My family and I now live on the island of St. Croix in the US Virgin Islands. We arrived here the summer of 2008. “StX” is about 60 miles southeast of Puerto Rico, and 2000 miles away from Central Ohio where I grew up.

I mention this in a Sundayresources.net blog for several reasons:

1. Many people who read this blog assume I’m still in Hilliard Ohio.
   I’m not.
   
2. It explains the ocean/beach blog graphics.
   
3. It tells you a little bit about my perspectives and range of experience.
   
4. The move and island experience is teaching me a lot about myself, my family, church, and life in general.

How does an Ohio-boy end up in St Croix? 

a)  It was one of those life dreams I could actually make happen. Positive life circumstances created a “window of opportunity” for my family and I to follow that dream –for a few years. We probably won’t stay here forever. Why? Because change happens! 

My job largely takes place via the internet so I could move it anywhere (we still ship software out of Ohio). My wife landed a great position in the NICU at the local hospital here on StX. My youngest daughter who is with us was excited to become part of a small private island school. She was tired of the crowded suburban schools. And my two oldest are away at college.

b) I have saltwater in my veins. I love the mountains and tropics.
          (and StX has plenty of all three)

c) I/we were looking for a cultural experience beyond the whitebread vinyl-sided suburban landscape we had grown tired of.  StX is 75% “West Indian” …ie, of african descent. But it’s still the USA. “Third World USA” to be sure, but a very interesting place to live.

Life on St Croix is quite different than it was in Ohio…

We’ve already had a hurricane (Omar on Oct 16, 2008). That was crazy.

We live in a rainforest 8 minutes over the mountain from the beach.

Everything here is more expensive than in the states, and we’ve had to learn to pinch pennies (we don’t drive a newer car any more, for example)

Nearly everyone is quite a bit friendlier and more relaxed than in the states.

It’s definitely WARMER, but not “florida hot.”  StX sits in the tradewinds which always seem to be blowin, -so the temp never goes above 90. Most days it gets up to about 85. That said, we live in shorts and sandals, and have learned not to worry about a little sweat.

Relaxing here means taking a book (or your dog) to the beach and sitting in the shade of a palm tree, …or going for a walk or going swimming. In the suburbs, it meant sitting in the A/C in my lay-z-boy.  We’re more outdoor active here, and can be year-round, -which was part of the plan.

There’s something about waves that soothe my soul like nothing else.  And at night, the stars are amazing –something you forget when you live in a metro area full of streetlights.

We’re already involved in a local church: the Reformed Church (RCA). It sits on top of a hill and people wear shorts and sandals to worship. There are churches down here that date back 300 years.

As mentioned, “Crucians”  ie, people on St Croix, are quite a bit friendlier than Midwesterners. They actually look at you and nod or say “good afternoon” when they pass you by. Standing in line or sitting in a barber shop they will strike up a conversation. In Ohio, people act like you’re not there. They walk on by you. Down here, eye contact, a wave, and a kind word is considered normal.

The roads are a bit crazy, and we drive on the left. But Crucian drivers have 100% less “road rage” than midwesterners do. They routinely stop to let people enter the roadway.

StX has a lot of poverty and is rather rundown, but it also has a lot of beauty. The people are conservative and outgoing. They care about their island and are actively trying to change it.  Very little is taken for granted like it is in the suburbs up north. There are more beautiful islands, but few you could actually make a good living on.

StX is somewhat rural and underpopulated, -it’s not crowded like St. Thomas. It does have two major “cities.” Pretty much everything you need is here, except for Campbell’s Bean with Bacon Soup -which I’m always on the lookout for

No, we’re not rich. We just decided we didn’t want to wake up old someday and be living in the same place, and regretting the road(s) not taken.

We don’t know how long we’ll be down here… probably just a couple of years. This is our “adventure” not our retirement. Most statesiders move down, and eventually move back… the #1 reason being: to be close to family/grandkids. Our three kids are older, two are in college, one in High School. They love it here, but none of them imagines moving here permanently. Like I said, this is our “adventure.”

And then there’s that Caribbean water.  I’m sure I was a sailor in a past life!

If you ever find yourself heading to St. Croix, look me up, or contact me for the scoop.  neil@sundayresources.net   We maintain a family blog about our moving experience and life on the island. If you’re interested in reading it, let me know.

I would also recommend reading the “Relocation” message board at www.vimovingcenter.com  It’s a wealth of information about the islands, relocating, what to expect, the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Addendum:
Quite a few people are finding this post via Google and sending me questions via email. I’m happy to answer them, but do your research first at vimovingcenter.com. It’s thorough.

Quick answers to common questions:

• The people are great. But if you have a problem with people of color, don’t come down.
• Life is truly slower here, which can be frustrating at times.
• Crime is worse. Roads are pot-holed. And things are ‘rustic.’ It’s the Caribbean.
• The Weather is unbelieveable. But if you can’t live without AC, don’t come.
• Housing is expensive. If you have pets, your choices will be limited.
• Don’t come down here on a shoestring budget or without a job lined up.
• I would not bring young children here, and you must put kids in private schools down here ($) if you do because the public schools are not good.