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I think you've hit the nail on the head. If you're moving somewhere like Hawaii (Mexico, the caribbean, etc.), you have to expect a change in lifestyle. If I move to an exotic location, I won't expect all the creature comforts of a typical American city. I'll expect a slower, more relaxed, more carefree existence, and in exchange I'll expect less stuff, less convenience, less automation, etc.
With the weather (and beaches) in Hawaii, I don't see myself needing heat, or a really warm house, or even air-conditioning. If I'm not working a professional job, I don't see myself needing fancy clothes, expensive haircuts, etc. If I'm living a relaxed life that I'm happy with, I don't see myself needing to medicate/distract myself with all the crap people often buy in busier cities. So while some stuff might be more expensive, other stuff is cheaper or unnecessary. (Why try to live a mainland existence in Hawaii anyway?)
Frankly, I see myself living pretty happily in Hawaii if I can build a nice little bamboo hut with mosquito netting and a rainfly, a comfortable hammock and pillow, access to local fruit and vegetables at a market, an enduro motorbike to get around on, etc. Internet access would certainly be nice, and maybe that could be done anywhere with the right satellite dish. But I think the key is understanding that in exchange for getting some things, you give up something else. Which is what much of life is about anyway. The key is figuring out what you want more, and which will make you happiest.
I have lived in Hawaii for a total of 2 years. It is certainly a love-hate relationship. I do not get to the beach nearly as much as I would like because I am constantly working to pay off those pesky student loans... but that is not Hawaii's fault. The traffic is terrible, pretty much all the time which really only bothers me when I am trying to get to work by a certain time... otherwise, traffic is a part of life on this overcrowded island and something I was quite used to on the mainland anyway. I have honestly never had a single problem with any of the locals aside from my very first job as a cashier/waitress when many of the locals would not order from me and requested a different cashier. This lasted about 3 days and then they decided I was a "cool haole" and that was that. =) The only issues I have had have been with tourists who come here with a crappy attitude and take it out on everyone around them... and those who feel as though they are entitled to things. Personally, the main reason I am ready to leave is so I can be closer to family again and because jobs are a bit hard to come by unless you know someone. It is possible, but it will take time! Of course, I also have no choice about leaving since after moving here, I decided I would marry someone in the air force... Nevertheless, I am not sure I could really stay here for the long haul, though I will terribly miss the locals I have befriended!
I've just read through all seven pages of comments on this thread and couldn't help but notice how prominently the greenback factors into most people's evaluation of what is good and what isn't. ( to the poster who figured out that food, shelter, love, and family constitute true wealth in this life ). Money isn't the only medium of exchange, and if you're healthy it's entirely possible to live without it - BTDT many times. (Nowadays, I require meds., so a little money is needed.)
That said, in my experience happiness doesn't depend upon a geographical location, it's a state of mind, or rather, of the heart and spirit, I believe, although I must admit to having my favorites, and Maui and the Big Island rank high on my list. (We plan to move to the BI in the New Year - God Willing.)
I've traveled much of the world but was born and raised on an island dominated by mountains and ocean, and I loved it, but the climate was cold and damp - very, so not the best place to hang your hat if you have injuries and other health issues that tend to creep up on us if we are allowed to hang around long enough to bid farewell to youth, hence the move to Hawai'i.
I love Hawai'i but then I like 'remote,' and while I've lived most of my life 'center stage,' I am in no way social. Please don't misunderstand, I *love* people one on one, but I seem to need peace and quiet, I always have, especially when writing my novels, music, and songs, or capturing the 'perfect' frame. There's something about the peace of the wilderness that lends itself well to creating, don't you find? After all, we're all artists in one way or another.
I find it fascinating that as humans we're alike in so many ways, yet drastically different in others. Several of my own children *hate* (I'm using the word 'hate' here) remote living, preferring the social and cultural aspects and convenience of city life, and DH and I love to live 'At the highway's end,' and almost always have, a few locations while in the missionary field notwithstanding. It's a good thing that most of us have a choice in the matter, no?
