08-04-2012, 03:35 AM
When I moved to Alaska, my plan was to live there 2 years to experience it, and then either move back to Portland or somewhere else. But I loved it there, and I spent almost 15 years there. I was eventually driven out due the high cost of living, lack of health care, harsh weather, and a feeling that it was time to move on. So I came to the big island. With no intentions of leaving. We were lucky that I was able to transfer to a good job here. And the cost of living and health care is better here. And I don't have to shovel snow or buy heating fuel ever again. Most people who go to Alaska go because there are a lot of jobs there or because the coast guard or military. I would say that most transplants have no intention of staying there long term and it has higher turnover than the Big Island.
Most people I know live within 50 miles of where they grew up. Most of the ones that moved away had some sort of external motivator (joined the military, got a scholarship, etc). The adventurous ones that moved away "just because" are prone to repeating that. Those are the same type of people that come to the Big Island. If they weren't temporarily coming here, it would be somewhere else. I think the percentage in Manhattan is higher than here. And many other places too.
Most people I know live within 50 miles of where they grew up. Most of the ones that moved away had some sort of external motivator (joined the military, got a scholarship, etc). The adventurous ones that moved away "just because" are prone to repeating that. Those are the same type of people that come to the Big Island. If they weren't temporarily coming here, it would be somewhere else. I think the percentage in Manhattan is higher than here. And many other places too.