Island Fever

I have an insane urge to get the heck out of dodge. Maybe permanently. One day last week when I was sick, I started searching coastal communities in the US to move to. I do like TN, it is nice and green. But I do despise, with my whole being, snow. We've not had a lot of snow over the past 10 years (I've been back in TN about that long) but this year has been a doozy. I do not like being cold, I do not like sharp biting winds, I do not like gray dull skies, I do not like bare naked trees. Ok, so I admit it, I am a winter hater.

So, if you are going to play in fantasy land, it is always fun to see what you can do with your real budget. Want to guess one of the most affordable, house wise places for me to pack up the kiddo and my Mom and run away to?

Hawaii. No, really. On the Big Island, you can get a 2000 SF house with views of the ocean for under 300K (that is the equity in my two houses plus my Mom's house - I don't have that much on my own). The realtors add fruit/garden info to the listings, I love that. Banana, papaya, star fruit, pineapple, lemon, grapefruit, tangerines, lychee...the lists are endless!

Gas, milk and bread are expensive on the island. Everything else is grown there and local. Ahi is $7.99 a pound and fresh caught that morning. Grass fed beef is $5 a pound (you can't get that here for $5 unless you buy the whole cow). Eggs are free range, chickens are growth hormone free and natural sized. The waters are full of ahi, mahimahi & red snapper.

Hawaii really is paradise. Blogs like this don't help either...

http://myhawaiianhome.blogspot.com/

Aloha!