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Moving to STX June 2015

(@Flash_Gordo)
Posts: 29
Eminent Member
Topic starter
 

Hello everyone,

I am a newbie here on the message forum. I have been reading a lot of information on the forum for many months but just recently got my account activated. It took a little while for activation, but no big deal.

My wife and I will be moving to STX in June 2015. We would move earlier but I have to wait for one more year to retire from the Army.

We have travel to various places in the Caribbean over the years. I actually went to high school in Cuba, Guantanamo Bay to be precise. My father was in the Navy and we were stationed there for 5 years. We love it in the Caribbean! Hence the want to move to STX! We visited STT in April 2012 and loved it! So we are pretty excited to get this next 12 months done and over with to move!

I really like this message board, it has a lot of great information covering various topics which I, for one, really appreciate. This board seems like a no non-sense source of information, both good and bad info. I know some people perspectives or thoughts may be slightly skewed based on their own personal experiences, but never the less, it is still quite interesting to read and consider.

Anyway, just wanted to say hello to everyone. And I will happily consider any advice anyone is willing to offer regarding moving/living in STX. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Take care.

Gordon

 
Posted : June 6, 2014 1:57 am
(@OptimusPrime)
Posts: 29
Eminent Member
 

Flash,
Welcome to the forum, and an early welcome to the island.

My wife and i just moved here in May. Here are a couple hurdles we had to overcome, and I hope our experience helps smooth your transaction.
First, get rid of about half the things you are planning on bringing/shipping here. You just don't need a lot of stuff and houses here seem to run about 20% smaller than on the mainland.

Second, book everything with Berry at Flemings transport and don't fall for an other companies lower prices, they tend to creep up after you book. Also if you get a cargo container, INSPECT EVERY INCH before you start loading, ours wound up with a sizeable leak that ruined our mattresses and damaged some wood furniture.

Third, don't bother looking for road signs, they don't exist or are poorly placed. Get directions from a local, which usually involves turns based on gas stations and big trees.

Fourth, when the stress of moving sets in ( and all moves are stressful ) just find a nice quiet beach and let the sound of the waves wash all that stress away.

 
Posted : June 6, 2014 2:44 am
(@Flash_Gordo)
Posts: 29
Eminent Member
Topic starter
 

Flash,
Welcome to the forum, and an early welcome to the island.

My wife and i just moved here in May. Here are a couple hurdles we had to overcome, and I hope our experience helps smooth your transaction.
First, get rid of about half the things you are planning on bringing/shipping here. You just don't need a lot of stuff and houses here seem to run about 20% smaller than on the mainland.

Second, book everything with Berry at Flemings transport and don't fall for an other companies lower prices, they tend to creep up after you book. Also if you get a cargo container, INSPECT EVERY INCH before you start loading, ours wound up with a sizeable leak that ruined our mattresses and damaged some wood furniture.

Third, don't bother looking for road signs, they don't exist or are poorly placed. Get directions from a local, which usually involves turns based on gas stations and big trees.

Fourth, when the stress of moving sets in ( and all moves are stressful ) just find a nice quiet beach and let the sound of the waves wash all that stress away.

Yeah, my wife and I plan to only bring smaller stuff with very little furniture. We will probably sell nearly everything else. We are hoping to minimize our life quite a bit.

Flemings transport, eh? I will certainly look them up.

That is an interesting comment about the road signs which I really like to hear. You can't get information like that from any book or website. I suppose the lack of road signs goes right along with the simplistic yet complicated beauty of the Caribbean.

We have been moving for on average every 2-3 years with the military. So we are well acclimated to the stresses of moving a household. The stress that we are not as acclimated to is moving to a location without having a pre-planned job. From what I have read online, it seems most employers in STX are not very interested in hiring anyone unless they are physically on STX. Regardless, we are going to roll the dice and go all-in. I am confident I will be able to find some type of work once I arrive on the island.

Thanks for the advice Optimus! I will take it to heart.

 
Posted : June 6, 2014 4:15 am
(@IslandHops)
Posts: 929
Prominent Member
 

Keep in mind, when finding work the norm is that pay rates will be much less than a comparable job on the mainland. I know this seems counter-intuitive due to the higher cost of living, but that's the market.

