Change is good, why I left HI & have no regrets (condo, mortgage)

[SayWA]

I find on this forum that a lot of people struggle with living in Hawaii. It's expensive, it's crowded, horrible traffic, poor paying jobs, hidden homelessness (ie. 40 year olds who live with parents still because on their own they could not afford a roof over their heads) and overt rampant homelessness. I love many parts of Hawaii, the sun, the beach, the lifestyle but it's not all it's cracked up to be. I lived on Oahu for 9 years and left back in 08.

For all those who struggle with moving back to the mainland don't give up. I did a lot of research and found a wonderful area called Tri-Cities, WA and I moved there. I took a huge leap of faith but I have absolutely no regrets. We have over 300 days of sunshine a year here. Yes, it's cold in the winter but the sun is shining. This is desert topography, not the rainy northwest of Seattle. It starts getting in the 80s in May through end of September. They call it the Palm Springs of Washington. Only 7 inches of rain a year. The people here are so friendly, truly, way more friendly than in Hawaii. The kindness of strangers here has truly blown my socks off sometimes. I have had flat tires fixed for free, bags of produce from home gardens given to me from coworkers, opportunities to volunteer in community events, etc. It's in the middle of 3 major rivers and fishing from the bank is a lot of fun. I've learned to love fishing. This area grows a lot of grapes, lots of vineyards. Wine is plentiful and cheap

I was able to buy a 2 bd condo 1000 sq feet for $88,000. Crazy, right? Some women want to have a baby when they're 35 but I wanted to BUY a place to live, a roof over my head that I OWNED. It was a scratch that I NEEDED to itch (and by the way, I still don't have baby fever and don't think I ever will, which is totally fine with me). I am a saver, not a spender, and I have managed to pay it off in 4 years! But that's what you can do when your mortgage is 464 a month! That would be IMPOSSIBLE to say in Hawaii. I found a job that pays good for here ($15/hr to start but now I'm up to 18) but would be considered barely getting by in Hawaii and is a lot less than I was making when I left Hawaii. However, here I pay $1.99 for a gallon of milk, $2 for 1 lb of butter, whole chickens 98 cents/lb, pork chops 1.38/lb, 2.49 for 12 pack of pepsi, 32 cents/lb bananas, $1.78 for 18 large eggs, (I don't eat bread but it's about 1.49 loaf for the good kind and 99cents for the fluffy white kind). You get the idea. I eat very well (low carb) for $50 a week, if that. I can afford to entertain, have people over for nice dinners.

In the 5 years I have lived here, not making a fortune by any means, but working steady 40 hours/week and not eating out a lot I have managed to pay off a home and a car and (added bonus) lose 30 lb. I am debt free, have money in savings for emergencies and have discretionary income. I can even finally give money to causes I believe in and locally here to charities who help those who have not had my fortune.

Above all I thank God for giving me the courage to leave and leap without looking. I love Hawaii, God loves Hawaii too but Hawaii is not for everyone. I thought I'd live there forever, and a part of me always will, (I watch Hawaii Life and anything Hawaii related) but after I got laid off I realized how hand to mouth I was living and I was literally months away from being homeless myself! If you need to move, take that leap of faith.

Well, that's my story. I hope it will help someone who needs some words of encouragement.

[Futuremauian]

Originally Posted by SayWA

I find on this forum that a lot of people struggle with living in Hawaii. It's expensive, it's crowded, horrible traffic, poor paying jobs, hidden homelessness (ie. 40 year olds who live with parents still because on their own they could not afford a roof over their heads) and overt rampant homelessness. I love many parts of Hawaii, the sun, the beach, the lifestyle but it's not all it's cracked up to be. I lived on Oahu for 9 years and left back in 08.

For all those who struggle with moving back to the mainland don't give up. I did a lot of research and found a wonderful area called Tri-Cities, WA and I moved there. I took a huge leap of faith but I have absolutely no regrets. We have over 300 days of sunshine a year here. Yes, it's cold in the winter but the sun is shining. This is desert topography, not the rainy northwest of Seattle. It starts getting in the 80s in May through end of September. They call it the Palm Springs of Washington. Only 7 inches of rain a year. The people here are so friendly, truly, way more friendly than in Hawaii. The kindness of strangers here has truly blown my socks off sometimes. I have had flat tires fixed for free, bags of produce from home gardens given to me from coworkers, opportunities to volunteer in community events, etc. It's in the middle of 3 major rivers and fishing from the bank is a lot of fun. I've learned to love fishing. This area grows a lot of grapes, lots of vineyards. Wine is plentiful and cheap

