While enjoying one of our beautiful beaches the other day, I made a list of the 10 things I love most about living here, in St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. When you dream of retiring on a Caribbean island, or "getting away from it all" think of the St. Croix lifestyle:
1. The amazing weather - 82 degrees year 'round, 20% chance of rain on most days.
2. The friendly people - smiles are abundant and locals as well as continentals are generally happy and friendly. It's easy to make friends here!
3. The laid back pace - no need to get in a rush - and there's always time for a friendly greeting and chat. If you're 15 minutes late here, you're 30 minutes early!
4. 1000 colors of blue! Well, maybe not that many, but there are so many colors of blue in our amazing crystal clear water!
5. No sox, no shoes, no problem. If I have on LEATHER flip flops, I'm dressed up. Love it.
6. Sunsets and sunrises. No two are alike, and they are all amazing.
7. Friendly drivers and no traffic. The drivers here are so courteous and nice - it's customary here to let others in and out of traffic (and I use the term "traffic" loosely!!)
8. Great restaurants. Unlike many Caribbean islands I've been to, where every restaurant has the same food, there are so many good and unique restaurants here! Not good for my waistline or budget, but yummy and fun!
9. Wonderful music. I absolutely love live music (GOOD live music, mind you) and there are some great musicians here. I'm a "regular" at every Kurt Schindler performance - and am a "self-proclaimed Schin-head!"
10. It's HOME! It's the good 'ol USA with all the benefits and protections that offers - and yet the culture of a Caribbean island. What can be better than that?
11. Beaches on the west end - GREAT snorkling, crystal clear water, wonderful shelling, virtually deserted beaches (especially on weekdays....love to slip away!) oohh - I said 10 didn't I!
It's hard to stop! There are SO MANY wonderful things about living here on St. Croix!
Visit my web site for resources on retiring in St. Croix:
www.retireinthevi.com
and contact me for information on real estate opportunities. I'm sold on the investment potential of St. Croix!
Kim Lucas, Realtor
kim@coldwellbankervi.com
www.kimlucasvi.com
340-626-3758
I love to help investors and fellow Caribbean Souls find property in St. Croix, and work hard for my Island mates who want to sell their property.
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St. Croix has always been a nice place for me to visit. A beautiful Island.
Sean Allen
You are truly living in paradise. Lucky you.
Hello there,
I am a divorced mother of 3 daughters, my eldest 21 attending NC A&T, my middle graduating from high school this year, and my youngest will be 5 in December. I have always committed to providing the best lifestyle for my girls (I moved from North to South) and giving them the opportunity to enjoy clean wholesome living. Since visiting the Virgin Islands a few years ago, I have had a yearning to live there on a full time basis. My daughters have been in agreement with me about the islands being a great place to put down roots. I am a licensed foster parent, as well as a trainer of foster parents (which I don't have any foster children in my home at the moment) and I am also an evening undergrad college student in my town, majoring in psychology. I have being doing much research and have come to the conclusion that Saint Croix will be my home, eventually.
I am not rich, but am very resourceful. What are the chances of myself and my girls making a good transition to the island lifestyle? Are there apartments of small homes for rent at affordable rates. I have not secured employment yet, but hopefully I will be successful in that area. I have been able to financially maintain a comfortable and somewhat frugal lifestyle here on the mainland, but how diificult, if at all, will it be to live on a modest income. Also, please give some advice on areas in which to live that are affordable, as well as safe for my family. I intend to make a short visit in the very near future, so that I may feel out the island, but any information that anyone can share with me would be greatly appreciated.Thanks in advance.
LadyPT3
Hi, I would love to help you, but need much more info. to truly be helpful. "Affordable" is such a subjective term!!! So is "modest income." To some, a modest income is $100,000 a year. To others, it's much less or much more. A three bedroom, two bath home in what I'd consider a "safe" area is going to be at least $2500 a month - possibly more. You can find something for less here, no doubt, but there will be tradeoffs, i.e., small, fewer bedrooms, not a great area, etc. Go to www.stcroixvacationhomes.com to get an idea and feel free to ask me about areas or places that you see advertised.
St. Croix is an expensive place to live. I just got back from the grocery store where I spent nearly $200 for a week's worth of groceries for two of us.
I've written a report that includes links to many places that have job ads -you might want to check that out. Pay is typically a little lower here than on mainland - and cost of living is higher. Ouch! But we sure could use your foster parenting here!
And once your 5 year old is school aged (assuming you will put her in school) - a private school is about $10,000 a year.
A pre-move visit is certainly advisable before making the decision. Before you come, make a list of the items you frequently purchase, and write down the price. Then when you get here, go shopping and note the prices of those things here. That will give you a good indication of how much more it will cost you here for "basic" things. Rent is considerably higher here than in the states. And if you have a pet - you are going to REALLY have a tough time here. This is not a pet friendly island, unfortunately. Very few rentals accept pets.
Email me directly if you'd like to ask more questions - I'm happy to help!
Kim@coldwellbankervi.com