Sunday, May 6, 2012

I don't think we're in New England anymore ...

Do not park!  Falling coconuts :)
I was informed last week that it takes a good eight months to really settle in here on Hawaii, and accept the differences and lifestyle here vs. the mainland.  There are certainly some experiences we've had here on island that have made me thankful that I have this excuse, and gift of time, to rely on.  However, there are signs, some as literal as the one to the left, and some figurative, that are here to remind me each and every moment of each and every day that we are so fortunate to be living in our own Aloha State of Mind.

Coming from the East Coast, and Rhode Island specifically, we have not been as "sticker shocked" as my neighbors, who also chose to move here, but from Texas.  Apparently, everything really is bigger in Texas, except the grocery bills.  I emphasize the choice to move here as "are you military?" is the first question asked, always.  If it is not asked, it is assumed ... until you try to get on base or shop in the commissary, I'm sure.  Yes, that really does say $10.99 for a block of Velveeta cheese ... good thing I'm watching my caloric intake these days!

Just another rainbow
en route to Walmart
One thing I've yet to tire of seeing are rainbows. Their brilliant splashes of color across the clear blue sky, puffy white clouds, the Waianae Mountains, or even on a drive to Walmart, has me pulling out my camera to snap a picture.  The rainbows here are frequent and impressive.  The full range of colors, some stretching miles, some vertical, some wide, some narrow, double rainbows, and those that last just a split second, making you question if you really even saw one at all. Each one pulls me back into the moment, as if to say "don't sweat the small stuff, you live in paradise!"


The H3 through the Ko'olau mountain range

Living on Hawaii provides us with a never-ending supply of take-your-breath-away views. Our challenge?  To remember to take in these breathes of natural beauty, and remember why, through some of the challenges we've faced, that we did indeed make the choice to travel over 5,000 miles from our home state to this little volcanic island in the middle of the Pacific. And, although our children still argue, bills still need to be paid, and the house still needs to be cleaned, we did it all on a quest to live a simpler life, and an

Aloha State of Mind