Hooked on St. John, but never been.
This may be a first in the annals of St. John addiction profiling: A reader who has been obsessed with St. John for 3 years …but who has not even been to the island. Yet.
Shannon Meglasson of the Dallas/Ft. Worth area sends us these St. John in the Snow pictures, noting DFW’s record breaking 12 inches of snow.
“I am obsessed with St. John, and will be on island for the first time March 21! It will only be for a few hours as part of a cruise I am taking with my friends, but I can’t wait,” she tells us. “I’ve been a reader for three years and start every day with St. John Websites. I hope to be a future resident.”
Wow. Hooked even before the high. You’re a crack dealer’s dream, Shannon. We have a feeling you’ll be back.
Below, Shannon’s homemade painkiller, and co-worker Phil’s photo of Texas’ Shiner beer and a Whalebone Surf Shop sticker (NC) on his mailbox.
February 20th, 2010 00:23
I predict St. John’s population will grow by 1 on March 22… and a cruise ship will have an empty bed upon it’s return to Florida later that week…
February 20th, 2010 06:45
I totally understand Shannon’s obsession with STJ! Don’t we all! I visited 5 years ago for a cousin’s wedding and found myself hooked. I’ve bought books about the island, watch every show that has anything to do with the caribbean, and have repeatedly tried to perfect the Painkiller recipe (will need many more years of taste testing before I get it right!) There truely is something magical about that big rock in the ocean. Will be returning on May 3rd…hope to meet a few of you locals at the many watering holes where I will be doing more research about the Painkiller. Until then, keep safe. Nancie
February 20th, 2010 06:52
Shannon is sure to fall head over heels in a few short hours, and then she’ll be just like the rest of us addicts…spending a good deal of our free time planning our next trip, and missing STJ every day!
February 20th, 2010 06:53
I hope she remembers to get back on the cruise ship. I agree she will be back especially when she sees how cheap the Cruzan rum is! I think you should find out what ferry she will be on and video the experience!
February 20th, 2010 08:31
I agree with Steve! Shannon ain’t comin’ back~
I wouldn’t either if I didn’t have kids who love their Dallas friends and lifestyle so much. But we will try to change their minds in October when we pull them out of school for a week to take them to STJ and take a tour of the Gifft Hill School!! Tee-Hee!
February 20th, 2010 09:03
Shannon,
Since you will only be here a short time make sure you take a taxi up our North Shore Road.
You will be stunned by the views.
February 20th, 2010 09:38
Shannon I hope you having been saving your pennies and I bet you will be thinking about your return trip before you disembark at the next port. Good luck trying to resist!
February 20th, 2010 10:12
I so completely understand! I’ve only been to St. John one time (summer of 2005), found and was hooked on the Bongo Bongo blog shortly after my return, and have been hooked on On-StJohn.com since it’s inception. I’ll be back on island some day…I just don’t know when. Therefore, I live vicariously through this web site and the stories of you all!
February 20th, 2010 10:28
Shannon is in for a real treat~but, I cannot imagine just being in STJ for a few hours. You’d have to drag me back to the ship.
Have fun on the 21st Shannon! Only a month away.
February 20th, 2010 11:32
Wow! I didn’t realize there were so many Texans that love STJ as much as I do. We’ve got to get together someday. I live in Dallas as well and managed to get through the snow and unusually cold winter this year by reading On-StJohn and planning my next trip for this fall. Have a great time Shannon…you have no idea how hard it is going to be to get back on that cruise ship. Enjoy!
February 20th, 2010 12:33
Some of the best island tours are conducted by real estate agents… but that’s for the truly serious addicts.
February 20th, 2010 19:45
Have a fabulous time! Like everyone else, I don’t know how you’ll manage to leave after just a few hours. Love the pix. The only thing I’d change is the Painkiller glass – IMO it should always be served in a plastic cup :>
February 21st, 2010 02:45
Hahaha – my friends will get a kick out of me being ‘a crack dealer’s dream’ – and they would whole-heartedly agree. They’ve been hearing about St. John for 3yrs now. There are so many places I want to go on St. John and I have no idea how I’m going to decide which ones to put off until next time.
I have already warned my boss that I may not be back – especially since they have snow in the forecast AGAIN next Tuesday. Maybe the Dallas area addicts should get together to get through this unusually cold winter. Better yet, we should have an On-StJohn.com readers get together on the island! Thanks for all the comments and suggestions. I’ll email Jeff some pics from my trip (or from my new home haha).
Yez – It actually is a plastic cup.
February 21st, 2010 12:15
You will love the place. We were there two years ago just for a day trip from St Thomas and fell under the island’s spell. We’re headed back this May and we’re bringing six others along. So there will be another half dozen STJ addicts soon.
Enoy you time there.
