SO, YOU WANNA MOVE TO THE VIRGIN ISLANDS...Food for thought!

Islander, Thanks...at least someone understands what i said...it is my expereince and does not mean others will have the same issues.

Thanks for the post Steve. I hate to hear it didn't work out for you. It must suck to have the dream get snarled up in a bunch of bureaucratic BS. Sounds a lot like the "Good Ol' Boy Network" here in the South. I read an op/ed piece while I was down there last month where a guy was trying to start a party cruise thing on a big cat, but couldn't get anyone to approve his permits. He was trying to dock somewhere in the marina in C-sted, but had to have an engineer inspect the dock to see if it would handle the vessel, even though the same boat was docked in the exact same place before. He waited for months, calling daily, but no word. Finally he went to the engineer himself, who told him the report had been done 3 months earlier, but the permit dept hadn't paid him for past reports so he wasn't releasing anything until they paid up. He tried to hire an independent, but the govt wouldn't allow it. He waited another 3 months, then said to hell with it and decided to start operating without the permit. This went on for some time and he said they never even bothered to come out to shut him down!! He went on to say he called it quits when his insurance company said they were going to have to pull his coverage because he didn't have a permit for the dock space, so he split and took his business to another island.

I also wanted to say.... In my opinion, I thought you stated the facts as they applied to your situation and laid them out pretty coherently, so I'm not sure why Teresa didn't understand why you feel the way you do, or why STT Resident felt the need to have a go at the typos. Who's denigrating who?

Steve, thanks...i too wondered why these people come out with these comments from "left field" but, then, just another example. They will have reasons why when challenged, but WHATEVER.

The guy with the boat, typical as hell over the years. i am just a smaller version.

If people want to live here, just DO NOT rely or depend on anything except your own information and abilities. In other words, being independant is a BIG plus in living here. Even for directions!

thank you Yesterdaze for getting specific with your situation- it certainly explains the frustarated tone of your first post.. Please understand that some of the pushback (I can only speak for myself) was only bc I (we) wanted to understand what happened to make you -yes- so "bitter"....
I understand now- and would most certainly feel the same way in your situation- along with having to accept the failing health of your wife's parents.- which is emotionally taxing on its own.
I think you summed it up best in your last statement- being independent is a BIG plus- but may I add...regardless of where you should happen to settle....
Thank you for getting specific with your story for all of us to benefit from. I was once involved with the police in my hometown(long story) where corruption and a WHOLE bunch of lies were fabricated to make the situation look bad for me. It was an extremely trying time and I wanted nothing more than to say "*$*@K it" and get the hell out of dodge. So- I do understand, to an extent, how frustrating your situation can be. But, again - being independent and knowing that you can rely on your own strength to get you through those tough times is the most valuable lesson you can learn- regardless if you live in the USVI/backwoods USA or a third world country (which, btw- I have spent some time in very recently and talk about raw sewage being a part of everyday life- I am sure it would make the islands look like "paradise".....)

Goodluck to you- your exit out of the USVI and your future endevours..

I definitely believe the restaurant thing was a "payoff" issue. You don't do anything without a wad of cash in your pocket. You need someone connected to the VI gov't to "broker" for you and then things suddenly become smooth as silk.

No you never said ... this appears to be a tolerant messgae baord that values the opinions of its members without being insensitive to religious groups, diverse cultures, and without stereotyping people. Crime seems be an issue in Little Town America and in Big City USA. Bitterness may be a process that one has to experience to help some move on. I wish you well with that. Anyway - I just wanted to add another opinion and response. What is your definiton for rampant?

My gut feel here coincides with bluwaters's belief that you were the victim of an attempted shakedown by the inspectors.

Apparently a similar situation existed (maybe still exists?) in St. Thomas before a restaurant owner decided to blow the whistle sometime last year. I don't know what the outcome of the investigation was (perhaps it's still ongoing?) but one particular inspector was caught red-handed taking bribes.

Richard N. Kurpiers

Hey all,

What a wonderful and neverending group of ideas. I suppose really the whole Idea of judgein' someone on the outside apperence is the item in ? ..... It is to bad that we all assume things when it comes to the way we read eachother. Assumption can get you into alot of trouble. As far as the whole dready thang' I know a many dread heads that don't proclaim to hold any strength to the RASTAS other than they smoke da' smoke. It is a religion such as any other. Although in my mind I hold it to be farther validated with a spiritual over a theological. I love the fact we can put our thoughts out there in the world imaginative wonder. Stay REAL and Give Love. * Jasmine *

After living here 6 months, I feel well equipped to jump in with my opnion 😉

There's a little bit of bad in the best of things, and a little bit of good in the worst of things.

