A cold

Does this ever happen to you?  Just as you are about to leave on vacation you come down with something?  I have spent many vacations sick in bed.  Well I guess this is no different.  My last day of work was this past Thursday and apparently in just the nick-of-time a kid passed something to me.  Lame! So now I am sniffling, sneezing, and coughing my last three days away here in Arizona.

On the brighter side I have a car waiting for me on the island!  We spend the better part of the week waiting for the seller to get the title and poor Chad spent the better part of Saturday waiting at the DMV to make the sale.  But alas it is mine!  And guess how much my insurance is?!?!  (This just tops off my last post about the gallon of milk!). $34 per month!!  And it's a turbo! *happy dance*  Who says the cost of living is outrageous?! Not me!  I think I need to name her.  I wonder what I'll call her? 

I am spending the last few days finalizing my bags and checking their weight.  Getting the dogs their health certificates and medication. Eating as much mexican food as one could eat! 

I almost missed...

That yesterday is one (ONE!) month away from the big day!  I am starting to feel overwhelmed with the idea that everything I have left (from after when Chad and I did the big purge) is either coming with me or I'm leaving behind.  The idea that I have only 100lbs of available luggage capacity is very limiting.  Everything I look at, I ask myself  "do I have space (or weight) for that?"
Time will tell I suppose!  Let the countdown begin!

Cost of Living

The most common first reaction we get is..."I hear a gallon of milk costs $9" as if to warn us of impending doom.  To which we reply "then I guess it's a good thing we don't drink milk!" :)

I firmly believe that if you make adjustments, things will work out.  Yes, the cost of living is slightly higher, and I really mean slightly, but you are living in Hawaii! Of course they will and they should!  But it's all relative.  I would almost venture to say that through our research (and Chad already living there for over a month) it is either right on par, or slightly lower than California.  However, like in any give and take relationship, there will also be some "takes" (or reductions) in cost.  To me, Arizona does not have a lot of "free" entertainment.  I feel like all I do is: eat out, shop and go to movies.  That all costs money!  In Hawaii you not only have the ocean, but this one you can swim, snorkel, surf, SUP (stand up paddle) in.  You get to go hiking in beautiful mountains and volcanoes...and the list goes on. 

So if you think we are crazy, that is ok with me.  But I feel we will be ok.  In fact I think we will be more than ok!

*and in case you're wondering, here are the costs of some items when I was there in Oct:

• Milk: $4.25
• Gas: $3.95
• Pair of sandals (or slippers as they call them) at Costco: $11.95
• 2 tacos at Jack in the Box: $0.99
• Cheeseburger at McDonalds: $1.00
• An iron at Walmart: $8.99

Countdown

Well I suppose now is as good of a time as ever to announce: I am moving.  After spending what will be 29 years and 10 months in my home state of Arizona, I am making a change. 
On December 25th (yes, Christmas day) I will make a new home in Kailua, Hawaii.  Kailua is on the island of Oahu, about 20 miles northeast of Honolulu.  It is a coastal city...or so it appears on a map.
Stay tuned...lots to come!