You CAN Retire in Hawaii.

For me, retiring in Hawaii was like the beginning of a new
incarnation and every morning’s dew nurtured perceptible
growth in my joy at being alive. The idea to retire in
Hawaii, far from any place you are likely to have been
living, always has it’s seeds in emotion. It is like
falling in love. It’s not rooted in earth and practicality,
but when all is said and done, it depends on both.
When you find yourself enchanted this way and thinking
of living forever or for a long time in it’s spell,
I encourage you follow the advice you would give a
young person in love; get to know the place, the people
and the personal cost of indulging yourself.

I chose to live in Hawaii for several reasons.
Number one? The climate. All year long, every day,
the air is at 70 to 85 degrees. That’s perfect
for a human beings and a host of animals and plants
that we humans enjoy.

There are beaches from white to black. Some are miles
long, others hide in tiny coves. Long, white waterfalls
tumbledown precipitous cliffs and slip quietly into
the sea. I also came here because the people here are
made of the same stuff and make up a culture friendly
to children and older folks like me.

I have still said little about those nitty-gritty things
you need your attention before you make a life-changing
move. Because I came to Hawaii as a student rather than
a tourist, I had to deal with the mundane stuff before
I could do much looking around at the beauty.
The University of Hawaii Campus, as beautiful as it is,
is was not a quiet beach. I was not a tourist.
When I could get away, the enchantment began. I finally
decided to retire to Kauai.

You will probably start with the beauty, but I advise you
to remember that you take for granted the many things that
make you comfortable on the Mainland. You will have to
relearn some of these things when you move to Hawaii:

Consider, for example:

How will your cost of living compare to what you are
used to? Can you afford the move itself? Hawaii is about
as expensive as San Francisco, New York, Miami or
Seattle. Some things, like heating, are actually cheaper.

Will the beautiful climate fail to satisfy your love
for the change of seasons? You may miss bundling up
on a chilly fall day or watching the crocus and daffodil
push up through the snow in spring.

How much will you miss your family and your friends?
They may not be able to visit often. Can you afford
to visit them?

Hawaii life is slower than urban mainland life.
Honolulu is probably and exception. It is also
the most expensive place to live in Hawaii. Except
for Honolulu, some folks from mainland cities miss
the stimulation and nightlife. I once interviewed
a job applicant who flew to Hawaii from New York City.
I was designated to show him around and interview him.
After about an hour and a half he said he could never
live in a “place like this” and on a plane back to his
New York City apartment that very night!

There is something called “Rock Fever” . It is real.
The islands are not tiny. Neither are they Texas.
You will want to visit other islands. This means airfares.
Until you know someone there, it will also mean paying
for lodging.

You can do lots of research on the internet, in travel
guides and in books. I heartily recommend that visit Hawaii
and actually live here for a few months before you sell
the ranch in Texas.

How about the COST of living in Hawaii? You may have friends
or other sources that tell you have Hawaii is outrageously
expensive. Many are talking about the cost of being a tourist.
You won’t be sleeping and eating in a luxury hotel every day.
Real estate is expensive. Do you need a big fancy house? when
you retire on the mainland , will live spend as much as when
you are working?

Many regular folks to live happily in the Hawaii economy.
How? These thousands of people aren’t tourists. Anyone living in
Hawaii learns how to manage in its economy just you do in
yours. Make some adjustments and you really can live in Paradise.
If you can spend $2500 a month, you can do it. You will
have to budget, eat out less, live in a smaller place, in
a beautiful quiet place like the Big Island or Kauai. At
$4000 a month you will have no struggle.

It is a long way from Hawaii to the mainland, but there
are many flights to many cities. The cost is comparable
to flying across the continental US. You are, in no
sense, marooned. So, if you want to retire in a beautiful,
gently warm place, Hawaii may be for you. Take your dream
seriously. Visit Hawaii, live there for a few months. You will feel
like a child again. If all this suits you, retire in Hawaii.