Why had I stayed in Hawaii for so long? The accroutments of a modern life--and the obligations they imply--grow as slowly but as surely as a strangler fig. They also suffocate just as completely. [with a nod to Randy White]
Everyone has a different impetus to move. Finances, family, employment. Running from something. Running towards something. But the clarion call to move comes at one time or another to all of us. How we answer that call is our Adventure.
After 14 years in the Islands, we're eyeing a move to the mountains of Colorado, to 6 acres on a riverfront. Seems backwards to some but the cost of living in Hawaii is astronomical and living on the slopes of Western Colorado are more conducive to quality of life issues. Hawaii has the best weather on the planet. True. But we'll be living on a river. Nice. Hawaii gives you a nice buffer from relatives. Yes. But we're moving to a small town in the rockies. So. We'll be trading in an urban lifestyle for a country one, mmm hmmm. With every move comes trade-offs.
We will no longer have an endless summer with no heater in the house. No more jalousies on all windows, no more trade winds, salt water air, beach days. We will have to embrace winters. We will do that with a snug log home, radiant heat floors, one-story house, fireplaces and warm, warm clothes. Stews and hot chocolate and spiced cider. Place heaters on the deck to extend the season so we can sit outside. Buy boots. Lots of boots.
I'll miss the beaches and ocean of Hawaii
The tropical flowers everywhere
The town where our riverfront property exists is the home to one part hippies, one part cowboys, one part farmers - organic and otherwise. There are many churches, one school, and a small downtown all revolving around the one main street. It's 15 degrees there as I write this. It is 79 degrees here right now. It's the banana belt of Colorado where they grow 80% of the fruit: cherries, peaches, apples. Wineries are springing up everywhere because grapes are plentiful. Blue heelers roam properties rounding up cows and nipping at horses heels.
I'll miss the magic of Waikiki
My husband will run the compound. Grow alfalfa and sell it quarterly to the horseowners whose demands outstrip the supply. We'll have a large kitchen garden to grow our vegetables and herbs all summer and can the extras to eat sweetly during the cold weather. We'll build a small apartment atop the garage to bring in some rental income. I'll have a home office, wired up for wireless internet and continue my current career from home. I'll also hit the road running as a consultant hoping to build a small business on the side. In my Jeep.
We'll have the ubiquitous barn cats to eat up the rodents. We'll have our dogs to keep us company in the "empty nest." We'll be back on the mainland where we can jump in the truck and drive and drive or take a 2 hour flight and be where we want to be in hours instead of days. Oh, we'll be near Las Vegas [relatively]; Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming. Did I mention Vegas?
Our river in Colorado
Our nearbye park
The actual act of moving itself is overwhelming: put the house on the market, sell it, clean everything out, 3 piles: what we are keeping, selling, giving away. Make the jump over to Colorado with one truck and 2 dogs. Rent a house while our home is being built. Get my career up and running on the mainland, keep the income coming in. Leave behind relative security and routine and warmth! for the unknown. It's time to move on though. Staying would be stagnating, it's time for all new people, new adventures, new challenges.
Our future home.
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Comments
The Springs would certainly suit your political leanings and is lovely, as well.
Moving can be a good thing.
I wish you the best life has to offer, Deborah.
~R
older/exaserpated: Where does your brother live? You own a beach in the Caymans?!
DRIMH: It's true, if we can manage the move, the change should be awesome!
Lunchlady2: Thanks for your good wishes!
Sally: Oh no, now you've given us more choices to explore! :)
reese410: Where are you in CO? We should do a house-swap!
Regana: Wrong guess...my political leanings? Hmmmm.
BuffyW: Thank you!
Mission: Thanks for your good wishes. Interesting that only women commented on this post?
Funsuna: Thanks for the good wishes and the spelling correction you PM'd!
Best wishes, whatever and wherever you decide. I have a dear friend in Colo Spgs, been there to visit once--loved it! Going outside and seeing those huge mountains looming right there is truly awesome (in the true meaning of that word, not the current slang use!). Keep us posted--I LOVE reading about others' moves! Rated. D
Now to confuse you further: I lived in Boulder and spent time in the mountains, lived also in Maui, often visited Honlulu and now am in Florida. Maybe, just maybe, you and your other half would like some part of florida. I don't know most of the state but I do think that parts of Miami (callled the Design District) and parts of Miami Beach are not dying off due to the economy the way that South Beach is all about bank's selling off people's homes. So, what is good about Fl is actually not as good as what you already have and that's the weather, at least 6 months of it. But also water and lots of homes have been taken way down price wise, homes that are on Biscayne Bay or the Ocean. We have so much water here but then we have hurricane season and unbearable summer humidity so it's mostly selfish I guess. A few great OS writers live near by.
I myself am going to a conference in Equador in late Feb where people converge to think about moving abroad which is next on my list, where, dunno yet. Good luck to you, fellow travelers!