More shady/sketchy folks in the islands?

Don't know what you mean by shady. We do have homeless and many of them have mental problems, but lots of shady folks -- not to me.

Lot of alcoholics...

We have lots of people who are reliable disappointments. Bad drivers too.

It seems there are more to me. But this is coming from someone who lived in a small town in northern michigan before moving down here. I don't necessarily think there are more shady people here then there are in any city though. The other day my husband and I were walking downtown on STT and were followed for a couple blocks by a man begging us for $1. I have never had that happen to me and it was a bit disturbing. It's one thing to ask me for a dollar but when I say no I don't expect to be followed and bothered for a couple blocks after that. I don't carry a purse with me anymore just because of situations like that. So yes there's definitely more shady folks here then where I am from.

My T-shirt idea (borrowed from another island).

ST THOMAS: A sunny place for shady people.

LOTS of nondrinkers here. I knew more drunks in my home town than I do here. The shadiest people seem to be in the government & they're very blatent about it. Let's hope that will change with the current administration.

Trade,

I agree with you and considering that you are a 25 year resident who actually LIVES here, I think your statement holds a lot of weight.

IMHO here on STT (which is the only island I feel qualified to speak of) there is at the margins of society a transient population who seem a little well......marginal. That said, these people seem to come and go fairly quickly.

Jane, I was wondering if you have any factual data to back your claim up regarding the number of alcoholics in the Territory? Also, are you referring to your former home, STX -- or all of the islands?

I ask because your statement is very much at odds with what I have observed with respect to the "core" population, (i.e., those born here and Continentals who are not part of the transient, marginal population). Within this population, I do not see alcoholism as a huge problem, but of course, this is just my personal observation.

What I see on STX is a lot of new arrivials, both young and old, who get here and cannot handle the beach and bar scene. Folks who already have a drinking problem have absolutely no "problem" affording and purchasing alcohol. And many who have never had any problem in the states get here and begin to hang out at the neighborhood bars (I'm on the north shore of STX and see it a lot near Cane Bay.). They drink with their new friends. Many have jobs in the bar and restaurant business and on STX drinking is a big part of that business. And many who come here are running away from something in the states and are candidates for alcohol abuse.

As far as long term residents, both bahn here and continentials, I don't think the statistics would show much difference between here and the states.

My personal testimony? When I first arrived I drank way more than I ever did in the states. In KY if I had a drink a month, except for vacations, I was really partying. When we got here at first we ate out a lot and I drank 3-4 times a week, albeit only one or two drinks in an evening. EVERYTHING TASTED SOOO GOOD

Now I'm back to iced tea most of the time with a couple of mixed drinks on Friday night.

I don't know about stt but stopping for work in the morning to buy gas their are always people buying a Heineken or two for breakfast and it seems like that tradition just keeps on going. If you don't see alcoholism in the island I think you have your head in the sand. It is a problem. But if you don't have kids it is your own personal problem and you're hurting no one but yourself. Just working downtown I could list a ton of functional alcoholics. They may drink til they pass out when they go out but they show up for work in the morning. Reminds me of a funny story of someone I worked with (single older well off gentleman) he had lost quite a bit of weight and clients that hadn't seen him in a while kept congratulating him. His secret? He would eat what he wanted for breakfast and lunch and then drink his dinner.

Personally I am always the non drinker in a big group. If drinking isn't a problem here it is certainly one of the main ways people pass time here socially.

Thank you Linda J for your intelligent commentary.

I agree with you that the actual facts would probably show that alcoholism is not any more prevalent here than it is in the states. JMHO.

Comments on alcoholism notwithstanding, it seems that there is a tendency for people to come here and "be" whatever they want to "be" and "have been" whatever they chose to say they "have been", regardless of what reality is, or was. Ihave met anumber of folks that can tell you all kinds of stories of their past, stories that clearly embellish the the truth, yet they stick with them. Part of what makes life here "colorful", I guess.

