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I loved the thread on the favorite island moment so I thought that I would start another one that I thought would be interesting and fun.
I started to love the ocean when I was 3 or 4 and my family took me to Florida. We went a few times when I was young and I loved walking the beach, swimming and collecting clams in a cup. I loved reading about the sea and I was always looking up coral reefs in books (no Internet then!). By 7th grade I wanted to be an Oceanographer. I studied the ocean and did most of my school projects on something related to the sea.
I realized in High School that becoming an Oceanographer was probably not going to happen since I lived in the Midwest and wasn't willing to move away from my family, and I did not like math too much. I continued to visit Florida and in college went to The Florida Keys and finally snorkeled at reefs for the first time. I have wanted to learn to scuba since, but never did it. I was satisfied with snorkeling, but everywhere we went we had to take boats out to the reefs. We went to the Bahamas and Turks and Caicos where there were a few reefs off shore, but were not very good compared to the Florida Keys. I was searching for a place where we could find good reefs off shore. I thought that Hawaii was the only place. I started researching and discovered St. John and I am so glad that we went there and are going back.
I still dream of scuba diving. My husband won't learn with me and in the Midwest there is no real good place unless you like scuba diving in lakes, which I am not too fond of. I think if I can keep going to St. John, snorkeling will be just fine.
So, my love for the ocean started a long time ago (40 + years). I love St. John because you have the beautiful land and the beaches and the coral reefs. I would like to hear how others got started with their love for the islands/ocean/beaches etc.
My love of the ocean started when I was born (basically) :o) We had a home in Brigantine, New Jersey on the beach block. Would spend my days on the beach, surfing some and just having good old times with all my summer friends down there.
Was lucky enough to go on a cruise with my Mother when I was in 8th grade. I remember waking up the first morning and we were in Nassau. I just couldn't believe that there was water so blue, so turquoise and so clear.
Didn't get to snorkel until I married my husband. We went to the Keys, Grand Cayman, the Bahamas and then to St John and St Thomas. I love snorkeling and my husband has become "comfortable with it". We bought our own gear and now take it everywhere we go. I'd love to snorkel one day and the same as you Terri...husband will not do it...not interested at all. So think I'll stick to the snorkeling..love it anyway.
There's a couple beaches that I'll never forget. One was a beach we found in Freeport. It was so secluded and just absolutely gorgeous. We were the only 2 on that beach. I have no idea why no one was there....
The other beach I won't forget is when I saw Magens Bay for the first time. How beautiful...
I just wish I was there right now!!
I really believe I was born in the wrong place on the earth....Wisconsin!!
NO ocean or good beaches here!
I LOVE the sun & beaches ever since I can remember. Never went on any vacation growing up....just sunbathed with my Mother alot. Dad would take us to Lake Mic hagen....but that was NO beach!
Been to Hawaii, Florida, & California once.....then pulled out the map one day & thought how cool it would be to go to one of those islands really far away....so I just happened to pick St. Thomas for absolutely NO reason!
That was 3yrs. ago & we can't wait to get back!
I have told my family that when I die...they are to spread my ashes across the Caribbean waters!
That's where I shoulda been born!
I am from Wisconsin too (Twin Lakes). Where are you from?
We were in Mackinaw and Door Co. a few months ago. It was beautiful, but not the same as the ocean. The blue color of the Caribbean is so awesome!
I have actually thought about having my ashes spread at Trunk Bay or some beautiful beach. I just haven't told my family yet.
Well, as my username implies, I am indeed land-locked (and have been my entire life) here in St. Louis MO. I think it stems from the fact that you always like (and want) what you don't have. I know so many people living in FL and CA that never go to the beach. I just can't imagine.
I am a lizard re-incarnated I think. Can there be a Lizard Queen (i.e. Jim Morrison the Lizard King)? At any rate, I love just sitiing my bum on a white sand beach, soaking up the rays and vitamin D, getting my skin bronzed (somewhat safely) and occasionally snorkeling or going for a dip in the ocean. My love of the beach started at 6 mos and has built up speed exponentially throughout the years (30, ahem, something now). Found the VI several years ago and gave up on FL, CA, MI or anything else Atlantic or Pacific. The Caribbean, specifically VI's, is the only place for me. Turquoise, clear water - - check. White sugary sand - - check. Warm weather year round -- check. Other fellow reptilian friends present - - check. Good enough for iguanas means perfect for me!!
My passion (obsession?) with the ocean/island/reef began when wife and I took our first cruise to Eastern Caribbean for our 15th wedding anniversary. Sure - we'd been to Florida and South Carolina beaches and had fun there with the family. The visual differences between the VI's and our mainland beach experience is what originally compelled us to return. It took us 4 years after the cruise to travel just to STT for a winter vacation. The total beauty of that vacation will stay with me forever. Beauty in the land; beauty in the color of the water; beauty under the sea; beauty of the people (culture) of the island; most importantly - the beauty of a week alone with my wife to reconnect in paradise. We return every year, and while the trip always thrills me with the sights and sounds of the island, it is knowing that I'll return home with a closer relationship with my wife that keeps that island passion alive!
Wow VI, I hope my husbands thinks things like that. Beautifully put.
terri,
this old man has loved the beach and sea, since the mid 60's when i went on a college fraternity convention to west end grand bahamas. first time i ever say beer in a coin operated drink machine or water as clear as my saturday nite bath water (before). the bride of 40 yrs is sunworshipper, we live outside atlanta ga so logical beach vacations for most of our yrs have been the beach islands of south carolina, and all up and down the florida atlantic and gulf coasts. we've squeezed in trips to bermuda, cancun and grand cayman. butttt, oh the vi's are special, there's a love affair there going on over 26 years. a very long story, i shared once before with a post on this board after my last trip (as in latest not my last unless that's the lord's or the bride's wish) to stj in dec 05.
for those bored enough to be interested in an old fool's falling in love with the vis, go to https://www.vinow.com/wwwtalk/read.php?4,46342,46342#msg-46342
st john though tagged witha masculine name is the grand dame of the islands for papabou and his bride! surely the waters of all the oceans flow from a spring in the sir francis drake channel.
papabou
papabou,
I read your comments when your originally posted your trip report. I just read it again. Really nice job - took me right back. I loved the part where you scored permission from your wife for a trip with a friend, but immediately missed your wife (but still had a blast doing the things you went specifically to do!).
Thanks for the reminder.
vi lover
i have 2 passions, my girls (the bride, the 2 daughters and 2 gdaughters) and stj. i see the girls went i want (even had the pleasure of sharing stj with all of them) but visits to stj have been vicariouly through this and other boards for the last 9 months, not the real thing but a hell of a lot better than nothing.
planned oct visit canned due to father in laws failing health (they seem to do that in their 90th year), but looks like we will return to stj in dec. while bride and i are very content on stj alone, looks like a couple who visited with us in april 05 have the island love bug and will be returning with us in dec. doesn't it make you feel good to have friends who love the things you love? maybe that's why they are friends!
peace,
papabou
Papabou,
I enjoyed your report from your 2005 trip. Thanks for sharing. I wasn't visiting the board in Dec 2005.
I can't wait to go back to STJ. I have to wait until June 2007. The kids are coming this time. In a few years we will have 8 + years of the kid's college years. I hope I can visit STJ when all of that is going on. If not, at least I will have this board!
Terri
