Visiting St. Croix (and how it changed all of our plans).

You don't always need a plan. Sometimes you just need to breathe, trust, let go, and see what happens.

~Mandy Hale

Trust who and what you are and the Universe will support you in miraculous ways.

~Alan Cohen

I am typically pretty comfortable living with some ambiguity. I have a great deal of tolerance for not knowing exactly how or when something will work. I can walk in the right direction and keep my eyes and heart open to recognize and grab opportunity as it's presented.

I am learning to understand that living with someone happily means understanding when "planning" that way is uncomfortable for someone else.

In the last few months, I have been confused as my boyfriend insists to me that we do not have a plan. We have a plan...to move to St Croix in August. We've been selling things and saving money in our Island Fund bank account. This was the plan. But he needed more.

So I started developing a budget to determine what income we would need. Searching employment sites, etc. I found a job that seemed like a good fit and sent out my resume.

We also identified a list of homes we wanted to see (easily done, since I check the RE/MAX site every day).

The next step was the best step of all. We needed to visit the island. St Croix...here we come!

We had multiple objectives for our visit:

1. I had a job interview,
2. House hunting,
3. Meeting new friends,
4. Learning more about St Croix.

ü Job interview: check. I spent an hour and a half on the beautiful 34-acre tropical campus of Good Hope Country Day School. I met staff and students who were all happy to tell me the positive things about their school. I felt at home there.

ü Visiting houses with our realtor: check. We learned so much about how much we don't know! Many of the homes we thought might be a possibility looked different in person than they did online. We found one that we thought might be a good fit. It had lots of fruit trees, and a fully fenced 1/3 acre (two things we'd love to have. If you look closely, you can see bananas in the tree). Even this place seemed overwhelming...

ü Meeting people: check...I really think it's impossible to NOT people on St Croix. It seems like everyone is so friendly and the island is so social.

ü Learning more about our island: Check. Our visit was timed to coincide with the Centennial Transfer Day Celebration--100 years from the day that the United States purchased the US Virgin Islands from the Danish.

We explored, went lionfish hunting, chaney hunting, diving, and snorkeling.

Dirt "road" we explored accidentally 
(I never claimed to have a good sense of direction!).

Ruins from an old sugar mill plantation

The reef has one less lionfish to worry about!

Chaney we found while snorkeling just a little north of Frederiksted pier.

We went with a plan. We met all of our objectives.

But our plan? Out the window.

The job I originally applied for is not the offer I received. I am really excited about this new opportunity. I love that it happened this way...I'm not positive I would have applied for the position that I was offered. I'm thankful that the Universe used the other position to get me to consider this one! I may be the next middle school math teacher for Good Hope Country Day School! I am excited about the idea of witnessing the magical moment when a kid has that a-ha experience. I am also excited to think about my new colleagues becoming my new friends.


And we found a home on the island--but we are not purchasing any of the homes we looked at. In fact, we are not purchasing a home at all, yet.

We met a friend of a friend for lunch. He had moved to St Croix around 4 years ago and we wanted to learn what we could from him, and also make a new friend. He has been the caretaker of another family's property, living in the attached apartment while he cares for and maintains their island vacation home. He went on to explain that he needs to come back to the states in August--the same time we are moving there. In a crazy turn of events, after emails and video conferences, we are thrilled to become the new caretakers of this beautiful island home! We now have a home on the island--with a pool and amazing views.

It's amazing to me how everything seems to be falling into place! When that happens, I feel like I am headed in the right direction and the universe is right behind me, like the wind at my back. Researching and planning are both important in a move like this. But perhaps even more important (at least for us) is a visit, an open mind, and trust in who you are.

Now we have a home, a job offer, and a moving date: July 28, 2017.

Feeling Close from 2000 Miles Away.

Life is about change. Sometimes it's painful. Sometimes it's beautiful. But most of the time it's both.

~Lana Lang

I have talked about moving to the Caribbean for several years now. I enjoy challenges and change and I believe in making life what you want it to be. I have courage. And yet...

Have you experienced those moments as you prepare for a big life change when you think, "Oh man...what am I doing? How can I know this is the right decision...the right thing for me? What if I'm wrong?" I think this is what they call cold feet.

It happened. And it lasted. For at least a month, I went through some real self-doubt. I admitted this to one person...and not until after it passed.

I am making some sacrifices for this life change:

• Leaving a career position that I spent the last 17 years working toward. I will make 1/4 - 1/3 my current income when we get to the island. I'll be starting over. 
• Saying goodbye to friends and family and putting almost 2000 miles between us. I have wonderful friends who feel more like family and I'm very close to my siblings.
• I have spent my entire life living within 60 miles of where I grew up. I am moving to a different land mass, a different climate zone, a different culture with a different history. I am leaving the familiar.

During this time of questioning, I did everything I could to feel close to the island--to embrace the island girl I claim to be. 

So...how does one go about feeling close to an island that is so far away? It's easier than you think! I'll tell you how I do it, and you can figure out how it applies to you and your island.

I downloaded a radio app, TuneIn radio, so that I could listen to radio stations live from St Croix. One of my favorites is Isle 95. I love this because I hear "local" commercials, DJs, etc.

