Grew up in New England, mostly in Maine, but also MA and CT. Parents got a house on 100 acres in southern Maine before the invasion, my HS graduating class was 36. I left when my taxes were being projected to exceed my mortgage payment, part of the redistribution philosophy. Still have siblings and other family mostly in ME and NH. MIL still lives in NJ, which moving there after HI, I found the most depressing environment ever (no sense of physical orientation to me). A career in the army gave me opportunity to see and live in other parts of the world and states, Hawaii being one.
After I retired we were driving back to GA from looking at more property in FL and wife innocently remarked, "I thought you always wanted to move back to Hawaii". We found this 21 acres on the Big Island in 2003, moved in 2005. Strangest thing, but whenever I came to Hawaii it felt like coming home, yet there is no other place I feel this way. Quite emotional for some reason.
We aren't in postcard Hawaii. The seasons do change, the snow is visible on the mountain, but I don't have to shovel it. Temps range from 58-81 here at our place, no HVAC, just ceiling fans and fireplace. This is a rural area and I can swim in our pool in my white bathing trunks and no one knows. Politics are too liberal and too many taxpayer dollars wasted away on the takers, but I don't let that bother me.
We can live well within our limited means if we choose. When we first moved our living expense were actually less than Atlanta. People are friendly here, probably have more meaningful social life than any other place we lived. Our next door neighbor in Atlanta still asks, "when you coming home?" When we get off the phone, wife and I look at each other and one says, "we are home".
Son and granddaughter still live in Va, he is still enamored with DC area since we lived there in early 90's. At times we'd like them to be closer, but our parents respected our life choices, we give him that same respect. We are happy that he is happy. Many folks do relocate from here because they miss running their kids lives. FaceTime is great!!!
No big cities, even Honolulu is too busy, too much traffic. Spent 5 days there in March, my first trip off island since 2009.
I tell my wife, next move I won't have to pack
The army sent me to Hawaii originally, but in fell in love with the aina and moved back 24 years later.
David Sent from my iPad Air using TractorByNet
