I've only been to St. Thomas and St. Johns for vacation, but after seeing and interacting with the locals, man, I be no livin' dare, man.

Wife and I have watched countless House Hunters on HGTV, and I've seen so many episodes where people purchase properties in the islands. My wife and I think they are crazy! We just don't understand why they don't rent while they don't stay in a hotel or rent a place. Ultra poor locals, corrupt government/police, shady people, etc.

20 years ago my youngest daughter applied to University of Virgin Islands (Historically Black College) and got a full scholarship as a minority. She lived on campus and worked at Marriott. We visited her twice and thought it was nice but like a third world country. Drive on the wrong side. St Johns was very nice.

If is a temp gig, you’ll enjoy it. Long term, you should have considerable income to enjoy it to its fullest. Don’t plan on owning a handgun here unless you own a sailboat, if you catch my drift.

For perspective, a friend is from Saint Thomas but occasionally has to work (.gov) on Saint Croix. He is an "outsider" there despite being black, personable, and a lifetime resident of the USVI. The relevant issue is that he's not from Saint Croix ("Crucian") and thus, not "in the loop" on that island. Everything takes longer for him when he's not on Saint Thomas, even in interacting with other Fed or territorial officials.

Saint Thomas is the biggest island, population-wise, but it's still only around 50K. And folks from Saint John or Saint Croix have the same issues Ted has, except the other way 'round. Expect to get a different kind of service than the "locals" and to pay the informal "tourist tax" (e.g. higher prices) even if you live there.

Culturally, it's very Caribbean. Ignore the U.S. flags and U.S. Mail and the Federal buildings in Charlotte Amalie and the somewhat better infrastructure that comes from having the U.S. as your "big brother," and it could be pretty much any other English-speaking island-nation in the region, except without the benefit of cheaper labor.

As mentioned, corruption is endemic. The territorial AG and Inspector General go through the motions for egregious cases but it's like holding back the Caribbean with a broom. And as mentioned, living there is hella expensive if you try to live the same "way" you live on the mainland.

It's also a beautiful place with some genuinely nice people if you can deal with the above, but the divide between "rich" and "poor" is greater and more evident than most other places in the USA. But don't base a living-and-working-there decision on a tourist visit. If you've had experience living overseas, chances are you're well-equipped to do the USVI.

I know a couple that moved there for his work, they came back for two weeks, not long ago, just for a visit

They have a combined income of over $450,000.00

They spoke extensively about the living conditions there,

There are at least 9 other places that I'd go too before even considering St. Thomas.

They did just open a CostUless.
A division of Costco.

,when they come back to visit they fill two big suit cases ,tight with stuff that can't be purchased there.

Clean water is a huge concern,
The $900,000.00 house that the are buying would sell for $450,000.00
back in Houston.

He is locked in to a three contract, they are enjoying living a completely different way of living and learning , they are in their early thirties with two girls under 6 y.o.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: bendable,

quote:

There are at least 9 other places that I'd go too before even considering St. Thomas

^^^^
What are the 9 places you would live?

quote:

Originally posted by bendable:
They did just open a CostUless.
A division of Costco.

For the record, they're not tied to Costco. Parent company is The North West Co, based in Winipeg, which also owns Rite Way markets (BVI), they also own a number of grocery brands/home stores for rural Canada, Alaska, S.Pacific and Caribbean. Company has a number of employees who's prior experience is with Costco and Fred Meyer.

quote:

For the record, they're not tied to Costco.

thats what I get for quoting the inner net , thanks

quote:

Originally posted by ftttu:

Wife and I have watched countless House Hunters on HGTV, and I've seen so many episodes where people purchase properties in the islands. My wife and I think they are crazy! We just don't understand why they don't rent while they don't stay in a hotel or rent a place. Ultra poor locals, corrupt government/police, shady people, etc.

IMHO that would not sell on tv. Who'd watch renting? Ratings and money money money. Got to get the viewers to watch and keep watching.
.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:

quote:

There are at least 9 other places that I'd go too before even considering St. Thomas

^^^^
What are the 9 places you would live?

For me over St. Thomas in Carribbean or 3rd world:
St. Maarten
San Juan,PR
Staniel Cay, Bahamas
Nassau, Bahamas (just because you can get groceries etc, and other beautiful islands are close)
Panama City, Panama
St. Barts
Harbor Island, Bahamas
Bermuda
Cancun

I've decided to pass on this opportunity. It was a government job and I would have been working closely with local law enforcement. I'm just a white guy from Tennessee and would definitely stand out as an outsider. The article that Citadel posted really made me uncomfortable about working there.

Thanks for all the info.

quote:

Originally posted by Skull Leader:
I've decided to pass on this opportunity. It was a government job and I would have been working closely with local law enforcement. I'm just a white guy from Tennessee and would definitely stand out as an outsider. The article that Citadel posted really made me uncomfortable about working there.

Thanks for all the info.

It depends on how you look at it. St. Thomas is kind of an armpit, but very easy to get around to other islands and it's a different experience.........I lived in Belize for 6 months, which was about 3 months too long.

So... no potato farming?

quote:

Originally posted by jimmy123x:

For me over St. Thomas in Carribbean or 3rd world:
St. Maarten...

I have been to both. St. Maarten was the coolest place on the planet I have ever visited. Aside of the amazing, and stunning natural beauty, it has two sides. The Dutch and the French. The French side is dirty, and has some absolutely amazing food. The Dutch side is clean, and just awesome.

I have been to a lot of places on this planet, and that is one of the few I would like to visit again.

St. Thomas, I wouldn’t go back there, even if it was a free vacation. In my opinion, it’s kind of a shithole. Not just the poverty, it was damned dirty. Like gross, roaches in the street in daylight dirty.

quote:

Originally posted by Beancooker:

quote:

Originally posted by jimmy123x:

For me over St. Thomas in Carribbean or 3rd world:
St. Maarten...

I have been to both. St. Maarten was the coolest place on the planet I have ever visited. Aside of the amazing, and stunning natural beauty, it has two sides. The Dutch and the French. The French side is dirty, and has some absolutely amazing food. The Dutch side is clean, and just awesome.

I have been to a lot of places on this planet, and that is one of the few I would like to visit again.

St. Thomas, I wouldn’t go back there, even if it was a free vacation. In my opinion, it’s kind of a shithole. Not just the poverty, it was damned dirty. Like gross, roaches in the street in daylight dirty.

Sadly the hurricane a few years back wiped out all of the good stuff on St. Maarten. There was nothing like sitting at a bar/restaurant right on the beach sand at Orient Beach (French side) and watching a hot, topless, French woman walk down the sand 40' away about every 2 minutes........or the cafe's on the French side. Dutch side for the casino's, resorts, formal restaurants, etc........the airport beach really cool as well.....

quote:

Originally posted by Skull Leader:
I've decided to pass on this opportunity. It was a government job and I would have been working closely with local law enforcement. I'm just a white guy from Tennessee and would definitely stand out as an outsider. The article that Citadel posted really made me uncomfortable about working there.

Thanks for all the info.

The case involving the ATF agent actually sparked Federal legislation to prevent that kind of jacked-up move in the future. Short version, there's long been a mechanism to remove cases from state to Federal courts in just such a situation, but it did not apply to territories. That has since been remedied.

breaking news:

The two small girls I spoke about above have named 7 Iguana's that live in and around their back yard.

sad to report also that "Stubby" was found dead in the in ground swimming pool

so now there are only six.