So here's some food for thought from my perspective. If you're moving here to "run away" from the hustle and bustle of stateside living; try to run some where not so busy in the U.S. first. See how you like it. With regard to So. Cal., you may have crime, the homeless, trash, etc. but you also have more choices; more room to move, more things to do, more jobs to choose from, etc.

Remember, this island is only 28 miles long and 7-9 miles wide, so when you're looking to get away or move away from the crime, trash, homeless, vagrants, boredom, or whatever - there is only so far that you can go. And, whether you move to a location where these things are not, you still have to drive through it or walk through it to get where you want to go. There is utterly no way of escaping it.

True, it's no more or less expensive to live here than anywhere else (on the average), but we seem to get a lot less for our money - things break down more easily here with bad roads, salt in the air, rust, mold, hurricane insurance, etc. - the money doesn't go as far, especially when you consider the salaries here are so much lower.

If you have any medical problems and are thinking of moving here, please establish a report with a doctor before coming. It is FACT that the medical facilities and availability are not as abundant or, well...as good here as in the states.

Be true to yourself when thinking of moving to a tropical island - or a big city for that matter. Ask yourself, what am I really looking for?

And why did we come here? We wanted to do more with watersports, boating, beaching, island hopping, etc. (which is a really good reason to move to an island). We wanted an adventure and an experience; good or bad. We wanted to learn about different cultures; thinking people in the states were not cultural enough. (oops - wrong!) We picked USVI because of the "US" part. It was like taking a big adventure with the US blanket of "security," and yet, we made a mistake. We make the best of it. We both have jobs - good ones, but we also came here with the mindset that we wouldn't make money, we'd just have fun for 2 years and then move on. We also (God willing nothing changes) have the means to return to the U.S. when we're ready!

Thanks for indulging me,

Bou'ya

Thanks for your input Bou'ya. I can understand the frustrations of people...I do live in SoCal, and although this state is huge...I really don't have the ability to move to a better location. Kinda stuck right where I am at...but just like anything, I do make the best of it...cause it COULD always be worse! I could be homeless myself...but I am not or for that I am thankful. I do know that moving there will not be a bed of roses all of the time..nothing is Utopia ;0)...and hopefully when I get there...I can make a small difference ;0)

Hey Bou'ya-
Read your message which I think was very well written- one question- you stated your reason(s) for moving (which, I think is the best reason to move out out of them all) but yet- you said you made a mistake..? Am I reading this correctly? Did you not get the adventure and experience- good or bad- you were looking for? I am guessing you are not liking it? But, even if you don't- you do have the adventure and experience certainly accounted for- how is this a mistake?
Thanks for elaborating...
BW

Bou'ya
Just read your post to the culture shock article and think I understand what you are saying. I wasn't trying to question you- just get a better sense for what you are experiencing- your response to the culture shock article sums it up. Goodluck to you and I hope all goes well.

Hi Bluewater,

Yes, we are getting adventure and experience! I think the mistake we made was having too many expectations about the TYPE of adventures and experiences.

For example, I have found things cost a little more than I thought they would. Sure we did our homework, but you can only do so much homework. So, I figured island hopping would be easy and cheap. Wrong! Easy, pretty much. Cheap, not so much. So we'll just do a little less than we expected. I also thought I'd be sailing all the live-long day. Wrong! On St. Croix it isn't easy to find boats for rent...now in St. Thomas, it's much easier. I didn't think about the trash, rust, mold, salt, etc... Who would, right? Just little stuff like that. Oh, and I wish the fruit and vegetables at the grocery were better! 😉

I guess I also have more culture shock than I ever expected (or thought possible for me). But one of the most valuable experiences I've had is learning to deal with it. Knowing I have to make some changes in me, not in the world around me. I've also learned that nothing is forever. I could die tomorrow, so I better live in the moment and appreciate what this island does offer. I'm not always this accepting, but my culture shock is slowly approaching another, possibly better, stage. 🙂

Bou'ya

Great post Bou'ya...Goodluck to you! I sent you a PM.