Hi all,
Wanted to thank you all for answering all my questions and the good advise leading up to our trip to STT and STJ. Even with 6 or 7 days or rain/clouds it was worth the price.

Started off in STT at Secret Harbour, the week after the mugging happened. We were a bit nervous but just took a few extra precautions, like using the safe, not carrying much cash and such. We did see a couple of the local police escorting what looked like a couple locals off premise one night and there was a guard making the rounds. It was a real nice hotel and we had no problems with anything.
This time of year we didn't need reservations anywhere on our trip, either for restaurants or activities, of course we eat early so that may have something to do with it.
Rented a Jeep from Discount on arrival at the airport. If you've never been to the islands, like us, your in for an experience. Talk about hussle and bussle, combine the open air baggage claim (if that's what you'd call it) to not being able to understand the locals, and you've got a strange start. After getting a timeshare pitch at the visitors info booth the attendant pointed out the phone we could use to call Discount. The fella showed up in our jeep a few minutes later and we proceeded to jam 3 big suitcases and 3 bodies into the thing. Drove over to their office which was by our standards in an old dilapidated building accessed by parking in an alley, it easily could have doubled as a chop shop, lot's of locals standing around watching us. We were not impressed and really figured we were getting kidnapped or some such (never should have read about the mugging the week before!!!). But all turned out very well, the folks in the office were more then accomodating, and it is all very relaxed, which was good because we needed some relaxing. By the way, they do let you take the jeep to STJ, and will come over if you have a problem, other then small stuff like flats. The car was in good shape if not real clean, great tires, brakes, and v8, which proved to be the most important things. Also I saw no rules about not going down the dirt roads, and I did look (but didn't ask).
Thoughly enjoyed the challenge of remembering which side of the road to drive on, thank to my wifes constant chant of "left shoulder to the curb" we didn't kill anyone. My habit of screwing up at intersections actually got better towards the end of the trip. If going to STJ when it may rain, get 4wd, the bigger the motor the better, 35 degree hills with 180 degree switchbacks are quite thrilling, in either direction.
Restaurants in STT... The "blue Moon" restaurant was good, Fungi's was okay, "Off the Hook" was very good. All were pricey as compared to the states but that was expected. All were buggy, we used bug spray after the 1st night on our legs. It took a bit to get to recognise what a store is on the island, some
After a couple days at SH we took the car barge to STJ, which was another new experience. The only ones I've been on you get in line and whent he Ferry pulls in you just drive in. I didn't notice right offf that all the backwards cars had people in them waiting to back on, but did eventually catch on. The round trip was $35 on the Capt'n VIC.