Why we moved, what was it like during the pandemic and should you do it?
Why we moved- a little backstory.
We lived in the San Francisco bay area for close to a decade and had ideas of traveling the world in future for a while. Once the pandemic hit, it just felt right to make some changes. We had moved to a place really close to work(both of us worked at the same company). With remote work, the proximity wasn’t important anymore. We were overpaying for our apartment and were keenly looking into moving.
We thought about buying a house with a backyard(because kids), almost made an offer on a house in Los Gatos, but were glad that someone overbid the asking price for almost $150k. That was such a relief and a sign that we weren’t ready to get chained to a house by putting down so much money in it.
We toyed with the idea of moving somewhere we could have a more outdoorsy life. Some areas that we considered were Lake Tahoe due to its proximity in case we needed to return back to work.
We spent a lot of time just contemplating, but our lease in the current apartment was ending soon. We needed to make a decision. Rental inventory was at an all time low in Maui, so we decided to finalize a place.
Within a matter of a weekend, we put everything in storage, packed 4 suitcases and headed to the airport. We even had to quarantine in Maui for 14 days, which was a very painful experience. We were fortunate to have found help from complete strangers during that time, whether it was help taking out trash or getting coloring supplies for the kiddo from Target. Amazon items take more than a week to arrive!
Life in Hawaii- living here is no vacation but we still make the most of it.
Being in quarantine for 14 straight days taught us to not take freedom for granted and ever since getting out, we have been exploring the island every single week. We started taking surfing lessons, volunteering and hanging out with friends we made here. As a couple, we prioritize a date night once a month and also enjoy staycations in local resorts from time to time.Once the state campsites open, we are looking forward to camping with the kids at least once if not twice a month.
There are many differences between vacationing here and living:
As nice as it would be, we do not lounge around on beaches and sip Mai Tais all day 😉
Living costs are really high. Rent, food, services and groceries are all very expensive. Safeway had one organic cauliflower listed for $14!! We quickly learned that the Farmer’s market is the best place to get local, fresh produce at a reasonable price.
We do have to run a household and stay in a routine just as we would in any other place. That said, we still make time to go watch the sunset or pack up dinner and eat at the beach when we can.
Remote work Experience
For my partner, remote work hours have been nice as Hawaii is 3 hours behind the Pacific time zone. He does have to start early, but gets done by 3pm at the most, which means more free time in the evenings. I am working on starting a business, so my hours are flexible and perfectly suited for our life as of now.
Future plans
Our future plans are to stay at least one whole year and enjoy all the seasons. We are very excited for the summer waves to surf and the abundant fruit the island has to offer. Also, looking forward to getting diving certification and exploring the underwater world in these islands.
Actionable tips
- If you have been wanting inspiration to make changes, just do it! We overcame many hurdles and made a huge move and couldn’t be happier. We already have such amazing memories from our time here. For the first time, it doesn’t feel like the vacation has ended too soon!
- Declutter months in advance. Reduce your unnecessary belongings as much as possible so any move feels easier at the time. Every item counts. Do this exercise with a friend so you can stay accountable.
- If possible, hire packers and movers. That way, packing up an entire household would not feel too challenging.
- Give yourself the permission to chase your dreams. Learn about money and financial independence to give you confidence in making these big changes.
