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More considerations---health issues, insurance? Yes, I'm beating the same drum again but it's really quite an issue here if you have chronic health problems, need specialists, or expect to grow old here.
If you have all the above you'd be better off exploring Oahu.
Scarlett -- are you still considering the Big Island? What are the postiives and negatives that you are seeing so far?
We're planning a fact-finding trip in January for an eventual move so this thread is very helpful
Maholo.
I'm not sure, really, sort of weighing options. It sounds like employment on the Big Island can be wicked tough. I want a life change, and I want to go where I feel I will be happiest all the way around. I have really grown to hate winters, they are too hard on me. I'm pretty realistic about the idea of moving, I know it will be very challenging, and I don't want to sell most of my belongings, my house, my car, etc. and land myself someplace where I cannot support myself. Know what I mean? Not really on any definite time line, just exploring options at this point. I was thinking of a fact finding trip in the december timeframe, but I may lean harder toward Maui if employment might be better there.
For now I'm gathering as much info as possible to see if this will be possible. Being 44 years old I have retirement to think about. I don't have a job that will transfer me to Hawaii, I would be doing this completely on my own. And I'm not rich. I can sell my things and have a good chunk of change to get started, but I need to be able to keep the momentum going. And, as some people have pointed out, I would need a good strong "Plan B" in case it didn't work out. My biggest concern with that is if I had to move back to the mainland, where would I go and how would I find a job? I don't really have family and the job market is ridiculous here too.
So, I know this wasn't much help, but it's all I got!! Good luck to you!!
Employment anywhere in the islands for the first year you move here will be tough unless you have some sort of specialized skill set that is in demand. There is no reason for local businesses to hire mainland people since there are already people here who are friends and relatives and need employment. More than likely the mainland folks will leave within a year so generally the businesses won't hire mainland folks until they've been here for a year so the businesses will know they are going to stick around. It's just the way it is. At least, on the Big Island it seems to be this way. Also, with the higher cost of living, it is tough to save for retirement. Still, folks manage somehow. I think perhaps because they do a huge change from how they do things on the mainland although I don't know as if I've ever asked anyone.
I'm not sure, really, sort of weighing options. It sounds like employment on the Big Island can be wicked tough. I want a life change, and I want to go where I feel I will be happiest all the way around. I have really grown to hate winters, they are too hard on me. I'm pretty realistic about the idea of moving, I know it will be very challenging, and I don't want to sell most of my belongings, my house, my car, etc. and land myself someplace where I cannot support myself. Know what I mean? Not really on any definite time line, just exploring options at this point. I was thinking of a fact finding trip in the december timeframe, but I may lean harder toward Maui if employment might be better there.
For now I'm gathering as much info as possible to see if this will be possible. Being 44 years old I have retirement to think about. I don't have a job that will transfer me to Hawaii, I would be doing this completely on my own. And I'm not rich. I can sell my things and have a good chunk of change to get started, but I need to be able to keep the momentum going. And, as some people have pointed out, I would need a good strong "Plan B" in case it didn't work out. My biggest concern with that is if I had to move back to the mainland, where would I go and how would I find a job? I don't really have family and the job market is ridiculous here too.
So, I know this wasn't much help, but it's all I got!! Good luck to you!!
Have you considered the Gulf Coast? Mobile/Daphne area? Employment has really picked up there and the cost of living is CHEAP.
I'm not sure, really, sort of weighing options. It sounds like employment on the Big Island can be wicked tough. I want a life change, and I want to go where I feel I will be happiest all the way around. I have really grown to hate winters, they are too hard on me. I'm pretty realistic about the idea of moving, I know it will be very challenging, and I don't want to sell most of my belongings, my house, my car, etc. and land myself someplace where I cannot support myself. Know what I mean? Not really on any definite time line, just exploring options at this point. I was thinking of a fact finding trip in the december timeframe, but I may lean harder toward Maui if employment might be better there.
For now I'm gathering as much info as possible to see if this will be possible. Being 44 years old I have retirement to think about. I don't have a job that will transfer me to Hawaii, I would be doing this completely on my own. And I'm not rich. I can sell my things and have a good chunk of change to get started, but I need to be able to keep the momentum going. And, as some people have pointed out, I would need a good strong "Plan B" in case it didn't work out. My biggest concern with that is if I had to move back to the mainland, where would I go and how would I find a job? I don't really have family and the job market is ridiculous here too.
So, I know this wasn't much help, but it's all I got!! Good luck to you!!
Well, I think there are two important criteria things you mentioned.
#1 - you want somewhere warm. This implies that nothing about Hawaii particularly attracts you. It's just anywhere that is warm is what is attracting you.
#2 - you have a lot of stuff you don't want to sell.
