my wild parakeets in the trees but many friends and family have already moved on. So, I'll be off to check things out. I may be back. I may not be back. ??????*-):@)

Not gone yet.....next April is when I hope to head off island.
Lot's to do between now and then.
Beginning to downsize all my belongings, for starters, is a challenge in itself!:-o

 
Posted : April 21, 2015 2:42 pm
(@rosesisland)
Posts: 703
Honorable Member
 

I came in '95 after my daughter was grown and I had been widowed for 5 years. I left when my only child moved to Florida and she and her husband were expecting my first grandchild. Children are a big, big pull for many, especially grands! While in Florida I got very sick and could not work and my father got sick as well and my mother needed me nearer to her. Long story short. While here, I met and subsequently married my husband and he and I moved to Arkansas to basically take care of elderly family.
We always knew we'd come back to St. Croix, but, didn't realize how long a journey taking care of my mother with Alzheimer's and my daddy had Dementia.
Took us some time cause we took great care of my Mom and she passed away 5 years ago this month at 93. Daddy succumbed in 2000.
We moved back 3.5 years ago and not much has changed in those years with the exception of Hess closing. Wouldn't live anywhere else on planet Earth and I've traveled the world. This is home to me!

 
Posted : April 21, 2015 3:37 pm
(@speee1dy)
Posts: 8871
Illustrious Member
Topic starter
 

thank you alana and rosiesland. i find it interesting to know the full story and not just the pull here.

not knowing is kind of like not reading the last couple of chapters in a book and not knowing how it ends

 
Posted : April 21, 2015 5:59 pm
(@alana33)
Posts: 12365
Illustrious Member
 

I'll have a lot to adjust to as I've lived here almost all my life.
I always thought I'd live here forever but things change as one gets older and priorities shift.

 
Posted : April 21, 2015 6:04 pm
(@gators_mom)
Posts: 1300
Noble Member
 

Ah yes, the Virgin Islands, land of broken dreams and broken toys (LOTS of broken toys).

We were blown away by Hurricane Marilyn and its aftermath.

 
Posted : April 21, 2015 6:34 pm
(@alana33)
Posts: 12365
Illustrious Member
 

Gotta ask. Is your son really a gator?:D
Where did you relocate to?

 
Posted : April 21, 2015 7:17 pm
 NJoy
(@NJoy)
Posts: 46
Eminent Member
 

"If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere. It's up to you....." Wait that's New York's theme song!

I agree with the rest. People come and go for many varied personal reasons and personal preferences.

I would have loved to hear from you speee1dy what was your personal story for moving to USVI, and when you learned the "dental hygienist" had moved on, did you ask the Dentist why they left their job?

Did others in the office know why they left? Did you inquire? Maybe they did not make enough meaningful connections on the Island to warrant a stay. Clearly, it was not a lack of employment, so maybe it was something else no one else could have helped with.

Keep us posted and enjoy the rest of the week ahead!

 
Posted : April 21, 2015 10:04 pm
(@east-ender)
Posts: 5404
Illustrious Member
 

I know one guy who came here on vacation with one suitcase and stayed for 25 years. I also know one lady who came here on a Friday (with a job lined up) and left before work started on Monday. Those are probably the outliers. I don't think that people leaving post here, for the most part. But watch the posts of people who are ready to leave. They become very negative as if to convince themselves they are making the right decision- and they are.

It is said again and again. Living here is not for everyone. And sometimes not forever.

 
Posted : April 21, 2015 10:49 pm
(@Spartygrad95)
Posts: 1885
Noble Member
 

My leaving story will most likely be about schooling for our boy. We have 4 years to think about it. I didn't necessarily come here for forever but even with it's frustrations and quirks I do not see myself leaving any time soon.

