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We're in a different situation. I knew the job situation on the Big Island was tough. But we are on the verge of retiring. We are putting our house up up for sale in Puyallup and aready bought a place in HPP which we are renting short term to vacationers.WEhen we sell the place in Puyallup that will pay off our loan in HPP.
We 've been to the Island a bunch of times and love it there.
We're not leaving Puyallup because we don't like it here. Our place is in old town Puyallup and not the south hill. We love it where we are too. But both of my parents ahve passed away, and my Sister. My wife's parents are now deceased also. There goes our ties to this area. And our daughter and beautiful Granddaughter live nearby in HPP on the Island, and we are ready to spoil that little girl.
I'm a life long shotter and I realize Hawaii is not very firearm friendly. So I'm selling off most of my guns and reloading stuff and am just going to bring a few favorites. I quite compeating some years ago.
We do hope to find some work, but are prepaired for the worst case hopefully.
Alsakana, I would highly recommend Puyallup as a very friendly and family oriented place to live. I wouldn't want to live on South Hill due to lots of traffic and more of a strip mall area. But old topwn Puyallup on the flatlands near the fairgrounds is great.Lots of older houses and buildings with character.
I've heard that a lot of folks move to the Big Island, and then give up and head back. Often its job (or lack of) related. We love the Island and, hopefully, did our research and planning well enough that we'll be okay. We have a few friends, and great neighbors that are watching our place for us until we make the move. Hopefully we'll make more friends too.
I'm also a lifelong motorcyclist, and am looking forward to riding there.
jon
Jon in Puyallup, Wa.
Jon in Keaau/HPP
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I lived on Maui & LA in my 20's! Glad I did it couldnt do it now.
About the only other place I could live is probably Baja down by La Paz. I been here in the booms and busts and my roots are deep now.
Looking - I think the first 6-12 mo are hardest, getting those little roots going. Rent, dont buy yet. if we had, I'd probably still be living in Waikablowa (which was the "it" spot in the early 90's, not Kapoho now).
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Honestly, I'm just here to help the in laws. Thought we were going to stick around, but it just isn't our thing. Once the family stuff wraps up, better places to be.
I miss birch trees, squirrels, and moose in the yard. Lol
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Puyallup is a nice place. Lots of rain but nice. Close to a lot of great things. Not as cold as Alaska though!
Royall
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alaskana
Thanks for you frankness. I can see how in your 20's this wouldn't hold as much promise. My wife and I moved around a lot during our 20's and 30's and have found for us that this is a great place to live despite the above mentioned complaints. We miss some of the big attractions to the city but we have adapted. here's hoping your next move is another exciting adventure. Good for you to try to help the inlaws.
Jim
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Alaskana,
Hang in there, you'll be off to different pastures soon enough. (can't really say greener living in Hawaii)
You seem to have experienced some similar things as I have. Usually when people mention racism in Hawaii it ends up with, "you white people just are getting some of your own medicine"
But like you I am not white and have had to deal with racism on the mainland and surprisingly (at first) in Hawaii. In fact it does seem more accepted here than on the mainland. However it does seem a lot worse Eastside then up here in Waimea town. It is what it is.
A lot of it seems to deal with what strata of employment you are dealing with. I'm a tradesperson and this seems to be a level that has a strong "Hawaii for Hawaiians" bias. My impression is that even though there is definitely a prejudice to be found on the mainland in the trades there seems to be more of a meritocracy back there. Meaning if you know you're sh**(stuff) and reliable, it doesn't matter as much where you are from. Doesn't seem the same here. Again, it is what it is but the building trades are still at around 30% unemployment nationally I think and adding the swimming upstream localism doesn't help.
You're over ten years younger than me so even more reason to want to leave. I can't imagine living here in my twenties for more than a year.
Its funny you mention missing wildlife because that is something I've noticed that isn't mentioned much. I'm from the Midwest and used to seeing a lot more animals besides chickens and pigs. But I DON"T miss squirrels; cute, but a real PITA if they decide to live in your attic.
There are worse places than Big Island (Detroit, anyone?) but also better for some. You're young and have plenty of time to find where you should be.
Good luck.
I have to wonder about the OP's post, since OP has not returned. I assumed the best, but now I see that it sort of hits the buttons.
Few people who haven't lived here call the mainland the mainland.
Alaskana, thanks for making it into a real topic.
The work opportunities for my family have been much better on the west side. Over there, they found more appreciation for someone with skill and good work ethic.
Exception, union houses. My older son is a chef and kitchen manager. He should have been snapped up by the west side hotels, but his non-union past hurt him. He got work in a place owned by sole proprietor, but they could only pay him $10 an hour, and that wasn't enough to live on here, plus the kitchen had no A/C and was like 90 plus degrees, too hot to work in. So he said goodbye to a 15 year career. That wouldn't have happened on the mainland.
He got into construction trades like my other son. Plenty of work on the west side, but the cost of living over there makes it so they work hard to live month to month, never make any progress in an economic sense -- have made lots of progress in terms of improving skills.
Just one experience. There are so many, some find the perfect niche, and others don't.
As for discovering country living, I do appreciate the joys and rewards.
For myself, my first husband and I left suburbia and went rural back in 1969. I had years and years of it. So I don't have that thing of being from city/suburbs and never grew my own food, never picked fruits off the tree or had a garden. None of that is novel to me.
It's a great thing to get close to the land at some point in one's life, for many who long to come here it is a great adventure, for some it is all they need to be happy.
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quote:
Originally posted by Alaskana
Lol oddly we are considering going to puyallup or Spokane after we get out of here.
Ah ha. I have a great house in Chewelah I'll sell you! We are an hour north of Spokane. Hunting is big here.
Peace and long life
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Radiopeg lol I'd consider the house if I had the money.
Truth be told, I'm looking forward to getting back home. I spent the last few years as an outfitter for hunters and absolutely loved it. Met people from all over the world, that came to hunt all Alaska offers. Granted the pay sucked ($10 an hour) but given the house up there is paid off, it was still comfortable living. (didn't have or want cable, etc though)
I can see the allure of Hawaii for a lot of folks. It is beautiful here. I took 276 photos last week when I drove a full circle around the island. It's just not my comfort zone. Permitting for everything, housing, sheds, and firearms for a start, is irritating at the very least.
Honestly, my main issue is finding a job. I can't leave without the $ to do so, and unemployment is nearly out. This is going to be an interesting summer lol.
If anyone wants to go fresh water fishing sometime, let me know what bait and lures, and I'm game. (still haven't fished here yet)
Dan
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quote:
Originally posted by Alaskana...
Honestly, my main issue is finding a job. I can't leave without the $ to do so, and unemployment is nearly out. This is going to be an interesting summer lol.
What do you do for a living? Skills I mean?
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