The big question is what you do for work. I like the Big Island, but not sure I'd want to live there. Kauai would be my choice but I'd still have the same problem - what to do for a living.

she is in. moving to hawaii makes her nervous due to cost of living.

also, her whole family is here and they are awesome. that would be tough.

yeah, we've been looking at austin, texas as well.

any suggestions on south east?

respiratory therapy.

i didn't like kauai. my brother lives there. much too rural. and violent. and housing there is TWICE what housing is on the big island.

Austin is pretty cool, but quite a drive to the coast... it really depends on what kind of scene you are looking for... you take Galveston, Corpus Christi and South Padre Island, while all on the Gulf Coast and in areas where you could find decent employment, each is a very different lifestyle... Then you can throw in Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, the Carolina's.... it's really a gambit of different choices to choose from.... I know Texas and I believe Florida do not have a state income tax so that could be a benefit, but I would suggest not jumping the gun so to speak... do a little research into the areas and activities available before taking the plunge...

Why do you say minus the skiiing?

The Big Island has skiing!

Can you really snow ski in Hawaii?

we really like austin. i realize it isn't close to the coast, but it is warmer than here!

we thought about charleston/savannah. also central florida is an option, mainly the gainesville area.

Austin is a hip town, great music scene and not too far from anywhere in the state... not to long of a drive to go deep sea fishing etc... lots of places to hunt in the state and not too many regs on the rifles used... just can't use rim fire ammo on deer... and I think that housing would be somewhat cheaper as well... I know we have some Austin Pelicans, hopefully they will chime in....

"People do snowboard and snow ski on Mauna Kea (Hawaiian for white mountain) on the Big Island of Hawaii. There are no ski lifts to take you up the mountain, which is over 13,500 feet high, so you must rent a 4WD vehicle or hire a guide. Skiers take turns being the driver up a road that also serves several observatories at the summit."

no thanks. plus, i've read that it is discouraged and VERY dangerous, due to it being volcanic rock and cinders just under the snow.

we've looked at real estate in austin. for half of what our house would sell for one can buy more house there.

If you live in Austin, go to South Padre for the Gulf. The water is much nicer. Galveston water is still brown, from the Mississippi river.

Skiing? ... way up there, where the O₂ is thin? ... you may want to bring along a respiratory therapist to figure out . .. oh wait. Never mind.

Yep, as long as you have 20% for a downpayment. I think it is the main reason real estate didn't bubble here.

Probably so... I would recommend visiting and checking out areas like San Marcos and New Braunsfels as well... I haven't been to either in a while, but I sure liked the areas when I was younger...

Great prices on homes there - sure to go up, do it.

no kidding. from sea level to 10,000 feet + would be pretty brutal. i went from about 5K to breckenridge at 10K + and it was not fun. i skied about three runs and and decided it wasn't worth it.

yeah, i may just have to sell the house and move to austin and then work on getting work. there are tons of RT jobs in the austin and san antonio areas. i've been doing some research. i only got fired up about hilo because i found some work there, but haven't heard back from the hospital.

what is san antonio like?

GAWD...i missed you you big knuckle head:D
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Uno's right...I'd look at Austin before Hilo...BUT...being a respitory therapist...Hilo has a lot of weed growing in the hills. I remember the helo pilot pointing it out to us when we took a tour of the island.

the weed was so obvious flying blue hawiian helos on the kona to hilo helo and over the mtn pass tour you couldnt swing a bong without hitting a field.

gawd that was funny remembering that trip.

hawaii is nice to visit. i have bean there numerous times. each island has somethang different for each of us that really is precious and magical. for me its UNTA WATA. crap i have been around the big island so many times now i could puke on some of it. other parts i could live there if it was a 100 years ago. too much lokal vs. white dood crap. everywhere! grocery stores,anywhere you can think unless TOURIST area and then all they want is your money.

everyone i know who has fallen in love with the place after a year come back cuz their lonely! WTF?

as i said a 100 years ago i would love it for the LACK of people. but now adays its crowded and lokals dont like us. just think AIM american indian movement and ya got a pretty good picture of the tensions between lokals and mainlanders.

and that goes for jobs also. lokals always get preference. its a different world and its not the paradise most think it is. dont get me wrong i havent seen it all, and i would go back to see more, but i have learned how to interact with lokals and i pretty much avoid their crap now.

hell ya wanna ski??????????? try new messiko!

Smaller. It is #4 or #5 in size in Texas. You have more rolling hills around the area. It is less expensive than Austin, and more industrial, but not as industrial as Houston.

Lots of good places to live close by. You can probably sell your place, buy a great house and have enough money left over to buy acres and a hunting cabin.

Do your homework and find a house in an area with good schools.