Your move date is a long way off - the other side of an election cycle and who knows what could be happening with Hovensa by then.

But you've chosen the best island for sure. Wouldn't want to live anywhere else. 😎

 
Posted : June 6, 2014 11:58 am
(@rosesisland)
Posts: 703
Honorable Member
 

Welcome! If you use International Logistics, with Meme, you can pack up your vehicles with household goods. All the others do not bother with the stuff cause of the hassle and will tell you it is not allowed. It is allowed!!! Smooth transition for us from Ark. to STX! They have an ad on this site!

 
Posted : June 6, 2014 12:00 pm
(@speee1dy)
Posts: 8873
Illustrious Member
 

welcome, it sounds like you will have no problems adjusting.

i just met someone yesterday who moved here after seeing an hgtv show. how cool is that

 
Posted : June 6, 2014 12:01 pm
(@east-ender)
Posts: 5404
Illustrious Member
 

LOL:"Third, don't bother looking for road signs, they don't exist or are poorly placed. Get directions from a local, which usually involves turns based on gas stations and big trees."

When I first moved to St Thomas, someone told me to write down the directions I was given even if it didn't make any sense. So I dutifully wrote down :"Look for the pink whale"and "turn at the blue truck" (what if the truck moves? "It won't" ). Well, it will all make sense when you drive down the road.

 
Posted : June 6, 2014 12:06 pm
(@sunshinefun)
Posts: 681
Honorable Member
 

Welcome to STX! Its a great island with great people. Just ignore all the political nonsense. Since you won't be able to change or influence it.

 
Posted : June 6, 2014 12:09 pm
(@Flash_Gordo)
Posts: 29
Eminent Member
Topic starter
 

Thanks everyone! Good thing in my case is I will be drawing Army retirement pay to supplement my income. I plan to get some type of job on STX. I am hoping the timing might be right with some of the upcoming plans for the island that I have read about (Hovensa, new marina, new hotels, etc). Even if the timing isn't right, we are still coming to STX in June! It's just a matter of time.

We just want a nice simple life and to enjoy the awesome Caribbean environment! Living in the Caribbean has been a dream of ours for too many years. So we have decided to go for it while we can.

Thanks for all the tips and info!

 
Posted : June 6, 2014 11:32 pm
(@gonetropo)
Posts: 428
Reputable Member
 

Just an update to a previously discussed topic relating to loading your car with personal and household items.
.

From Meme at International Logistics:

I’m sorry, as of May last year, none of the lines allow anything to be left in the vehicles.

 
Posted : June 11, 2014 7:11 pm
(@Flash_Gordo)
Posts: 29
Eminent Member
Topic starter
 

Just an update to a previously discussed topic relating to loading your car with personal and household items.
.

From Meme at International Logistics:

I’m sorry, as of May last year, none of the lines allow anything to be left in the vehicles.

That's good to know. Thanks.

 
Posted : June 12, 2014 12:31 am
(@tnv2stt)
Posts: 5
Active Member
 

My husband and I are planning to move to STX in February of 2015, I just read some of the posts to your post and they have been very helpful. I just started on this forum today and am looking forward to getting as much info as possible. Good Luck! Also, send any good tips my way! Thanks!

 
Posted : June 18, 2014 6:34 pm
(@speee1dy)
Posts: 8873
Illustrious Member
 

JUST KEEP READING HERE FOR TIPS

 
Posted : June 18, 2014 6:54 pm
(@Flash_Gordo)
Posts: 29
Eminent Member
Topic starter
 

I have found a lot of information on this forum. Use the search feature and you will find all kind of info.

 
Posted : June 19, 2014 2:15 am
(@the-oldtart)
Posts: 6523
Illustrious Member
 

I have found a lot of information on this forum. Use the search feature and you will find all kind of info.

And don't forget to read ALL the information in the pull-down menus at the top of this page starting from "Home" on the left to "Message Board" on the right. Some of the moving stories are dated by several years and the majority of the posters are long since gone but the stories are as relevant today as they were when written. The essence of daily island living is consistent.

 
Posted : June 19, 2014 10:54 am
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