Yikes, BoSox. Sorry you had such a bad experience.

I haven't lived in HI before. In fact, I haven't even spent vacation time there for many years, prior to job-huting trips. I didn't start with the idea that I wanted to live in some vacation paradise. Instead, once I decided to leave DC, I chose HI out of several options based on a bunch of criteria. I then researched it so thoroughly and learned so much about it that people are shocked I've never lived there. I've also made a lot of friends and business contacts during the course of my job search.

As for being in the minority, I'm a white guy who's lived in downtown Washington DC for the last 12 years. I'm also gay. So it won't be a new experience. It's just something to learn to deal with, and something an awful lot of non-whites deal with successfully on the mainland every day.

I don't have kids, so public schools aren't an issue. And they're pretty poor in DC, anyway, so that wouldn't be anything new.

The Hawiian economy is showing definite signs of a firm recovery. I'm making a gamble, but I think now is the perfect time to cash out of our overheated real estate market and move somewhere the economic cycle isn't 100% dictated by what's going on on the U.S. mainland. And I've got a great job lined up, working with a great group of people.

Frankly, I'm really looking forward to living in a place that's not so transient. DC is among the most mobile places in the country -- it's hard to feel connected and settled here. I'm really hoping to put down roots in the community. And almost everyone I've spoken with in HI agrees that if you make a serious effort to get involved, and not to give off a "superior" vibe because you're from the mainland, you'll be accepted and happy (if not "local").

This is a grand adventure. I'm comfortable with my decision and really looking forward to it. So, thanks to those of you who are giving me FF program advice (especially TropicalFlyer, who was nice enough to respond to an e-mail from me several months ago when I was first exploring life in the islands).

Charlie