My suggesion is research places that are more south of where you live now. If 'warmth' is a major criteria, there are plenty of places that meet that criteria that are much closer to home. That way you don't have to sell most everything you own. You can easily drive it down to the more southern place, as leisurely as you want. It'll also be easier to explore those more southern places from you in the vehicle you already have, without needing to ship or buy a new one with a 'checking out a warm place in the middle of the Pacific Ocean' option.
I don't know about warm, I check the weather in HI daily and I think I'm going to have a lot of shock over how cold it is there. My spouse arrived Tuesday night (he starts his new job TODAY!!!) and he said it's really cold in Honolulu. Of course that's relative, coming from the Caribbean, anything under 78 feels chilly to us.
Indeed, there are other warm places to move to.
I'd like to add that schlepping personal belongings is highly overrated. I downsized a huge home and garage full of stuff to four pallets before moving to my current island. In retrospect, one pallet would have been more than sufficient. So now I'm selling another 3/4 of my belongings before our move to HI.
When we move later this summer, I anticipate three suitcases and a dog each for my spouse and I, and maybe a dozen parcel post boxes and a couple of flat rate priority boxes, for tools and expensive-to-replace kitchen items.
Of course, if you really want to move to HI and simply can't part with stuff, why don't you put your things in storage where you live now and rent a furnished place until you see if you like it? You can always ship your things later.
I don't know about warm, I check the weather in HI daily and I think I'm going to have a lot of shock over how cold it is there. My spouse arrived Tuesday night (he starts his new job TODAY!!!) and he said it's really cold in Honolulu. Of course that's relative, coming from the Caribbean, anything under 78 feels chilly to us.
The biggest difference between the Carribbean and Honolulu is the humidity and it is more breezy - the temps are about the same - but really cold?. The average high in St. Thomas this upcoming week (83) is the same in Honolulu. When you move to Hilo, the temp will be lower since it isn't as sunny but you'll have a bit more humidity.
Well, I think there are two important criteria things you mentioned.
#1 - you want somewhere warm. This implies that nothing about Hawaii particularly attracts you. It's just anywhere that is warm is what is attracting you.
#2 - you have a lot of stuff you don't want to sell.
My suggesion is research places that are more south of where you live now. If 'warmth' is a major criteria, there are plenty of places that meet that criteria that are much closer to home. That way you don't have to sell most everything you own. You can easily drive it down to the more southern place, as leisurely as you want. It'll also be easier to explore those more southern places from you in the vehicle you already have, without needing to ship or buy a new one with a 'checking out a warm place in the middle of the Pacific Ocean' option.
Hi,
I didn't say I had a lot of things that I don't want to sell, I said I can sell my things and have a good chunk of change in my pocket. I actually have very little that I would really care about keeping and it wouldn't be hard to move any of it, smaller boxes, no biggie. Most of my things are just material objects with no attachment to them.
I've been many places with warm climates, and they're all nice but noplace has struck me as "home" like Hawaii. Hawaii is so different than the rest. Life is different, the atmosphere, the ocean, the people, the energies, and just everything. I felt like I fit in. Hard to explain in a short little entry. Every time I've been there it felt like such a positive place, more than anywhere else I've ever been. And no, I'm not one of those people who vacation there and think life would be like my vacations. I'm a lot more realistic than that, I know it may be a LOT harder to make ends meet. I know life would carry on much the same, there would still be stress and life troubles just like anywhere else. I simply said I want a warm climate because I can't take the winters in Colorado anymore. Some of those southern places you mentioned are nice, but not where I would ever consider living. Nice places to visit but no interest in it other than that.
I'm not just randomly thinking about this, I've pondered it for ten years off and on, it's just never been possible until fairly recently to think I could work toward such a goal of moving there.
Sorry....I see where the confusion was......I didn't say I don't want to sell my things, I said I don't want to sell everything and land myself somewhere that I can't support myself. I don't mind selling most of my things, I just don't want to sell almost everything I have only to find out I can't make it in Hawaii as a solo effort. It's a huge huge huge decision, and that's why I'm trying to research it and not rush into anything. I want to up my chances of success as much as possible and do it right if I'm going to do it at all.
The biggest difference between the Carribbean and Honolulu is the humidity and it is more breezy - the temps are about the same - but really cold?. The average high in St. Thomas this upcoming week (83) is the same in Honolulu. When you move to Hilo, the temp will be lower since it isn't as sunny but you'll have a bit more humidity.
Heh, I got a call at noon my time (6 a.m. Honolulu time) requesting a jacket be sent to Honolulu via priority mail. Two nights on Oahu made him realize how chilly it is there. No matter what the thermometer says, his skin says "I'm cold, send that damn jacket stat!"
We don't live on St. Thomas btw. And the average highs don't matter...it's the lows, but that should be obvious.
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