Hi from future retiree at 53

[Ron0731]

Hi, I will be retiring July 31st 2012, at the age of 53, part of me wants to move to Hawaii ( I have been to the islands every year for two weeks the past 10 years) , another part of me wants to go to Hawaii for 3 months (jan-march) and the other part of me says to go to Florida for the winter months. I live in Illinois now.

I am very interested in communicating with Hawaii retirees about their experiences.

Also very interested in hearing from snowbirds whom go south here on the mainland for winter. Are there any campgrounds that have campers or, travel trailers set up on a permanent basis to rent or buy? Suggestions on campgrounds I purchase my own travel trailer?

I really am trying to discover my options at this point. I hope to meet and chat with many of you.
Thanks ... Ron

 

[2035]

Hi, I will be retiring July 31st 2012, at the age of 53, part of me wants to move to Hawaii ( I have been to the islands every year for two weeks the past 10 years) , another part of me wants to go to Hawaii for 3 months (jan-march) and the other part of me says to go to Florida for the winter months. I live in Illinois now.

I am very interested in communicating with Hawaii retirees about their experiences.

Also very interested in hearing from snowbirds whom go south here on the mainland for winter. Are there any campgrounds that have campers or, travel trailers set up on a permanent basis to rent or buy? Suggestions on campgrounds I purchase my own travel trailer?

I really am trying to discover my options at this point. I hope to meet and chat with many of you.
Thanks ... Ron

Congrats... From what profession are you retiring?

 

[RAE]

Hi Ron - I can't comment on Hawaii as I haven't been there yet, but we've wintered in both Florida (panhandle area) and Texas (Rockport area) since I retired a couple years ago (we live in Michigan most of the year, but don't want to spend all winter here anymore). Of the two, we definitely prefer Rockport, Texas. We found it to have everything we were looking for.....nice weather during the winter, friendly people, reasonable cost of living, lots of things to do (fishing, kayaking, birding, festivals, etc). In fact, we are headed back to Rockport in 3 days, coming back in late March. The Florida panhandle was okay, but the cost of living was higher and the towns were not as nice, at least where we were. There are lots and lots of RV parks in the Coastal Bend of Texas......you can either haul your own RV down there and use that, or rent one that they provide, I believe. We just rent a small house down there, as there are lots of rental homes available for a fairly reasonable price, if you look around a little. It is sure nice to get out of the snow and cold for 7 weeks or so.........we are hooked on it, so we'll be be headed south for part of the winter as long as we are able to make the trip, probably.

RAE

 

[Nords]

Welcome to the board, Ron! Gee, it must be winter on the Mainland again. We never seem to get these "living in Hawaii" questions in August.

ClifP is a resident here as well, and there are a couple others on this board who may or may not care to reveal their Hawaii connections. Perhaps they'll send you a PM.

Here's some threads to start with:
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f47/faq-archive-e-komo-mai-hawaii-30671.html
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f27/is-there-a-checklist-58872.html#post1133435
http://www.early-retirement.org/for...-in-hawaii-on-a-budget-58244.html#post1119322
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f29/best-places-to-retire-57968.html#post1116915
http://www.early-retirement.org/for...-to-a-higher-cost-area-57629.html#post1104674
http://www.early-retirement.org/forums/f46/hawaii-vacation-questions-49480.html#post920521

Here's a "how to live in Hawaii" blog post put together with contributions from a couple other posters. At the end of the post are two other sites to look at:
Lifestyles in military retirement: Living in Hawaii | Military Retirement & Financial Independence

Three more on other Hawaii considerations:
Lifestyles in military retirement: Napili Bay | Military Retirement & Financial Independence
Lifestyles in military retirement: Haleakala Crater | Military Retirement & Financial Independence
Lifestyles in military retirement: Haleakala Crater redux | Military Retirement & Financial Independence

I'd also strongly recommend that you ask your questions at HawaiiThreads.com. Those posters may be your new neighbors too.

I don't know how much local living you can cram into a two-week vacation (unless, of course, you surf). You absolutely need to "live local" for at least three months before making any kind of decision, and you might have to do that three-month experiment on more than one island before you have enough data to make a decision.

If you're not already doing so then I recommend you buy an online subscription to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser. (It's cheaper for you Mainlanders than it is for us residents.) You could read it every day for small-town living insights and cultural references that you may need to learn. You can also read a lot of the Honolulu edition of the Pacific Business News for free.

I've put up nearly a thousand posts here containing the word "Hawaii". I searched through about 300 of them (from most recent to older) to come up with those links. I'm not sure whether you'll find more treasure among the other 600+ but if you run the search then you might want to start from oldest to newest.

 

[Ron0731]

Congrats... From what profession are you retiring?

Thanks 2035, I have been in the Information Technology(computer programming) field, for 32 years, but have been in management for the past 10 years.

 

[Ron0731]

Thanks RAE,

I appreciate the information on Rockport Texas and the coastal Bend of Texas. I have only been to Austin Texas on business but I have been wanting to check out the rest of Texas and especially the coastal area. I will definitely check things out in this area and I will keep you in mind for any future questions. Thanks again so much for your reply.
Ron

 

[Midpack]

Welcome aboard, you've come to the right place. There are quite a few very knowledgeable, helpful haoles here. There are also some snowbirds, so you should be all set. I wish I was either, but alas...best of luck.