I also followed and liked Facebook pages of businesses and people on St Croix. I especially looked for pages that go live. My favorite is Love-Croix. He travels around the island while going live and engages with viewers. If you look at the comments on the video below, mine is the first one and I am thanking him for "feeding the soul." This was right in the heart of my questioning phase, and seeing the island and the positivity of Love-Croix was just what I needed!

Each morning I check the listings of houses for sale on St Croix using the St Croix RE/MAX site. It is fun to look at the house styles (exterior and interior), read the directions to get there (lots of "turn left at the big blue fence," etc...most streets aren't named) and to see what's available. This particular site also has lots of information: maps, info about lenders, etc. We have a lot to learn about things like hurricane insurance, earthquake insurance, building requirements, etc.

Speaking of real estate...Beachfront Bargain Hunt, Caribbean Life, Tiny House Big Living...I look for the episodes set on St Croix.

I also subscribe to newspapers and blogs of people in the area. I don't watch or read a lot of news as a general rule (I feel that's a key to my happiness), but it is nice to keep up with what is happening on my island.

I also think of myself as Crucian and support Crucian businesses (act "locally"...but from a distance). So my rum choice is always Cruzan or Captain Morgan. This isn't much of a sacrifice!

Another great way to escape to your chosen island is to read a book set on that island. There is so much you can learn this way. I have found several good books set on St Croix, and when I pick up one of those books, soon enough I am no longer sitting in my apartment in Cincinnati, Ohio. I am walking along Dorsch Beach searching for chaney and listening to the waves hit the shore. It is one of the most effective ways for me to escape to St Croix.

And of course, there's always YouTube. I've found music videos from St Croix bands like Mercy Child and their song: Life on St Croix. And Travel Channel's Real: St Croix. It's also interesting to watch some home-made videos about the island. There's one that shows the devastation of Hurricane Hugo in 1989. You can see Moko Jumbies dancing, scuba divers, street carnivals, and so much more!

It's an exciting adventure. I am courageous. But let's be clear...it's scary sometimes. Parts of it are painful. But mostly, it's beautiful. And when you find your heart has moved to the island before you have, there are so many ways to feel connected...to feel "there." 

Why St. Croix?

Begin doing what you want to do now. We are not living in eternity. We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand - and melting like a snowflake.

~Francis Bacon Sr 

When I tell people that I am moving to an island in the Caribbean, I'm first met with disbelief. It is fun to watch the realization sink in. The follow-up question (after "Are you serious?! or "How?!") is usually, "How did you pick the island?" or "Why St. Croix?"

I fell in love with the Caribbean...so deciding that's the area I wanted to be was easy.

Moving almost 2,000 miles from my east-central United States home in Cincinnati, OH, is a big move. I decided moving to an island that is owned by the country of which I am a resident and citizen would be easier, especially if I ever try to start a business. Wikipedia has a long list of islands organized by country that you can find here.

I didn't consult that list, but it was interesting (and surprising) to see how many islands there are!

I narrowed my search to Puerto Rico or the United States Virgin Islands: St Thomas, St John, and St Croix.

The next criteria I used was an airport. I want my friends and family to come see me as often as possible, so I wanted to make travel as easy as possible. The other benefit is that it is less expensive to purchase things because the airport provides a way for goods to be transported to the island. This ruled out St John.

I decided Puerto Rico was larger than I wanted. This left St Thomas and St Croix.

St Thomas is just over 31 square miles with a population of over 51,000 people (2010 census). St Croix is about 84 square miles with just over 50,000 people (2010 census). After doing additional research on St Croix and St Thomas, I felt that St Croix was to be my new home.

Do you know that if you are a US citizen traveling from the US to St Croix, you do not need a passport? We keep telling people that we'll be ready for visitors in September. I wonder who will be our first guest?

All of that sounds really logical and practical...but come on! When a girl suddenly decides, "Hey, I'm going to move to an island in the Caribbean," there must be more to it than the logical and practical, right?

How about crystal clear waters of the perfect temperature with every shade of blue inviting you in to swim with turtles, sea horses, octopuses, and colorful fish?


And Moko Jumbies...

The treasure hunt for Chaney...

Amazing temperatures all year and miles of beatiful beaches...

Also, the music of the island: a mix of West Indian, Calypso, African, and reggae sounds...with some steel drums mixed in.

Of course, rum (Cruzan and Captain Morgan are made on the island)...

...and beach bars!

And most importantly, the warm, welcoming, quick with a "Good morning," Crucians. The people of St Croix are a mix of people who were raised on the island, who moved to the island, and visitors from all over the world. But everywhere you go, you will be greeted with a smile and a "Good Morning," "Good Afternoon," or "Good Night." I feel like our friends are already there, waiting to welcome us home!

The big day is getting closer and closer. While I am very excited for this adventure, I am living the best today I can live right here in Cincinnati, Ohio. I am enjoying every moment I spend learning about St Croix and every phone call I make in preparation, every step of the process. I am enjoying the journey and this is important to me. I am not promised tomorrow--I have only this moment.