Our move to Maui-info for those who are planning to move

[cwan]

Hi maui08--

I'm from Los Angeles, used to live in San Diego, and now thinking about moving to Maui for a slower pace... if I move I'll be a doctor there, single, female. So my income will be 6 digits, but you mentioned even with a 100K income you had to live check by check... is it really that bad even compared to over here? I want to go because our southern California's getting more and more congested, and the quality of life in terms of work hour expectations for private practice docs is terrible. But like the others here, I'm worried about 1. fitting in, 2. safety, 3. living expense, and lastly... 4. being single forever, since I'm guessing that the population of young professionals there is probably very small (but correct me if i'm wrong!). How long have you been there? What were your main reasons to move there in the first place? Thank you so much for your time!

[MadRussian]

Originally Posted by cwan

... 4. being single forever, since I'm guessing that the population of young professionals there is probably very small (but correct me if i'm wrong!).

Probably not much single "young professionals", but there are a lot of single young tan cute surfers.

[maui08]

Originally Posted by cwan

Hi maui08--

I'm from Los Angeles, used to live in San Diego, and now thinking about moving to Maui for a slower pace... if I move I'll be a doctor there, single, female. So my income will be 6 digits, but you mentioned even with a 100K income you had to live check by check... is it really that bad even compared to over here? I want to go because our southern California's getting more and more congested, and the quality of life in terms of work hour expectations for private practice docs is terrible. But like the others here, I'm worried about 1. fitting in, 2. safety, 3. living expense, and lastly... 4. being single forever, since I'm guessing that the population of young professionals there is probably very small (but correct me if i'm wrong!). How long have you been there? What were your main reasons to move there in the first place? Thank you so much for your time!

In a very nutshell version.....We love Hawaii. Have lived here for over 14 years total, moved on and off 3 times! Various reasons why we left and came back....long stories. This time around though, our kids are of school age and this really opened our eyes to what life in Maui is really like. Plus running a business here and having almost every single applicant come in with a drug problem or them requesting that they be able to leave work if the surf is up! Seriously!!!! -The past 12 applicants that came in could not pass a clean drug test and requested that I give them time to get it out of their systems. Hard place to run a professional business for sure. Then the schooling issues which the list is endless about and the simple cost of living factors (gas, groceries, utilities, etc). We have just determined that after all our years here struggling, we do not want to continue doing so. We cannot afford to buy a decent sized home and being from San Diego we enjoy eating out a lot and having good food at home. So many folks here give this part of their lives up in order to live here....they eat at home almost always and eat leftovers all week long. We have many friends who do this and we just can't justify that. I guess we are spoiled and have nobody to blame but ourselves for our struggles. You can make it here just fine....depends on what is important to you. Everyone is different. We miss San Diego and the people there!!!! The pleasant 70 degree weather is soooo much better than the hot and humid weather here on the islands. People call Hawaii "paradise" but San Diego is our paradise. Just make a wise decision with long term in mind....so many come here and end up leaving within a very short time. Research, research, research.....! As far as your 100K salary....being single you will have no problem making it here or anywhere on that salary. Unfortunately, having a family of 4 on that income makes it very hard to stretch things. Big difference. Good luck. Maybe we'll pass each other at the airport!

[alohakat]

Maui08, I can see why you might choose to move for reasons that involve your children, but as far as buying a home in San Diego, the prices are very near the same as Maui, so I don't see you'd gain there, unless you buy a far commute from the water and San Diego proper, out of town. And you'll pay more for your water bill (perhaps much much more as California is entering crucial problems with water now, drought combined with quicly crashing fish species - near extinct in 5 years on some - so river diversion is being ceased, we are having to rely on rainfall replenishment of reservoirs, plus the Southwest is reclaiming some of it's contract rights on San Diego's contracted water), and gas is near the same pricing....I'm sure you have reasons to move to San Diego as it's lovely but be aware that California too has growing huge problems.

[maui08]

Originally Posted by alohakat

Maui08, I can see why you might choose to move for reasons that involve your children, but as far as buying a home in San Diego, the prices are very near the same as Maui, so I don't see you'd gain there, unless you buy a far commute from the water and San Diego proper, out of town. And you'll pay more for your water bill (perhaps much much more as California is entering crucial problems with water now, drought combined with quicly crashing fish species - near extinct in 5 years on some - so river diversion is being ceased, we are having to rely on rainfall replenishment of reservoirs, plus the Southwest is reclaiming some of it's contract rights on San Diego's contracted water), and gas is near the same pricing....I'm sure you have reasons to move to San Diego as it's lovely but be aware that California too has growing huge problems.

Very good points...and valid ones. However, we are not running back to San Diego to escape Maui but simply decided that the San Diego area is best suited for our needs, wants and children's future overall. Maui is great on so many levels....but for us, the San Diego area especially the abundant amount of blue ribbon schools and the outstanding medical care throughout the county is more important to us at this stage of our lives. Housing costs are very much the same and we doubt we can afford to buy there either....but at least some of the things are better there (at least for us). Aloha

[turtle8dove]

Originally Posted by cwan

Hi maui08--

I'm from Los Angeles, used to live in San Diego, and now thinking about moving to Maui for a slower pace... if I move I'll be a doctor there, single, female. So my income will be 6 digits, but you mentioned even with a 100K income you had to live check by check... is it really that bad even compared to over here? I want to go because our southern California's getting more and more congested, and the quality of life in terms of work hour expectations for private practice docs is terrible. But like the others here, I'm worried about 1. fitting in, 2. safety, 3. living expense, and lastly... 4. being single forever, since I'm guessing that the population of young professionals there is probably very small (but correct me if i'm wrong!). How long have you been there? What were your main reasons to move there in the first place? Thank you so much for your time!

Did you do it? Curious, because I'm about to.