Making the Big Move to St. Croix
About a year ago today, my husband and I visited St. Croix, USVI to celebrate our anniversary. I love St. Croix for many reasons. My husband was born and raised here. We got married here. The enslaved prompted the end of slavery with fire here. The beaches are beautiful here. The food leaves nothing to be desired. There is so much to love.
After our visit, my husband reconnected with a former employer and they offered him a position at a residential and commercial construction firm. I was excited about the possibility of moving. After all, I have always wanted to live on an island or near the beach, but I was also scared.
Can I really live that far away from my parents, family, and friends? They travel often already, I told myself.
What will the team and CEO at my 9 to 5 say? I haven’t worked in the office since 2014 I reminded myself.
Will my business partner be on board with expanding our business to St. Croix while continuing to work together to build KJ Design and Mortar Styling in Baltimore? Baltimore to St. Croix is only a flight (or 2) away I thought.
What about the twins? Will they adjust easily? Now, this was the element that made the choice the most difficult, so we scheduled a trip to visit as a family last September. (We stayed at Renaissance at Carambola, the resort where we wed 5 years earlier.)
Once we confirmed that the girls loved the experience, my husband and I decided to take the plunge and begin plotting out the possibilities. The rest is now history.
Words of Advice
If you are considering making a major move or embarking on a new opportunity in your personal or professional life, I have a few pieces of advice.
Limit sharing. I've learned over the years that you don't need to share everything with everyone. We undoubtedly live in a culture where sharing every detail of our lives is the new norm. Some things are better kept secret until you've had time to mull it over. That includes close friends and loved ones.
Ignore the naysayers. There will be people who try to discourage you. For every action there is a reaction, and not all reactions will be positive. Let them speak their peace and continue to do what's best for you. Opinions are just that for a reason.
Study, study and study. Study yourself and the changes you will have to make as you prepare to transition. This could be lifestyle changes, perspective changes, shopping changes, and the list goes on. Study the new city or state, including the culture, history, business laws, tax requirements, etc. The more you know, the more smooth the transition will be in the end.
Embrace change. This was the most important for me. Moving to St. Croix meant no more babysitters (at least for a while), no support system, no Home Goods, no food delivery services, and much more.
I am still adjusting, but will definitely confirm that it was one of the best choices I've ever made.
Do I miss home and my family and friends? Yes, but I still communicate with them daily and my parents + one of my best lifelong friends have already come to visit.
Do I miss interior design installs? Heck yeah, but also know God will bless us with clients here in the near future. I’ve already made some connections.
Do I miss the old normal? Yes, but the new normal is so rewarding to my spirit and soul.
