Is moving really a good idea? Ask Hawaii's moms
By Esme Infante Nii
Hawaii MomsLikeMe.com Editor
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Once upon a time, if you were moving — from the Mainland to Hawai'i, or vice versa; between islands; or even just from one local neighborhood to another — you might lean over the fence to ask your neighbor for some straight-up advice: Where in that city is best to live? How much will things cost? Should I really go?
Now with just a few clicks, you can get much the same kind of insight from those in the know — the moms on Hawaii's MomsLikeMe.com.
Many people, particularly military moms, have used Hawaii's MomsLikeMe.com site as a source for the straight scoop on relocating. They've posted on the Web site asking about everything from where to find the best neighborhoods, schools and pediatricians, to how much they can expect to pay for milk, gas and housing.
And often, they also look for wisdom: Would this new city really be the right place for me?
Recently a North Carolina mom who goes by the screen name bht1216 posted comments saying that the main reason her family is considering moving to the Islands is that they're "sick and tired of the rat race ... of society ... of life. Ya know? We wake up early, rush out the door, drop off Trav at daycare, sit at a desk all day wishing we were somewhere else, back into traffic, grab Trav, scramble to throw dinner together and get to bed as quick as possible.
"Time goes by too fast. We do all this to still barely make ends meet. ... I want to, of course, work hard enough to keep some food in our bellies and a roof over our heads, but not live to work."
The moms of Hawaii's MomsLikeMe.com didn't want to discourage bht1216 too much — but also wanted to set the record straight.
"I hate to burst your bubble, but the life you're describing sounds like the life I'm living," wrote one woman who calls herself Mof2.
Added another mom, who uses the screen name Cassafrass: "Hawaii has a much higher cost of living, compared to other cities, so to just live comfortably, you'll probably be working just as hard as you are right now. You've pretty much described the typical day for a lot of parents here in Hawaii as well. I don't think that changes anywhere.
"Hawaii may give off that idyllic, relaxed island lifestyle — this pretty much rings true if you're here on vacation. Those of us that live and work here, while it's not as busy like cities like LA or New York, (know) it's still pretty hectic."
Reach Esme Infante Nii at hawaii@momslikeme.com.
