Well, it’s official. Sweet Spice, our island paradise home is gone. We’re still stateside and so we haven’t seen the damage in person, but the words that have been used to describe it are “destroyed”, “totally destroyed”, “missing”, and “not much left.”
Weirdly, one of our neighbors found our high-quality sign in the rubble. It outilved the house.
We’re fine. We’re in Indianapolis where Jennifer is finishing up a week of work. We were supposed to head back home in a few days, but that can’t happen now. Not just because we don’t have a house or any possessions left, but also because the whole island is just devastated. I mean, really devastated. The pictures we’ve seen and the few messages we’ve gotten from friends, neighbors, and the coconut telegraph have been totally heartbreaking. As far as we can tell, it’s just a complete disaster zone. Here’s a picture I stole from an interweb page about our neighborhood.
The media coverage of the Virgin Islands was super sparse, especially in the first few days after the storm but there are some reports coming out now. Like this article in the Washington Post about how the people in our neighborhood, Coral Bay, are coping. Read it. It’s totally amazing. And speaking of things that are amazing, almost everyone we can think of has been accounted for. If you see the pictures, you’ll know how crazy that it is.
Before
After
And then maybe if you’re feeling generous you could make a donation so that the people in STJ can buy chainsaws and diapers and tarps and mosquito repellent, and hopefully maybe some beer because my neighbors have been huddling under mattresses in a Category 5 hurricane, dodging power lines and dead donkeys, cutting each other out of barricaded houses, and just generally surviving for 8 days already and I think they deserve some beer. This is St. John we’re talking about after all. Withdrawal is a real consideration.
As far as our plans go, we really don’t have any yet. I think we’re a little shell shocked. We just sold our Winnebago, by the way. That was actually one of our goals when we planned this trip. Things were going so swimmingly with all the improvements at Sweet Spice we decided to just focus on the house. Good timing. Go us.
Coachese in happier times. So long, Coachese!
I don’t know much about blogging, but I’m pretty sure I read that it’s really important to pick a specific subject and stick with it. That’s going to be fairly fucking tough since this blog is supposed to be about our travels in our Winnebago and our life in our house in St. John…and we don’t have either of those things anymore. So, unless you’re super stoked to read about whatever it is that we end up doing from here on out, feel free to un-follow us or de-subscribe or whatever. Who could blame you?
Our post-Tuesday reality will most likely involve driving down to Florida to stay with family while we figure out what’s next. Ultimately, we’ll rebuild and live in STJ. We know this. We just have to figure out how. I mean, we’d like nothing better than to go home on Tuesday. Because clearly what St. John needs right now is two more homeless, middle-aged ladies. And their dogs. Probably not. So for the immediate future we’re completely open to suggestions. Seriously. Ideas currently being batted around include: another RV (that actually works), a tent on our property, a container house. We’re spinning. Who has ideas?
detached and amused 
No way we are unfollowing you!! I can’t wait to hear about the next adventure. Really terrible about your neighbors! $ heading that way!
The container house is an interesting idea. I want to know more. Might need a guest container house as well no?
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Container compound!!! Why think small?
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I am soooo sorry this happened. Will not unfollow..:( I am heart broken that STJ has been so catostrophically impacted by Irma. Hang in there and you’ll get back! And STJ will come back! ❤️
I was to leave for a month to STJ on Oct. 1. Can’t bring myself to even update my blog I set up for the trip. Can’t even imagine how you all feel!!
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Thanks for the kind words. Sorry about your trip. Maybe next year? STJ will definitely come back!
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I’m so sorry! Everything will work out! Love you guys.
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Thanks, Jourdan! We love you back.
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Hey! It’s kind of cold up here then but we will need a house sitter for this Winter. Late Dec – end of April but we have room to park an RV before and after that. We’re in Bend, Oregon. PM me if you’re interested! mytguin@hotmail.com.
You make me laugh. I would never un-follow you. – Cheers, Colleen and Betsy
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Well you make me cry. Wow. That is the kindest offer ever. Oregon, huh? Never been to Oregon…
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Come live with us in LA…seriously, we have an in law room & even if we didn’t you should come live w/ us because it will be awesome to have you guys for as long as we can. That is all.
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Have no doubt, my friend. If we get the RV we are definitely coming out there. We already put seeing you guys in the ‘pro’ column on our RV spreadsheet. Ok, we don’t have a spreadsheet but you know what I mean. Thanks, AMZ. You’re the best.
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Are you kidding! Of course I’ll keep following your blog because 1)-I love your pioneering attitude and 2)-You will, like so many others, be back on STJ at some point and I never miss an opportunity to read about my beloved island. You will be ok. The Universe, the Goddess or whatever will lead you to where you need to be. In the meantime, know that you are being sent love, strength and good thoughts by a lot of folks. Take care. Hope to hear some good news soon. Smooch the pups for me!
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So heartbroken to hear about your home, your Island, your friends- and the donkeys! Will absolutely never unfollow, can’t wait to see how you rally, and already uplifted reading other comments! We were so beyond fortunate in my city (Tampa). Friends and strangers are still kind of looking around and at each other, shocked into silence at how grateful we are that we’re still standing. I know you said you’d be in Florida at some point and I’m not sure where, but my neighborhood in downtown Tampa has a few awesome dog parks if you need a place for them to run around, and if there is anything you need while you’re here we’re happy to help!
The islands will surely rebuild. We’re all rooting for you!
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There’s always a spot for your RV and some fresh bread waiting for you in Bucks County!
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Thinking of you guys. Look at it as your own personal roadium. I actually did some work in a container house. It was super cool. I could totally see you guys living in one. You know there is always a room here in Rehoboth. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.
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Thinking of you guys. Look at it as your own personal roadium. I actually did some work in a container house. It was super cool. I could totally see you guys living in one. You know there is always a room here in Rehoboth. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.
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Thanks, Mike! Yeah, we’re pretty sure this is our year for the podium. We are envisualizing it daily. It’s pretty much a done deal. We are absolutely coming your way (at some point) and would love to pick your very elite brains on the container house idea.
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Definitely not unfollowing! If you drive to the Florida keys let me know .. maybe give it a few months down here though, still cleaning up after Irma ourselves.
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