Post #254926 by WenikiTiki on Sun, Sep 17, 2006 9:16 AM

Thanks to those who like my photos! We are "Lucky We Live Hawaii" because my husband is in the military. We had a good investment in our last home (Virginia Beach) and were able to buy here. But to stay here after he retires next year would require his retirement pay, him to get another job and for me to go back to work. (Do WHAT?!) We are ready to play now that we have gotten through the many years of moving, his working long hours and the weird flying hours he used to do!

We could have bought a smaller home and stayed, but we are really talking smaller! Our good friends are also retiring the same day next year as my husband. Right now they are buying a 960 sf home in Aiea right on the main busy road on a >6,000 sf lot. It has 3 bedrooms, 1 bathroom and yes a nice view. Hard to have a bad view in Hawaii... It was built in 1956 and has been updated. They are paying $595,000! They have 3 children ages 16 - 23 still at home.

For $600K I can get a nice sailboat AND a nice house in North Carolina. Which is our plan. Has anyone brought up how high utilities are here? My electric bill gives me a fright each month. And we have a septic tank, but those on sewer pay well over $100 a month for water and sewer! Our phone and cable seem about the same as in the Lower 48. And due to the prices in supermarkets, I believe it is a better deal to buy salads from Jack in the Box than to assemble my own!

I have lived in some very buggy states and have learned to store everything in plastic containers. Not plastic bags! Critters can eat through bags. We have had several centipedes in out house and yard. I haven't gotten bit, yet. I heard it hurts a lot. We spray the perimeter every 2-3 months and when we garden we make noise before we stick our hands in bushes! Like I said before, just learn to love those geckos, they keep the bugs at bay!

I have one other tip for moving to the islands: If you ship anything that goes by ship put some of those hanging "Damp Rid" desiccants in the containers. Stuff gets moldy en route.

Also for those job hunting, don't forget the Federal Government jobs. Go to: http://www.usajobs.com I have it set on a search for all of Hawaii and it e-mails me every job opening that comes up! Unfortunately I don't seem to qualify for most of them. I really thought an art degree was a good thing! Many of the federal jobs pay for your move, and pay a COLA (Cost of Living) adjustment. In Hawaii I believe it is currently 17%. It changes now and then. And as a Federal employee you can shop on base and save even more money.

Here is a photo of a turtle
We saw the turtles here:
And here is my oldest son, Victor, sailing out of Hickam Harbor:
And his fiancee, Jenn:
If anyone decides to apply for a federal job e-mail me for tips on the application process.