Blog neglect

Lately, I've neglected my blog. I'm sorry :( Here's an update for everyone: I now live on Maui!! I said sayonara to the Big Island for 2 reasons. #1. It was boring. #2. My heart was in Maui and, as we all know, we should always follow our hearts.

1 month of living on the Big Island was enough for me. I was stir crazy.
Everything was going as planned. I was offered a position at Hilo Medical Center and also had a posh place to live. But, something just didn't feel right. I wasn't happy there. What I really wanted was to live on Maui. There was just one problem. There is only one hospital on Maui. Getting into this hospital as a travel nurse can be difficult. My recruiter had submitted my profile to the hospital and I hadn't heard a peep from them for 3 weeks. I put my tail between my legs and faced the reality that it just wasn't the right time for my Hawaiian dream. I accepted a travel nursing job in San Francisco and booked my flight back home. Less than a week before I was scheduled to fly home, the hospital in Maui called and offered me a job. I couldn't believe it. It was a dream come true for me and I was ecstatic! So I canceled my flight and contract with San Fran and said aloha to Maui.

This is where I was meant to be. Maui has such a nice vibe. I'm spoiled to live here, it feels like a dream. I've dreamt of living on this magical island ever since I first visited nearly 5 years ago. I feel so grateful to live here. It feels very surreal to me. You would think that the other lucky inhabitants on this dreamy isle would feel the same.
You're wrong.
I frequently hear my co-workers griping about the cost of living in this paradise. It is true, it's not cheap living here. Nurses are paid excruciatingly low wages, rent is sky high and food and gas cost an arm and a leg. But you're living on Maui, people! How can you complain?! Perhaps they need some tips on how to be more money savvy. Many locals have more than one job to compensate for the pricey cost of living. I'm fortunate to have a career as a nurse, where I don't usually have to worry about my finances. But I will say that living here is making it difficult to save for my next big trip. Sigh. I guess I'll go to the beach and sulk :)

One thing I've learned from traveling overseas is that what we think is essential is really not that important. I can live with very little belongings. I don't really need new clothes, when the ones I'm wearing are just fine. I don't need a fancy car to get from point A to B, when this little island beater does the job just fine. And I surely don't need the luxury of a TV to survive. I do, however, need things like food, water, and a toothbrush ;)
I'm a little perplexed when I hear people that live here complaining about their life on Maui. Perhaps they would rather live in the slums of Mumbai, where you share your nonexistent living quarters with rats and cockroaches. Or perhaps they would prefer to live in a wooden shack in Cambodia, where they can barely afford to eat. Let's look at this with some perspective, my American counterparts. You live in America, on top of that, you live in Hawaii, and last I checked you weren't living on the street, and you sure as heck don't look like you're starving to death. I think you're doing pretty darn good.
Ok, that's enough of my rant. On to lighter topics.

Harley (my pooch) is soaking up the warm weather and daily walks on the beach. She's pretty fit for a 10.5 year old. She has no problem keeping up with me on our tropical hikes, which has really impressed me. Although the process of getting her here was stressful (Hawaii has very strict quarantine laws), I'm glad I decided to bring her along for the adventure. She is a well-traveled pup, which makes her mommy proud :)

Hawaii is my playground with some of the most beautiful views I've ever seen. The sea turtles, the flowers, the sunsets, the tropical fruits. I love it all. Maui definitely holds a special place in my heart. I'm so happy I decided to make the move to this stunning paradise. Alooooooha!