Transient People
I have a little problem. Maybe it’s a big problem. But it is my problem. I have issues with people who come down here for our “busy season” and go away again when the money dries up. One of the reasons I have issues with this mentality is that our island has many many problems (or to be more PC – “challenges”) that are here year-round.
We have problems with pet overpopulation, pit bull and cock fighting, HIV-AIDS, substance abuse, illiteracy, domestic violence, solid waste, environmental carelessness, political corruption, etc. Not unlike most other places, of course, but we are here year-round fighting these uphill battles, with our limited resources, trying to help in as many areas as we can.
I really would prefer not to have to fight these battles. It would be soooo nice to just go to the beach everyday instead of staying home to pick up dog poop, feed and medicate the animals I have adopted, make phone calls to insurance companies and government agencies, write letters (and blog posts), run my business, and keep my house and yard clean. Maybe I’ll just start doing that. I’m getting pretty tired of working and fighting.
But my conscience will not let me rest. Whenever someone tells me they’d like to move here, I say, “Great! We have soooo much work that needs to be done, and we sure could use the help!” But when people say, “I’d like to come for the busy season and then move on to my next adventure”, my comment may be something like, “Why don’t you just skip St. Croix and go on to your next ‘adventure’.” Oh, well, as I’ve said, I have a problem with this attitude….
People who come here on vacation may or may not see what we experience, and that’s okay. They come here to spend money. Our economy needs their dollars. Often, they like the island so much that they come back, spend more money, repeat the process and eventually move here. At that point, they have made a commitment. And at that point, they may choose only to contribute to our societal ills or try to help solve them. Either way, they are going to spend money on housing, food, goods and services, etc.
They will work if need be, and they will have free time to get involved if they are concerned. Usually they do get involved. There are people who have extremely different political views from mine, but they get involved in helping the community. And I respect that tremendously.
In my opinion, and from what I’ve seen over the years, many who come here to “work for a season” (or to fulfill a limited-time contract obligation with the refinery or one of its subcontractors), will party like rock-stars and not care about where their empty beer bottles go among other things. We frequently hear, “…someone should do something about…such and such….” from these folks. They are just here to make money. And there’s nothing I can do or say to stop that, but I can express my opinion. 
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:38 pm
well i finally totally agree with you guys on something, i despise the transients, they do nothing but suck money out of the pockets of those of us that have made this our home and that have mortgages to pay, i generally encourage them to go to STT or puerto rico and over the years i’ve seen fewer of them here,i’m not sure about the massage business but for food and beverage i see fewer and fewer. On another note i see that the senate is trying to repeal the gill net ban, who is responsible and who in DC do we contact to let our opposition be known.
April 3rd, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Wow! I thought I’d just get a lot of opposing opinions from people trying to edify me…..Like my husband…..
I think I’d try to get to the Department of the Interior. Or maybe someone at our local National Park Service could help with contact info. They’re usually very helpful in these matters.
April 4th, 2008 at 6:40 am
I lived in a town for five years that was a tourist town very dependant on tourist dollars. It was also a college town. (Okay, you can stop laughing that I was in college for 5 years)
There were three very different dynamics, the locals, the college students and the tourists. We all three had a very different agenda and outlook on life. We all had very strong opinions about each other although I think the tourists were oblivious to it.
But, it was all the stuff that made up the community. I hated it. My distaste for the locals keeps me away to this day, but I was a college student and I still am in my memory of the place.
I went up to my old college town of Boone, NC for the first time in decades just last fall. It is now a college town first and tourist town second. But it is still a little mountain town. The same hills hang in the background the same creeks are running and the same forests abound.
I am not sure what I am trying to express but I know that there will always be opportunistic people, opinionated people, and bitchy people.
Life has taught me many lessons and I learn every day. I dread the next life lesson because they are usually painful. Three that I have learned that may apply here are:
Lesson one: keep fighting the good fight if you know in your heart you are right.
Lesson two: roll with the punches. The punches will always come at you, learn to deflect them.
Lesson three: You will always have enemies even though you may think you are a quite likable person. These enemies will try to undermine what you are trying to accomplish.
Just my opinion….
April 4th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
Hey Wreg, what about lesson four….Keep a good supply of Prozac or Cruzan rum on hand at all times
April 4th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
Both.
April 5th, 2008 at 2:28 am
Okay, so I’m a few days behind, and if I had read this post before replying to the previous, I would have kept my whining to myself.
Lesson Five … Never play leap-frog with a unicorn, especially if you’ve been enjoying that Cruzan Rum.
P.S. still nursing a bottle of Dark, spiced, orange, raspberry and rum cream, but the supply is getting low, it must be time for a return trip.
April 5th, 2008 at 10:33 am
Cool, Chip! We’ll tell Goliath to get ready for “The return of Alex”!
April 5th, 2008 at 10:45 am
Chip, isn’t rum cream fantastic? I could put a nipple on a bottle and nurse all day.
April 7th, 2008 at 3:45 am
Rum Cream is the best. Its the only way I’ll drink coffee (okay Bailey’s will do in a pinch). I guess its a good thing I’m not a big coffee drinker, otherwise it might be difficult to keep my job.