Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
|
|
Even though I know I am taking a risk of sending some in this site into hives or anaphylactic shock, I am going to ask this question anyway.
I would love to own a place on SBH. Would love it. It would be my first three choices of where to live part of the year someday. But unless I find out that gypsies spiritted me away from my real parents who are really oil tycoons, it probably aint gonna happen.
Short of owning on SBH, I would like to be in the region and have the ability to pop in and out if I chose. St Martin is more affordable, particularly the condo route. And, dont discount this, I can actually get a remunerative job someday IN MY CAREER FIELD on St Martin, something I cant do on St Barts.
I would live on the French side, bien sur, probably in some midlevel condo. I could then pop over to SBH for weekenders pretty much at will (Miker, give me Sugar's number for this - LOL).
I know that St Martin actually has its Closet Fans in this site, Andynap being one of the few brave enough to come out of the closet.
Understanding the larger size, cruise ships, greater crime, etc on St Martin, is this plan even doable or nutty?
Merci en avance.
|
Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15621
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
|
|
anything works as long as you are comfortable with it.....too hell with what anyone else thinks...and its Suger, not Sugar......
--------------------
karma is a beautiful thing at times
|
Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
|
|
Merci. I guess the question I should have asked is this something I should be comfortable with?
|
Dennis
Reged: 04/05/04
Posts: 3118
Loc: Chicago
|
|
Would you be comfortable marrying the best friend of the girl you "truly" love just so you could see her often?
|
georgedp
Reged: 06/22/04
Posts: 2772
Loc: Beautiful hunterdon county new...
|
|
IV
Why not Saba? Also close to SBH and housing prices seem reasonable whether you are buying or renting. And crime does not appear to be an issue, at least not yet. A bit small and perhaps a bit too sleepy but, anytime you are bored just take a quick hop to SBH. They have a medical school.
|
Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
|
|
Quote:
IV
Why not Saba? Also close to SBH and housing prices seem reasonable whether you are buying or renting. And crime does not appear to be an issue, at least not yet. A bit small and perhaps a bit too sleepy but, anytime you are bored just take a quick hop to SBH. They have a medical school.
I like the fact that SXM is a major air hub so that I can get in and out without problem. I might find Saba just a little quiet (have a friend who actually went to medical school there). Plus, SXM has good eats and french beaches, two things I enjoy.
|
Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
|
|
Quote:
Would you be comfortable marrying the best friend of the girl you "truly" love just so you could see her often?
Well, it's either marry the best friend or stay single for life, the occasional daliance notwithstanding.
|
Dennis
Reged: 04/05/04
Posts: 3118
Loc: Chicago
|
|
Quote:
Quote:
Would you be comfortable marrying the best friend of the girl you "truly" love just so you could see her often?
Well, it's either marry the best friend or stay single for life, the occasional daliance notwithstanding.
I hear you, dawg...
|
Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15621
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
|
|
Quote:
Would you be comfortable marrying the best friend of the girl you "truly" love just so you could see her often?
sounds good to me...LOL
IV...as you know we have talked at length about this all in private so I'm not going to repeat myself here...but I can think of far worse places to be stuck in...like NJ for instance...but that aside.....if St Martins offers the kind of things that can sustain you and your family - long term......go for it....so many people move out to where we live thinking it will just so perfect and all...and it is....for a short time....then they realize that real life has set in and goes on here for those of us who are not on permanent vacation, after the luster of it all diminishes...and then they end up leaving......so make sure wherever it is fits in with the needs of a long term stay.......I had to spend a fair amount of time in SXM when I first moved down there to haul the grounded boat off of St Martin and barge it back to St Croix, and I had a ball while there....and I also did many day trips over to St Barts..and even though that was a lifetime ago....the two islands were still vastly different then as they are now.....so in that aspect things really havent changed between the two
--------------------
karma is a beautiful thing at times
|
Eric
Reged: 10/07/02
Posts: 679
|
|
IV,
Are you talking about moving to SXM with children or without?
Eric
--------------------
|
Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
|
|
I guess what I need to do is spend a week or so in a condo on SXM and see what I think. It doesn't have to be perfect because, as you have said Miker, anywhere you LIVE is never going to be perfect. When you visit and there is a problem, you make one phone call and it is SOMEONE ELSE'S problem. When you LIVE somewhere and there is a problem, it's YOUR problem.
