I know it may seem obvious if you’re into things like beautiful weather and chilling the fuck out, but this option didn’t occur to us until very recently, a good year or 2 into this ‘where to move’ conversation began. In a text conversation with our friend Travis (who, for some reason, lives in SLC. Yeah, exactly, wtf Travis?!?) I asked where in the U.S. he would live if he could live anywhere. His answer wasn’t a place, just a bunch of qualities. One of which was ‘snorkeling and swimming every day.’ Which, of course I also love and wondered why I hadn’t included that, but then realized it’s because it’s stupid and insane because it excludes everyplace in the U.S.

Except Florida. Which kinda sucks in its overpopulated, stripmall, drive everywhere-ishness. And Hawaii.

I’ve done a bit of reading and am convinced I would be at home anywhere in Hawaii except Oahu. In fact, Hawaii is our first choice of a place to move. If I can get a job there, we will be moving there next year.

We just don’t know much about the nuts & bolts of living there. We would definitely initially rent, not buy a home. And I suppose we would need a car. And we would have to take our cats.

Does anyone know: How much is rent for a clean, nice 2 bedroom? Utilities? Is food cost similar? What other costs do you have to consider?

My partner is an IT whiz kid. His career is booming here.  Any ideas of what he might do in Hawaii?

I do know that these things varies from island to island and by area, but ANY comments of first hand experience of cost-of-living and such would be appreciated.

Mahalo