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Hello Everyone:
This is my 1st post on this forum; so, please forgive any of my ramblings. I've been planning on moving to U.S.V.I. since returning to Pennsylvaina (USA) in 2006 after over two months of volunteer work in Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina. The experience helped me to refocus on my goals and plans in life.
I would like to pre-move but my employer won't even let me take one day off ( If I do I'm fired). So, for me, its an all or nothing move. I'm 31 year old male with skills in handyman work to cleaning to Flea Market Sales and even Security Guard. Nobody has to explain about the insects; in Mississippi the 1st night (no tents)...went to sleep and awoke with 216 bites (So, no explaination needed...LOL).
I've gotten many books , newspapers ( The Avis, Island Trader, + Virgin Island Daily News), and multiple websites on the U.S.V.I. . Now, I'm a little over a year away { 15 months...tiny bonus at end of each year helps} from the move and looking for advice. When the move comes I'll have over $10K, Plane tickets, and 2 or less suit cases (I've downsized almost all of my personal things already).
I'm confident I can get a job (if I search, get out there, even if I need multiple minimum wage jobs to get by). I'm more interested in your honest thoughts on ST. Croix and ST. John (these are the Islands I'm interested in). I'm interested in both the pros and cons of each Island ( You can skip the Insect and bug problems...I have simple thing on bugs..they bite..they go splat...LOL). Also, I've seen varied prices in the newspapers on rent for Efficiency Studio ....what are the cheapest ones out on the Islands? I believe that is all for my 1st post.....so, please your honest thoughts on ST. Croix and ST. John.
Thank you for your time and attention.
Sincerely,
Mark from Pennsylvania
Posted : October 13, 2007 2:05 am
I love St. Croix. If you do not have a wife or children and 10k to go on a new adventure, I say go for it. If nothing else you will have a new experience. If you hate it you can leave. If you have a good work ethic you will find a job. Good luck to you.
Tam
Posted : October 13, 2007 2:47 am
Topic starter
Thanks, dougtamjj (Tam) for your support.
**No children, wife nor pets.**
Sincerely,
Mark from Pennsylvania
Posted : October 13, 2007 2:59 am
STX and STJ are very different islands. Your $10K nestegg will go a lot further on STX. Housing is certainly more abundant and there are some low-cost options if you don't expect something fancy. With the cost of living being lower, I would expect that STX would be easier to achieve at least a subsistence living on than STJ while looking for a better work/wage situation.
Read more of the back pages of this message board and you will get lots of info on comparing the islands to each other and maybe figure out which one sounds like the better fit for you. If you have never been here, many people have a vision of what they expect each island to be like that doesn't really play out as valid in reality. If you are really lucky, you will pick right when you select your island and everything will go as well as it possibly can.
Posted : October 13, 2007 3:04 am
St. John is a very expensive place to live, but it can be done. For news on the island and classifieds (job listings, apartments for rent), you can check out www.stjohnnews.com.
Good luck!
Posted : October 15, 2007 4:11 pm