I know I asked about my phone, but it's mostly because I have to call the people at DSJ and the car rental when I arrive. I'll need to coordinate with other people in our party throughout the week. I've already told everyone stateside that my service will not be great and I'm disconnecting for the week so they should not call nor expect a call unless it's an absolute emergency.

Lizard,

I personally can't see yakking on a phone while on vacation, but then I do little of that even when I'm not on vacation. However, if a person has something going on in his or her life while on vacation, not being "connected" might cause such stress and anxiety that would ruin any relaxation while vacationing, anyhow.

Is it possible that this woman was, in fact, not on vacation? Perhaps she is a resident using the phone for whatever reason from a chair by the beach rather than from her home? Maybe she gets miserable reception at home and great reception by the beach.

Not everything is as it appears.

But what I totally don't get is not going in the water! She's obviously a crazy person! How can you be down there in that wonderful sweltering sunshiny heat and NOT go in that beautiful clear refreshing wonderful water?

Gerie

That's exactly why we go on a "husband and wife" vacation every year - to get away from all of the outside distractions! We do bring a cell, but just to say goodnight to the 10 and 12 year olds we left behind with gram and pap.

I really don't care how other people choose to spend their time on their vacations. Why would I? Now i f I'm on the beach and someone or something distracts or disturbs me, I'll move---to another beach if necessary.

I went to Florida in June, and I saw the same thing on South Beach. This beautiful woman in a bikini lying on a towel and talking to someone for hours on end. I figured she was just multi-tasking -- keeping caught up on whatever while she was working on the tan. She was definitely local, although most of us were tourists. Or at least maybe I assumed as she yapped away.

I did talk on the beach, but it was for about 10 minutes to coordinate supper plans with a friend who lives there. I go to the beach to relax, and don't find anything about yapping on the phone relaxing. For example, I called my mother to tell her something for five minutes this morning, and it ended up being a 45-minute conversation about my loser aunt taking advantage of our family. Who wants to hear that on vacation?!?

(Along with this conversation, last year my vacation was interrupted when loser aunt's daughter died. Obviously, even though I couldn't get back for the funeral, it was a call that I had to take and it was not particularly brief.)

I think I covered the exceptions in my opening, the etc. covers the other one million scenarios. I think you all now exactly what I said and the meaning. Sometimes we all have to contemplate if something said applies to me. If not, no response is necessary, If so maybe one should think about it! I've got to go to the beach now because this computer can become addictive and I have to fight it! Have a good day everybody and try to stay off the phone. LOL

PS. When I was born, I was so ugly the Doctor Hit my mother! (Henny Youngman)

I guess I just wanted to say "If you see me on the beach in a few weeks, and I'm talking on the phone, I'm really not trying to be rude and ruin your trip to the beach, too!"

I guess I just felt defensive, because I have been in a conversation on here on whether or not my phone will work, and I wanted folks to know that it was because I might need it, not because I intend to talk my vacation away. (At least not on the phone, anyhow. I'm not known as a woman of few words.) Those roaming fees can add up, even with little calls here and there.

Anyhow, I guess if you do feel the urge to spend your vacation on the phone, make sure you're not ruining other people's peaceful trips to the beach. That's advice I'll take for myself too. Just in case I have a moment (probably induced by painkillers) where I decide to take the call of someone who's particularly windy!

I often try to imagine what can be so important that people cannot put down that phone for hours on end. Yesterday watched a woman chat away while stripping corn and then not even taking a breath while paying the clerk! Sure, it's been great to have the cell and I've had to use it a couple of times in an emergency - once at the STT airport upon arrival when I got a call that my mom had broken her ankle and we had to do a quick departure and it was great as she was elderly and could stay in touch by dialing a local number for her! Sure is convenient. But what I can't stand is the self-important loud mouth who thinks that everyone in her/his proximity is also interested in the conversation. (I compare them to the folks who think that others enjoy listening to their "music" when they bring the boom-box - or whatever they call 'em now -and leave it at ear-shattering levels.) We used to use things called pay phones to call to have someone pick us up at the airport or check on home and even used faxes (which are very quiet) to stay in touch with work or home. Guess I learned early on at Caneel that the world does not end without a phone or noise and I am sure that it wouldn't for all of those who cannot manage to unglue the phone for even a minute to stop and smell the roses!

On one of my visits to the islands I noticed , what I believe was a middle aged Russian couple. Every day she would come out on the beach early in the morning, find a few lounges that were not locked up, and secure "their" spot on the beach. She would go back to her condo and send her husband down to save "their" spot. He would be asleep the minute he hit the lounge and would sleep until noon. When he woke up he immediately got on his cell phone and talked in Russian non stop until they left the beach usually 5 or so. I never once saw either one of them go in the water.
I guess they had the vacation they wanted, but talk about roaming charges. His cell phone bill was probably more expensive than his vacation.

I am fortunate to be able to live in the beautiful virgin islands because I own a company that allows me to do 90% of my business via cell phone and internet. I can often be found on the beach with my computer or talking on my cell phone. What a wonderful place to do business. I try to sit apart from others and not disturb anyone and I talk quietly. I do swim between phone calls. Just another take on why someone might be talking on the phone.

I'M back from the beach!

another take,
I believe on the original post, I had you covered under Indian Chief! Noise was not an issue. Maybe you should put your phone down and turn your computer off, take a look around and maybe just maybe you will get my drift. You don't have to agree or disagree. I also live on St Croix, frequent the same beach and pretty much know who the regulars are and who the vacationers are. My observation is vacationers spend alot of time on the phone. Good luck in your business venture and have a good night.

Lizard, which beach? It would be interesting to see if I could spot you. If I think it is you I will close my computer and wave.

Indian chief

Indian Chief,
Monday,Wed,Friday on Hotel on the Cay, Sandra can point me out if you can't find me.
Tues&Thur at the Buccaneer. Sat & Sun the Kids our out of school so I go to the pool.

Weary,
I gave this a bump, just in case you couldn't find it!