I love the views, the warmth, the way the sun glistens on the water, the many shades of blue, the hundreds of sea creatures found while snorkeling, the view of the other islands at night off my balcony, the peaceful sounds of the waves, drinking a buschwacker on coki beach, swimming in the warm water surrounded by palm trees, coves and other islands, forgetting what day it is and that after the weeks up I'll be sitting back in my office looking at pictures of the islands and wishing I was back there.

I couldn't say it better than Leeko just said it. It's just a different world down there...

It's everything about STJ. The air full of scents of the wild plants growing in abandon, with flowers blooming. The silky warmth of the sun soaked air, blending with the salts of the sea that clings to your skin, making it tingle. Blue waters, and sailboats gliding over the waves, catching the wind and taming it, to take you into coves and hidden places. The rustle of the underbrush as crabs sidle along, or a mongoose crossing you path unexpectedly. Coming across a deer, who freezes at the sight of you, scenting the air for a clue as to what you are, and the opportunity to watch it watching you. The warm envigorating waters gliding over your body, and the shock of entering the water for the first time in a year and the familiararity that comes over you as you start to float on the water, communing with the fish and creatures below you. The coral waving in greeting as you swim by, and the darting fish playing hide and seek. Being with your love, as you sit together with libations after a day of sun and water and gaze out at the view that you will never tire of, the boats sailing by, the rainshowers coming over the water, the rainbows appearing out of nowhere. The peace that comes over you when you know that the very air welcomes you home.

You people are making me sick. Me and my damn threads. LOL!!!

I can tell you this much, I have seen many beautiful places here in the U.S. Been all over the place, but as I have gotten older and have taken visits back home, I have come to realize that the Caribbean is a unique place unto its own. I can't really put my finger on it per se, but I want to say that our people has a lot to do with it along with the fact that the surroundings can be ever so breathtaking.

It's not so much anymore about just being home. It is like a spiritual moment when I'm there. I really used to think the tourists magazines use to hype up the region just to seel trips there until I went home in January. I REALLY took note of the tropical Trade Winds and out laid back attitudes. There is also this idea amongst some of our people (moreso in islands where travel to the U.S requires visas) that somehow those who have left home and live in the states are doing much better, at least financially. I can tell you this much. Many Caribbean nationals would tell you that if they had the money OR if they were not ashamed to return home (because they came here and did not fulfill the goals they set out to meet), they would move back in a heartbeat. You see, many of us had this idea that going to the states would make our lives better in the sense of more opportunities, but after being here a while, you realize it is not like home. It's a cut throat world where you are nothing more than a social security number or good and bad credit. Depending on where you live, neighbors don't know you, care to know you or you care to know them. Family can be in the same city and you hardly see them. You can just sometimes feel lost in this big place.

When I was home the air was different. The night sky filled with stars, the ocean water different and so clear. People knew me. You felt like someone, attached to something. Could stop anywhere and strike up a conversation with MY people. Here I have old women clutching bags, people just being rude for rude sake (yes I know we have some home too) and just this idea that one cares for no one else but themselves. Granted, bad things have caused whole societies here to evolve into such types of people.

I want to go home, but with a young family of four you know money is not easy and you have to sit here and plan well advance (sometimes years) just to take a trip that might last just a week. That sucks, doesn't it?

Gosh, we are all so poetic. I think we should start writing professionally!! Though I live in a beautiful part of the mainland U.S., there is something about getting away for that one week, away from the cold and snow, that does something for the very soul. Only 8 more months and I will be back to our beloved STJ

I love who I am and how I feel when I am down there. I love each and everything about STJ, but my absolute favorite time of day is around 5:30-6:00 right when the sun is going down, and it is quite. I think that is the time I feel most peaceful. I love the smells and the sounds...the views and the people...I love EVERYTHING. Only 155 more days....

Orion,

I don't know where you live, but in my home town, neighbors take care of each other, I see my family more than I need to, strangers are mostly polite, and we have many things to enjoy that you can not find in the Virgin Islands. Such as.....fly fishing, snow skiing, white water rafting, driving on a road with a sholder, neighborhood tennis leage, UT men's baseball winning the College World Series, Macy's, my church, the Rockies, the Statue of Liberty, the Smithsonion, you get my point. I could go on and on.

So we all agree that the VI's are a special place. But,there is no place like home.

It begins before you set foot on the ground-when the plane is descending and you glimpse the color of the water, then you step out of the plane door and the warm humid breeze kind of smacks you and lets you know you're in the tropics. The mountain behind the airport, the rows of flowered hedges everywhere. Then ditto the beach and water experiences of Leeko and Jo-Ann. But we have had such positive interactions with the people too. When we look a little lost, the older gentlemen sitting by the harbor come up and help, with nothing expected, going to the local barbershop, being pleasant to them and receiving much more back. I'm sad to read comments like "slow, lazy" or making the island sound like a crime infested hovel. I'm not in denial that bad things happen. But where do you go to avoid any bad thing? The pace is something we could all learn from - why does everything need to be emailed, faxed now, now NOW! We wonder why we're all ill from stress diseases. The peace and beauty of St. John is a true natural wonder, but we like St. Thomas because the feel of the people is a big part of the experience we enjoy. We also like to drive there alot (both islands). Every hill and turn an unexpected post-card vista. Some take your breath away.

Deb, the USVI's are part of the USA too. Not that I don't love our country, and my hometown and state, but I guess I am a beach girl at heart. Not much of a winter person, though snow is beautiful when it's just fallen. But the islands offer something that you can't get at home---a piece of the unusual, a different scene, a breath of air and scents that you don't find at home. Can't say that driving on a road with a shoulder or not makes too much different to me, especially when I live on a dirt (in spring time, mud) road. Don't care for skiing, but do love to swim, and STJ gives me a chance to swim in something a little warmer than our NH sea water, and something new to see. Church is where you find it, and I can't be closer to God than when I'm in the beautiful nature that God has given us, here on the mainland, and the islands.

Jo-Ann

A agree with what you say about the Virgin Islands. They certainly do offer many things we can not find in the states. But, I do take exception to Orion refering the the states as "a cut throat world were you're only a ss# and good and bad credit."

I personally take offense to comments like these. There are millions of people who would love to take his place if he is so unhappy here.