I would love to someday have a place in the caribbean. SXM, warts and all, does appear on the surface to have a lot of advantages.
developing...
|
andynap
Reged: 10/24/02
Posts: 12064
Loc: Philadelphia
|
|
Now that you have taken this public, I don't think any of the posters here has actually stayed there or lived there to be able to give you advice. I think going there for 34 years allows me to answer this. First, don't discount the Dutch side. Cupecoy is a lovely area with beautiful condos and they just built magnificent condos next door. The Towers at Mullet Bay can't be beat and there are great areas all around the Oyster Pond area. These are not crime areas. There are more condos on the Dutch side than French side. Look at this link:
http://www.sxm-hotels.com/dutch_hotels.html
You know where to reach me for more info.
--------------------
Andy -
St. Barts- where no day is ever the same and one day is not enough
|
Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
|
|
Merci andy. I actually had seen some of the condo ads on Sint Maarten but had discounted them because it was the Dutch side. Glad to know that it is worth looking at the whole island.
I probably wont ever do anything but it is fun to dream and scheme.
Merci.
|
andynap
Reged: 10/24/02
Posts: 12064
Loc: Philadelphia
|
|
And if you ever do let me know because next year is my wife's turn and I know we will be going to SXM. I am a good travel guide.
--------------------
Andy -
St. Barts- where no day is ever the same and one day is not enough
|
Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
|
|
Merci. I may take you up on it.
|
Lauren
Reged: 10/10/02
Posts: 1332
|
|
Yeah, SXM isn't a bad place. I have spent some time there on a couple of occasions. However, when people tell me not to walk at midnight on a public beach, when I hear the crime rate is going down, but the murder rate is up...and when it is common knowledge that the police do not follow up criminal complaints...I muse that it just is not the kind of place I want to vacation, especially when none of this occurs in St Barths. Add to that the overdevelopment...I got caught in a massive traffic jam several times on several trips...the cruise ship phenomena... the high rises...the Orient Beach cruise ship attraction...it just doesn't make sense to me IV, why you...a person that could not believe the people on this site telling you how wonderful St Barths was...and now, look how you have fallen head over heels for her magic...you, IV, living in a condo in SXM...next thing I probably will hear is that MikeR is going gaa gaa over NY City...the world is upside down...
|
Mike R
Reged: 05/26/03
Posts: 15621
Loc: Stinson Lake - New Hampshire
|
|
Quote:
...next thing I probably will hear is that MikeR is going gaa gaa over NY City...the world is upside down...
you need not worry about that...been there, done that, lived it...and aint going back other then to visit
--------------------
karma is a beautiful thing at times
|
andynap
Reged: 10/24/02
Posts: 12064
Loc: Philadelphia
|
|
IV you really only need 5 days to scope out the island. Cupecoy Beach Club has condos to rent or if you want the French side- Le Petit Hotel in Grand Case is super. Also, there are sales agencies on line that have nice brochures to look at before you go so you are well informed.
--------------------
Andy -
St. Barts- where no day is ever the same and one day is not enough
|
Island Visitor
Reged: 12/19/02
Posts: 10396
Loc: Retraité
|
|
Merci Andynap.
Lauren: I share your thoughts entirely. Indeed, were I to ever sit in my little condo high atop Condoworld in Sint Maarten, I should spend most of my days wistfully looking across The Great Divide that seperates me from St Barth.
Alas, bowing to the realities of a bank account more suited to St Martin ownership than St Barths, I am just trying to get somewhere in the neighborhood.
I have checked out a lot of angles including living on a boat, nevis, anguilla, USVI, BVI and even martinique. I can draw a bullseye around SBH. Just wish I could hit the target.
|
Lauren
Reged: 10/10/02
Posts: 1332
|
|
Live in Metropolitan France, in the Southwest. TGV to Paris when necessary. Fly direct to SXM via Air France for extended vacations. Best of both worlds. And perhaps you can still practice your vocation...
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
St Barts Lite?
Edit
Reply
Quote
[Re: 