About supply problems in remote locations. I've learned that it's advantageous to be a prepper (a person who has a larder that will see them through at least a year - and several years is better) and a good veggie garden and a few chickens and goats can provide most of life's necessities, provided that clean drinking water isn't a problem. It may take a couple of years to raise, grow, 'can' (using Mason jars), and dry enough food to stock a healthy larder, but it can be done - even on a shoestring - BTDT too. If you don't live in a location where it's possible to keep chickens and goats then fish and hunt as you can - we've been obliged to take both routes from time to time, or simply live on fruit and veggies, which we did for decades - many of 'em gathered from the wild.
Storing required meds in vacuum-sealed Mylar is sensible too (and can also be done on a shoestring over several months), and with a little foresight and planning, it takes much of the stress out of day-to-day living if you aren't dependent on the supply lines of others for survival, and it isn't wise to be in these turbulent times. It doesn't noticeably strain the weekly budget to add an extra item or two to your shopping cart, and those items build up quickly. (Not so long ago I made and stored five years' worth of heavy-duty soup mix for less than $1,000 - and we still have it - although it will be going to the nearest food bank before we make the move to Hawai'i. No matter, I'm glad it will be of use to those who need it.)
Living simply is not only possible, it's peaceful, and 'prepping' is a challenging and fun way of life. It feels good to learn how to waste nothing, especially now that the planet has so little in the way of surplus... anything. I suppose that encapsulates what I was attempting to skim over earlier.
With regard to racism, I've never understood why people who descend from the same common ancestors (and we all do) insist on creating divisions and sects amongst themselves. God *did* create all of us equal, after all. We're all born, we all die, we all need love to survive, and we all cry salt tears and bleed red.
We've chosen (or rather, been led to) a remote, cliff top, oceanfront location on the windward side of the BI, and there aren't many standing in line to populate the place, thank God! Still, I'm looking forward to making friends with the population of the nearest small town. DH and I have always felt at home in Hawai'i, it's one of the friendliest places on Earth, and we're blessed in that we can work from anywhere nowadays, thanks to the invention of the Internet.
For those of you who're leaving the islands, may God be with you, and may you find what you're looking for elsewhere. For those who're staying, perhaps we'll chance to meet. I'd like that.
You didn't know about the traffic and high rent before you moved there? Why didn't you research at all before you moved even though you had 10 years to do it??? I'm confused..
To Mahrie, At the end of your post you said Mahala. Its actually Mahalo.
ROFLOL! http://stillthevision.truepath.com/images/emoticons/roflol.gif (broken link)I know. Before coming to this forum I'd only ever heard it said, albeit many times, and I guess my Celtic background misheard the proper pronunciation. Sorry about that, folks, and thanks for the education. Oh, well, at least the sentiment was right!
Look before leaping-do research and READ forums too!!
This entire topic is identical to those in EVERY location I have read thus far in 2-3 years.
Belize, Panama, Mexico, USVI "all" three islands, Ecuador, Puerto Rica, etc have similar stories for the exact SAME reasons!!!
#1 "Happiness is BETWEEN YOUR EARS"!!
#2 REALLY know what makes YOU happy!!
#3 Routine daily life STILL must be done !!!
#4 NO ONE knows or cares that YOU "just arrived" in your "paradise"!!
#5 MOST people that have NOT fully researched the location will LEAVE in well under one year, usually six months!
#6 You cannot EAT the beach
#7 In a foreign country, you can get in deep problems very quickly.
#8 NEVER EVER buy land until you have thought carefully and waited at least 2 years in a foreign land, then, don't do it!! Ain't the USA !!!!
#9 As you age, it gets harder and you better have a definitive PLAN !!!!
#10 Visit at least 2 times before deciding to MOVE to ANYWHERE !! Live there those 2 times ON THE SAME lifetyle as those that "reside" and "shop"!! Stay at least 2 months each time.
Last: No place is ever as good, as our "worst", in the USA !!!
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to the poster who figured out that food, shelter, love, and family constitute true wealth in this life 
Look before leaping-do research and READ forums too!!