February 21st, 2010 15:23
I can identify with Shannon! I check this site and the Sprice Web Cam every morning in anticipation of my first trip to STJ — in 17 days! I’ve been watching other people get off the ferry, via the web cam, for so long and wishing I could be one of them. Soon I will be! Luckily, I’m staying longer than Shannon — I’ll be on the island over a week.
February 22nd, 2010 10:48
Congratulations on your frist trip Mary! It’s too bad we will have just missed each other, it would have been fun to get together. You’ll have to send in some pics and tell us about your trip.
St John really does have magic, doesn’t it?
February 22nd, 2010 10:48
Hahahaha Shannon is so a crack dealer’s dream!!! I cannot tell you how excited she is to finally make it there! St John is ALL Shannon can EVER think about! Seriously several days a week she talks about what she can sell to make her dream happen faster and whether she should buy a sail boat and just live the simple life on her boat on her island. This really may be a trip she doesnt return from…guess I need to make dinner plans with her before she goes
February 22nd, 2010 17:13
Right there with you Shannon !!!!! I live in Dallas to and never been to St John But planning to pull a month trip ( botanical villas, check it out it’s an Eco / camping resort ) ,end of summer. I have been reading everything I can to get ready and wonder myself if I will make it back. Good luck Lady !!!!!!
February 22nd, 2010 21:12
It only takes one visit – you are hooked!!! We have been coming to St. John since 1987 – yes 23 years! It is the best! Just start saving your pennies for the next visit (oops! I meant start saving the Ben Franklins) Enjoy your visit!
February 23rd, 2010 13:46
Colleen, We looked at Gifft Hill School, and decided to move here. Our son started at the school last month and we are all thriving here on St. John. If you have kids who have to go to school, alas, you can indeed move here. Gifft Hill may be a small school but it is energetic and a quiet place for kids to learn. It isn’t impossible to move here, Shannon. You need an airplane, some credit cards, good manners and a positive attitude. Everything else falls into place….
February 23rd, 2010 17:26
I visited St. John on shore excursions from St. Thomas when I was on Cruises three times. The first two were to Honeymoon Beach for a sail/snorkel and the other time we went on an excursion to Trunk Bay. Sitting there on Trunk Bay Beach I vowed to myself to come back so I could spend more time on that heavenly beach. The next summer I booked a trip and now I’m hooked for life. I think of STJ often and wonder how I could ever afford to live there. Anyone hiring? Martha what do you do for work there? I’ve been selling real estate in Orlando for about 18 years. Wonder if there’s room for another Realtor there? Shannon, you’re going to love it. The pictures, videos don’t do it justice.
February 24th, 2010 00:13
Shannon,
… anyone who lives in the islands and has read this book would probably agree,you should read “Don’t Stop The Carnival” if you are thinking about moving down.It will give you a knowing grin when things go haywire and give you an idea of what goes haywire!!…….. “Follow your bliss” Joseph Campbell
February 25th, 2010 09:32
Thanks David! I have read “Don’t Stop the Carnival” and enjoyed it. And for any of the other addicts that may read this article and are looking for a fun read, I have also enjoyed
“Desiring Paradise” by Karin Schlesinger
“Life in the Left Lane” by Emy Thomas
“A Trip to the Beach” by Melinda Blanchard
“An Embarrassment of Mangoes” by Ann Vanderhoof
Not all of these are about St. John, but they are each personal accounts of discovering the…quirks of Caribbean living.
February 26th, 2010 15:28
Hey Shannon -
Well I am going again in June. You need to head down there girl ! Personally, I am in love with Maho (best snorkeling on the planet), but the entire North Shore is just amazing. When you get ready, contact Kristen Cox at St. John Ultimate Vilas. She will take care of you and make everything easy and perfect. And don’t forget to check out JJ’s Texas Cafe when you get there and have grouper burger. Although Skinny Legs hamburgers are damn tasty !
Lloyd
March 1st, 2010 11:43
Thanks Lloyd! Yeah picking one or two beaches because of limited time isn’t going to be easy. mmmm…now I’m hungry!
March 1st, 2010 14:25
Hi Shannon,,o m g, when I read your post i got soo excited for you. I have been obsessed w/ st. john for abour 10 years and talk about it till someone says “ENOUGH”..lol My daughter and son in law are there now,celebrating thier 1st anniv..They got married on st john last year, and they are addicts as well..I found a web site called St. John spice cam cruz bay, and its awsome to see the ferrys come in, and still hoping to see my daughter on it soon,, its cool..hey, if you like mexican food and marghrettas , the Surly Cantina in town is amazing..Also,Woodys saloon is a hotspot in town and Kenny Chesney frequents it,, hes good friends w/ the owner!!! If you have any questions I know much about the island.. I can’t make it this year but I AM going for 2 weeks next year,,hell or high water…lol Enjoy your trip,, you will be back>>> best Laura/ carribegirl…..