 

[Ron0731]

Welcome to the board, Ron! Gee, it must be winter on the Mainland again. We never seem to get these "living in Hawaii" questions in August.
Thanks for your response Nords, you didn't get any "living in Hawaii" questions from me in August only because I just found this app and site this week. LOL,

I am constantly looking up information on Hawaii, looking at the online Hawaii newspapers, looking at apartments and studios for rent on the islands etc etc. As a matter of fact, I was on Maui last February and it took me until the end of May to face reality that I needed to work and live here in Illinois. When I get off the plane on the islands I always feel like I belong there, so yes, I know I need to spend a few months on the islands to see if I still feel that way if I decide on the islands.

I have another part of me that would like to spend 3-4 months on the islands, however transportation issues arise, as I like to be all over the islands to hit my favorite beaches and resturaunts etc such as Aloha Mixed Plate on Maui, Ono's on Oahu to name a couple. I am not sure which island I would prefer over the others yet.

Thanks for all the links, i have a lot more to think about. I appreciate it very much.

 

[Ron0731]

Welcome aboard, you've come to the right place. There are quite a few very knowledgeable, helpful haoles here. There are also some snowbirds, so you should be all set. I wish I was either, but alas...best of luck.

Thanks Midpack

 

[Nords]

When I get off the plane on the islands I always feel like I belong there, ...

Well, that's what happened to us-- 22 years ago. Gosh, almost 23 now.

 

[obgyn65]

Welcome, Ron.

 

[Ron0731]

Thanks

Thanks obgyn65

 

[Koolau]

When I get off the plane on the islands I always feel like I belong there, so yes, I know I need to spend a few months on the islands to see if I still feel that way if I decide on the islands.

37 years ago, DW got a chance to attend a conference in the Islands. I wasn't particularly thrilled with the idea of traveling 5000 miles to wait for her to get out of conference meetings, but, for the cost of my airfare, we would get a "free vacation" together.

Stepping off the plane, walking through the airport and driving to the hotel, DW and I couldn't stop glancing at each other with wide eyes. We both decided we were "home". We looked into purchasing a place to live and tried to find j*bs, but it was not to be. Still, we never gave up the dream. We did eventually purchase property (to hold our spot) and then continued to w*rk and save for our dream. We visited a dozen times (over 6 months in the Islands) before retiring here.

I always suggest a book to those considering a move to the Islands. Amazon.com: So You Want to Live in Hawaii (9780966625301): Toni Polancy: Books It gives both "sides" to such a move (good and "bad"). It's the best single source I've found to help one decided if HI is right for them. Naturally, only time here will tell you for certain.

I've spent time in north Florida and also in the Texas costal area. Each is nice in its own way and definitely warmer than the frozen tundra of the midwest in deepest winter. Still, nothing ever clicked and said "this is home". Clearly, snowbirding to either place should be less expensive (and perhaps less culture shock - though that's debatable) than moving to Hawaii.

As always, YMMV. Aloha

 

[Ron0731]

We looked into purchasing a place to live and tried to find j*bs, but it was not to be. Still, we never gave up the dream. We did eventually purchase property (to hold our spot) and then continued to w*rk and save for our dream. We visited a dozen times (over 6 months in the Islands) before retiring here.

I wish I would have discovered the islands 30 years ago, I am sure I would be an owner if I had. I have the book

 

[Nords]

I've spent time in north Florida and also in the Texas costal area. Each is nice in its own way and definitely warmer than the frozen tundra of the midwest in deepest winter. Still, nothing ever clicked and said "this is home". Clearly, snowbirding to either place should be less expensive (and perhaps less culture shock - though that's debatable) than moving to Hawaii.
As always, YMMV. Aloha

At this point, Florida would be a huge culture shock. No Zippy's. No spam musubi. I don't think there's L&L BBQ there, either. Surfing might work out-- that Slater guy seems to have done OK from there.

Texas. Well, I'm getting used to Houston. San Antonio seems nice. But I have yet to experience any of that between May and August, and I have no interest in finding out.

 

[Ron0731]

At this point, Florida would be a huge culture shock. No Zippy's. No spam musubi. I don't think there's L&L BBQ there, either. Surfing might work out-- that Slater guy seems to have done OK from there.

Texas. Well, I'm getting used to Houston. San Antonio seems nice. But I have yet to experience any of that between May and August, and I have no interest in finding out.

L&L BBQ, dang I miss not getting to go there, I have saw Zippy's but didn't try it. Maybe soon LOL

 

[Nunyaa]

Hi, I will be retiring July 31st 2012, at the age of 53, part of me wants to move to Hawaii...

I won't be there until 2018. Make sure you Hawaii folks all coordinate where you're living - I wouldn't want the island to tip over.

 

[Nords]

I won't be there until 2018. Make sure you Hawaii folks all coordinate where you're living - I wouldn't want the island to tip over.

No doubt the Navy has invited the Representative's staff to tour both islands to check their stability...

 

[Koolau]

At this point, Florida would be a huge culture shock. No Zippy's. No spam musubi. I don't think there's L&L BBQ there, either. Surfing might work out-- that Slater guy seems to have done OK from there.

Texas. Well, I'm getting used to Houston. San Antonio seems nice. But I have yet to experience any of that between May and August, and I have no interest in finding out.

Boyd Crowder to Raylan Givens (FX's Justified) commenting on Raylan's return to Kentucky from Florida:

"I don't think I could abide me a place so flat."

Of course, Boyd and Raylan grew up in eastern KY while I grew up on the prairies of the midwest. Still, I think the Ko'olau would be the most difficult to give up for Florida's thousands of square miles of sandy flatlands. (Uh, I do know one local girl who doesn't like Zippy's so I guess it's okay that DW and I don't either.) YMMV