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I came across this forum a few months ago when we started to seriously consider making the move. But I haven't read of anyone making the move from HI to NC. Whenever I tell my family about it, they think I'm nuts! At least the wife is backing me up on this idea.
Actually, we're gonna be visiting the Triangle area next month. We'll be there for 4-5 days to check out the area and housing options. At the earliest, we could move into the area in Summer '08.
We have a good lifestyle here. Nice big house in a good neighborhood w/ decent jobs. But we don't want to have to work for the rest of our lives. The way I figure it, if we make the move (and sacrifice) now, we'll be in a much better place financially down the road (say 15 years or so).
We have a lot of equity in our home now, and looking to use that to purchase a new/like-new home in the RTP area. Nice big house in a family-oriented neighborhood, close to the metro area. I get all excited everytime I think about living (virtually) mortgage-free.
Jobs (should be) plentiful, since the overall economy and job market seems to be fairly positive. Right???
My wife is a nurse (RN) and I'm a teacher. Although I am looking at a career move, possibly something IT related. I just got my MBA in Technology Management. What better place to try my luck than RTP?
Am I being overly optomistic here? I'd like to get all my info straight to ensure that we're making a wise move. Any comments, suggestions from local resident experts would be appreciated. Job leads and housing tips would be great too!
I think you are following the same lines as many people who are moving to the area, it is nice to be able to be virtually mortgage free! I have some clients looking for homes in your same situation, not from hawaii of course, but going for the mortgage free course of action.
Anyhow, as far as your wife goes, there will probably be many options here (a friend of mine just moved back to canada after working here as a nurse for 4 years). There seems to be a lot of options for people working in nursing as there are many major hospitals in the area (rex, wake med, wake med north, duke, unc, duke raleigh community hospital and I am sure some I did not mention). I do believe that for you, you would probably have a better option of finding something once you are here. Give yourself six months to find something, if that is possible. Yes, jobs are available but seemingly difficult to get if you do not live locally. Teaching, I don't think you would have difficulty. The other option you may have (if you would consider it) is working part time teaching (as a visiting lecturer) at UNC, NC State or Duke. Their requirements for visiting lecturers is having your master's degree. Since you already have a teaching background, this may be a way for you to teach based on your degree while searching for a full time job in the technology field.
Anyhow, I could go on and on, the triangle is a great place, lots of different areas to check out. My mom is heading to hawaii in may for her niece's wedding. She is looking forward to having some wonderful bike rides! The last time my parents were there they stayed on Molokai and loved it. They were on their way to the peace corps in the soloman islands and had a mandatory stop in hawaii!!!
Anyhow, send me an email or private message (PM) if you have more questions.
I have been to Hawaii many times, and love it there. I know I wouldn't want to move, but understand how expensive things are there. If you have to choose somewhere else besides Hawaii, Raleigh is a great area to choose. I wish you the best, and enjoy your visit to the area. If you have any questions about the area, their are alot of people on this forum that are of great help.
What about suggestions on what to do, where to go, places to eat, etc. for me, my wife and two kids (4-yr old twin girls). We're staying at the Marriot in North Raleigh. Besides the house hunting, we'll probably have at least one full day to just do "tourist" stuff.
What about suggestions on what to do, where to go, places to eat, etc. for me, my wife and two kids (4-yr old twin girls). We're staying at the Marriot in North Raleigh. Besides the house hunting, we'll probably have at least one full day to just do "tourist" stuff.
I have a "just turned 5 girl", and she likes:
The NC Museum of Science (in durham)
Downtown raleigh has: Playspace, Musuem of Natural Science
There is a great park near you called Baileywick (you can look on the Raleigh Parks and Recreation website)
In wake forest there is an indoor ice skating rink at the factory (eatshopplay.com)
She also likes going to the movies and the mall (triangle town center is at the intersection of captial blvd and interestate 540)
I've been told that the Museums there are great. Will be sure to check 'em out. I'm pretty sure the wife is gonna wanna check out the mall/shopping scene there as well. Heard that those are pretty too!
I've been told that the Museums there are great. Will be sure to check 'em out. I'm pretty sure the wife is gonna wanna check out the mall/shopping scene there as well. Heard that those are pretty too!
The mall really is nice! People seem quite happy to be there. I do try and avoid it on the weekends as it gets a little crowded, and during the week no one really cares when my 3 year old decides to run and sing and dance in front of the stores.
there is a great little italian place in wake forest called la foresta, which is fun because they give the kids pizza dough to play with as soon as they walk in the door........keeps them occupied!
Teacher? You are gonna be disappointed. No union, the salary scale is low, now living with a small or no mortgage is really the only way.
We cashed out of NJ and have a 300 dollar a month mortgage on a fantastic house with all the bells and whistles, Hardy board siding Granite Counters wood floors 3 full baths 4 bedrooms a small lake behind the house down in southern wake county the town of Fuquay Varina.
Love it here. I took an early retirement from the public schools in New Jersey. I continue to substitute teach on my schedule and coach high school track teams. It really is great to have worked in a state that had collective bargaining and a great pension system. I now live a month and they send me a check.
Teacher? You are gonna be disappointed. No union, the salary scale is low, now living with a small or no mortgage is really the only way.
We cashed out of NJ and have a 300 dollar a month mortgage on a fantastic house with all the bells and whistles, Hardy board siding Granite Counters wood floors 3 full baths 4 bedrooms a small lake behind the house down in southern wake county the town of Fuquay Varina.
Love it here. I took an early retirement from the public schools in New Jersey. I continue to substitute teach on my schedule and coach high school track teams. It really is great to have worked in a state that had collective bargaining and a great pension system. I now live a month and they send me a check.
Kool.
Teacher...yep!
But like I mentioned earlier in this thread, I am looking for a career change. Something in the IT field, but still related to education, somehow, would be the ideal job for me. My wife should be able to get a transfer in her job as a nurse, so I could look for jobs as soon as we get there or work part-time for a while. I figured I'd always have the teaching angle as a fall back.
On that note, any suggestions or opinions on what area/school district is "best" to teach, and where it is easiest to get a position in short notice. I realize that these may be two totally different answers.
As for the pay scale, I doubt if it's any worse that it is here in HI. We do have a union (which I have issues with at times), but as far as the salary, we're pretty much at the bottom of the barrel (especially when you adjust it to the cost of living)
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system. I now live a month and they send me a check. 