I think colorful rather than sketchy is a great way to look at this. I met a lot of "highly functioning" drinkers in the business community on St X. I also met quite a few "barely functioning" drinkers in the more marginal fringes.
A lot of the social life does revolve around bars. I am sure that StX is not unique in that respect...I think Linda J. hit the money with her explanation. The Hispanic population (on StX) are prone to have problems with alcoholism - with few resources for treatment and nowhere to go to get away from the lifestyle that encourages them to revert to alcohol use.
Perhaps the perception of a larger criminal/colorful? element is due to the fact that on island, people tend to get out of their homes due to the heat and humidity and are visible and social, whilst Stateside, a lot of stuff goes on huddled around the home furnace in privacy or in closed door dives.Just a thought.

To be more specific, by "shady" I meant people who are somewhat criminal and not exactly honest. It seems that some of the more colorful folks that I have met in the VIs and BVI looked to be trying to evade punishment for their bad deeds in the mainland US...child support, spousal support, court judgements, IRS...

Jennifer,

Using that definition of "shady" I totally disagree that we have more than our share of such folks.

Bnk1227,

LOL, because I think your comments sum things up perfectly. Definitely, if you are "out and about" (at restaurants, etc.) you will hear some colorful stories from some colorful people. I love the art of storytelling and in the states I used to pay to attend storytelling events. Here you get to attend storytelling events for free -- and some of them are very entertaining and quite skillfully executed!!!!

I am not sure what this is all about, but by and large, I find most of these people to be pretty harmless.

Jennifer, I am going to speculate that people trying to evade US laws don't manage to do so for very long in this age of information.

Thus far, I have not personally met any such shady characters, but again, there is a transient margin around here that one tends to have only a very brief and passing contact with, if at all.

Shady people that are avoiding minor crimes (in the eyes of the law) such as avoiding child support, traffic warrants, irs, etc are not going to be shipped back to the us. It simply costs the federal/state govt too much money. However if they get on a plane to go back to the states and customs is doing their job there will be law enforcement waiting for them stateside.

I think the combination of a transient population, service industry and $2 rum does make for a very interesting community of residents.

Onika,

LOL!!! Yes, I think that just about says it all :)!

I myself have about two drinks per year, but to the complete shock and surprise of my husband, I recently bought a WHOLE BOTTLE of Godiva Chocolate Liqueur. This might actually be the only alcohol purchase I have ever made during our entire married life -- except for beer and wine for him and guests.

I just couldn't resist. I saw a magazine ad for it and it was soooo cheap to buy here -- it is YUMMY too!!!!

Mell,

Bailey's Irish Creme is my gulity pleasure!! lol

Oh God Linda, don't get me started.

I bet Bailey's would be REALLY GOOD mixed with Godiva Chocolate Liqueur. AH Riise here I come (again).

😀

I can up you Mell---

Try a martini made out of both Bailey's AND Godiva (you can add Kahlua for good measure)!

Editted to add:

I personally love a drink or two, so don't want to appear to be criticizing my fellow imbibers. 🙂

Oh No!!!!! Why did you have to go and say something like that when I have already confessed that I am very susceptible to the power of suggestion.

Onika and Linda J you are both bad -- really, really bad!!!!

BTW all kidding aside, I have nothing against alcohol consumption myself. The only reason I don't do it very often is because it upsets my stomach. It is my understanding that a drink or two per day actually contributes to good health and longevity.

Hmmmmm. Two drinks a year and now starting on Godiva Chocolate liqueur.

i might suggest you watch the movie Days of Wine and Roses. She started with Brandy Alexanders.

/just saying

"If you don't see alcoholism in the island I think you have your head in the sand"

Betty, nobody said there wasn't any alcoholism in the VI or any other island. And nobody has his/her head in the sand. You will get more here to have those tendencies & think this is paradise because the booze is cheap. If anyone has that tendency they're going to be alcoholics no matter where they are and sorry, but there IS help for drinking in the islands. Usually, like anywhere else if you're an alcoholic you'll die, go mad or wind up in jail OR you'll stop. You can do the first 2 or 3 very quickly if that's your problem. It's harder to do the latter but perfectly possible. I know many who thankfully, did. 🙂