You’re Not in Colorado Anymore (or “Sand happens”)
one = sand
It’s hooomid
Hm. Chips, cereal, crackers go STALE. What? I completely forgot that could happen. If it’s remotely crispy, it now gets a chip clip. If it’s moist, it goes in the fridge. Because, golly, baked goods get MOLDY? What? So weird.
Drinks have condensation, if I want my hair to dry within an hour, I have to actually use a hair dryer. Similarly, clothes and towels have to go into a dryer instead of the sun.
True, I was born and raised in Louisiana, but I’ve lived in an arid climate for the past few decades and these things actually mess with my daily planning. Thankfully, there are surprisingly few bugs despite the tropical climate.
Sweat It Out
I debated posting a pic of me at my stickiest, but really, who wants to see that? Instead, here’s me on a typical Sunday, sitting on a beautiful beach with a fluff book and a tumbler full of iced green tea, debating how long to wait until I jump into the glorious water that will turn my hair into a tangled, crunchy mess.
Neither Troy nor I particularly like air-conditioning, so we make do with ceiling fans and open windows. With the HK breezes, it’s quite pleasant most times of the day, but my skin is perpetually tacky. I have to shower at least once a day. It feels amazing, and I absolutely love our cathedral-ceiling-ed shower, but it’s a must, not a nice-to-have, which again, is very different.
In Colorado, I could put on deodorant in the morning and be set for the day. Here? Not so much. I take work breaks for a quick rinse and swipe of deodorant all the time.
Sand Happens
Speaking of which, if you live a beach lifestyle (and really, who here doesn’t?), expect sand to be a part of your daily life. It gets everywhere, including, yes, on that deodorant you put on a few times a day. And in your shoes and the floors and the cats’ fur and the sinks and drains and towels and, good grief, is that sand in the bottom of the refrigerator? And don’t even get me started on car mats. They’re a lost cause, so just embrace it.
Sand happens.
You can’t get high in HI
It’s curious. Hawaii is progressive in a lot of ways – 96% of people have health insurance, environmentalism is taken for granted, the LGBTQ community is loud and proud. Heck, you can even legally RIDE IN THE BACK OF A PICKUP TRUCK ON THE HIGHWAY. But don’t light up the Maui Wowie – recreational marijuana is actually illegal here. As is gambling. And drinking alcohol on the beaches (although I’ve seen the HoPo* turn a blind eye to it on several occasions). Yes, there’s lots of fun to be had here, but it’s not a party atmosphere. People care deeply about the land and each other and are generally very family-oriented and spiritual.
*Troy and I call the Honolulu Police Department the “HoPo.” We think we’re funny.
but the prices sure can!
Gas is about $4.60 – $5.00 a gallon unless you go to Costco, where it’s about $.50 cheaper and the lines are perpetual.
A loaf of bread at Safeway is $7. Toilet paper is $5. Avocados are $3. So are bell peppers. And yellow onions. EACH.
It costs a lot to live in paradise – housing is the most expensive in the country. It’s shocking how quickly Troy and I have stopped being shocked at the cost of townhomes in Hawaii Kai. (“Oh, check this one out, honey; it’s only $1.7 million.”)
BUT one of my super powers is budgeting, so if you are interested in my many tips for keeping the cost of living moderately reasonable, stay tuned. I’ll share those in a future post. In the mean time, I’ll enjoy this $20 Butterfly Pea Saketini . . .