 
Posted : April 21, 2015 10:54 pm
CruzanIron
(@cruzaniron)
Posts: 2534
Famed Member
 

I had a young couple move here. Tenants of mine. Both were bartenders/wait staff. Got mugged and beat up pretty badly after 3 weeks. Never made the papers. They left a week later and left most of their stuff behind.

 
Posted : April 22, 2015 12:17 am
Exit Zero
(@exit-zero)
Posts: 2460
Famed Member
 

I came here sight unseen with a suitcase and a 1 way ticket, $500 and am still here 40 years later. No plans to leave.

 
Posted : April 22, 2015 2:52 am
 NJoy
(@NJoy)
Posts: 46
Eminent Member
 

I came here sight unseen with a suitcase and a 1 way ticket, $500 and am still here 40 years later. No plans to leave.

Good for you! And, did you make some amazing friends that made all the difference which contributed to your staying on the island?

 
Posted : April 22, 2015 3:37 am
(@stjohnjulie)
Posts: 1065
Noble Member
 

Exit Zero, I think I took a play from your book. But I came with one duffle bag, a round trip ticket, and $300 in cash, 16 years ago. I wouldn't recommend doing the same, but it can work. I was grossly unprepared for what island life was like.

I just returned from an unexpected nearly 5 month stay in the states and I can say there is very little I miss about stateside living. I am so glad to be home that it almost makes me want to cry.

 
Posted : April 22, 2015 8:21 am
(@nohstx)
Posts: 138
Estimable Member
 

For me I had $300, one backpack with clothes, two trunks with camping gear and tools, and one dog when I moved to STX with a one way ticket over 12 years ago. I did not have much money, but sure had a lot of fun! And still do.
Glad to know I'm not the only one who survived without a PMV and $10k minimum, although there is definitely a difference between being young and single vs. older, married with kids. These days $300 would be gone in a heartbeat.

Even so, I'm still happily here, with no plans to leave either.

 
Posted : April 22, 2015 9:14 am
Exit Zero
(@exit-zero)
Posts: 2460
Famed Member
 

I wasn't recommending coming here like Julie, Nohstx and I all did and times are certainly different too - I just didn't have a 'leaving story' plan to tell.
The transiency over my time here has been noticeable without any one overwhelming reason other than - "things Change" - a hundred reasons why people move on to other places and a fair number of them move to even more interesting places having enjoyed the time here, and because I was in the boating world so much here, sailing away was just an integral part of the journey.
I will note that the children who see their friends leave every year seem to feel it each school year but now as adults those kids have friends scattered all over the world and tend to see travel as a perfect adventure for the rest of their lives.

I still have friends who have lived here as long as I have but retirement, health, grandchildren, new interests and sadly "natural causes" diminishes that network over decades.

 
Posted : April 22, 2015 11:53 am
(@speee1dy)
Posts: 8871
Illustrious Member
Topic starter
 

i have posted my arriving story before-not a big deal.

no i did not ask the others in the office why she left-not my place. besides it would be hearsay and not first hand.

i just think it would be nice if the leavers would post their leaving stories also.

we all know why people leave, but it is not the same as hearing first hand accounts as to why

 
Posted : April 22, 2015 1:46 pm
(@the-oldtart)
Posts: 6523
Illustrious Member
 

i just think it would be nice if the leavers would post their leaving stories also.

If you don't get the satisfaction you're looking for now, look on the bright side - when you write your leaving story you may just set a whole new trend and start filling a gap for others who in the future may need to know first-hand details rather than "hearsay".

 
Posted : April 22, 2015 2:38 pm
Exit Zero
(@exit-zero)
Posts: 2460
Famed Member
 

Hopefully my leaving story will be:
"EZ left STT today to be buried at sea" - " sometime last week de man he jus' wake up dead"

 
Posted : April 22, 2015 3:23 pm
(@stxonmymind)
Posts: 27
Eminent Member
 

Wow thanks for sharing! Awesome to hear the love and life stories!

 
Posted : April 22, 2015 3:54 pm
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