I was able to buy a 2 bd condo 1000 sq feet for $88,000. Crazy, right? Some women want to have a baby when they're 35 but I wanted to BUY a place to live, a roof over my head that I OWNED. It was a scratch that I NEEDED to itch (and by the way, I still don't have baby fever and don't think I ever will, which is totally fine with me). I am a saver, not a spender, and I have managed to pay it off in 4 years! But that's what you can do when your mortgage is 464 a month! That would be IMPOSSIBLE to say in Hawaii. I found a job that pays good for here ($15/hr to start but now I'm up to 18) but would be considered barely getting by in Hawaii and is a lot less than I was making when I left Hawaii. However, here I pay $1.99 for a gallon of milk, $2 for 1 lb of butter, whole chickens 98 cents/lb, pork chops 1.38/lb, 2.49 for 12 pack of pepsi, 32 cents/lb bananas, $1.78 for 18 large eggs, (I don't eat bread but it's about 1.49 loaf for the good kind and 99cents for the fluffy white kind). You get the idea. I eat very well (low carb) for $50 a week, if that. I can afford to entertain, have people over for nice dinners.

In the 5 years I have lived here, not making a fortune by any means, but working steady 40 hours/week and not eating out a lot I have managed to pay off a home and a car and (added bonus) lose 30 lb. I am debt free, have money in savings for emergencies and have discretionary income. I can even finally give money to causes I believe in and locally here to charities who help those who have not had my fortune.

Above all I thank God for giving me the courage to leave and leap without looking. I love Hawaii, God loves Hawaii too but Hawaii is not for everyone. I thought I'd live there forever, and a part of me always will, (I watch Hawaii Life and anything Hawaii related) but after I got laid off I realized how hand to mouth I was living and I was literally months away from being homeless myself! If you need to move, take that leap of faith.

Well, that's my story. I hope it will help someone who needs some words of encouragement.

That was an inspiring story. Many good wishes for your continued success! Thanks for sharing it.
I hope all of the people who want to move to Hawaii to "live off the land" will read it before they make the jump.

[OKfine]

I urge any/all that consider moving to Hawaii, live where you are first, as "IF" you lived in Hawaii with the lower wages, or not, but, the expenses of getting to Hawaii, and, "setting up" and afterwards. That means setting aside the SAME funds as though being spent in Hawaii. Do not touch them for a year. "IF" the funds and variables of life in Hawaii too, still attract you, go for it
knowing at least monetarily, it can work or not. Practicality can save you a LOT of later regrets. Accept " reality" and place
" denials " in a container marked " preserved regrets". Think about it. Tons of folks will have their perceptions, but, YOU are the one that will have to deal with YOUR decisions.

A superb story above and well stated !! Surely everyone will thank you for the information about your decision!

[ScottStielow]

Thank you for your story. Good information for anyone wanting to make a change, and working hard to achieve that life. The information you provided in your story will help people if they are interested in making a move. It might help improve their outlook in life.
Best continued Luck, in my home State of Washington.
Scott

[eureka1]

Thanks, thanks, thanks. I, too, have found that there is "Life After Hawaii".

[SayWA]

Eureka, I really mean it literally, what a great idea for the title of an HGTV show that should air right after Hawaii Life Yes, well put, there definitely is life after Hawaii and it's that sentiment that was the marrow of the rather long posting, but hey it was my bone I created and my story to tell. I would love to hear other stories of people who actually improved the Quality of Life quotient after moving away from Hawaii. No bashing whatsoever, but it's kind of the antithesis of what is discussed here, and I just haven't seen a lot of stories from prior malihinis. I'll put it out there, talk story!

[mdand3boys]

Originally Posted by eureka1

Thanks, thanks, thanks. I, too, have found that there is "Life After Hawaii".

Life After Hawaii - I believe I would call it; The After Life...

[sbartist]

Just adding to the OP forum name, it should be: JustSayWA

That was the dumbest tourism advertising slogan the State of Washington forked out big bucks for.

I do kid around and say: "Just Say Waah" though to my son a lot, and that gets a smirk from him.

[Heidels]

Originally Posted by OKfine

I urge any/all that consider moving to Hawaii, live where you are first, as "IF" you lived in Hawaii with the lower wages, or not, but, the expenses of getting to Hawaii, and, "setting up" and afterwards. That means setting aside the SAME funds as though being spent in Hawaii. Do not touch them for a year. "IF" the funds and variables of life in Hawaii too, still attract you, go for it
knowing at least monetarily, it can work or not. Practicality can save you a LOT of later regrets. Accept " reality" and place
" denials " in a container marked " preserved regrets". Think about it. Tons of folks will have their perceptions, but, YOU are the one that will have to deal with YOUR decisions.

A superb story above and well stated !! Surely everyone will thank you for the information about your decision!

Great advice here, very practical.

And to the OP, great perspective and so glad you found life in WA to be so agreeable. You live on the dry side of the state, to be sure! I'm over on the wet-dark-gray-eight-months-a-year side which is a beautiful, breathtaking, and amazing place to live exactly 2-4 (ish) months of the year.

[wideworld]

That's one heck of a story! Glad everything worked out for you. As they say, you must take big risks to get big rewards - you got your reward. Enjoy life! It sounds great up there. I'm not in HI, but even I want those grocery prices, haha.