Have I really lost it???

I had posted back in October about my life-changing honeymoon in Hawaii, and though I have calmed down ever so slightly about it, the intense desire to return is still haunting me...literally! I now find that I am having very vivid dreams about Hawaii, and am moved to tears when I look around at the beauty that surrounds me. Tears! I guess it%26#39;s pretty neat that I can ';re-experience'; Hawaii while in the comfort of my own bed, but really...when will this stop? It%26#39;s somewhat of a tease, as I%26#39;m not sure when we will be able to get back. We want to go back for SOME anniversary, but a bad economy + living on the east coast= too long until we can get back. Any advice would be appreciated =)

Have I really lost it???

you could read the threads about vacations lost to a week or two of heavy rain??? If predictions are accurate, there%26#39;ll a bunch of those between now and April.

Also read the local newspaper re our poverty and political corruption. Might take some shine off the apple. It%26#39;s a great place but anyone who tells you it%26#39;s paradise is on vacation.

Have I really lost it???

Aaah, yes. Though poverty and political corruption are here in Taxachusetts too, along with horrible drivers, snow, cold, and a recent ice storm that left the northern part of the state with NO POWER for up to 12 days. Although there may be no true ';paradise,'; my 12 days in Hawaii were close enough for me...

Isabell, in Mass.

Well, that is Erica%26#39;s mome turf, many years ago, in Hadley. He dad was a professor at UMASS.

Anyway, how did we handle our love of kauai and missing it all year long until the next visit. We lived in Southern California at the time, at the beach, so it was much easier on the air travel, as well as being able to enjoy the beaches, beach cities, and sailing.

However, my condo in Huntington Harbor was decorated with Kerry Oda pictures, and other island portraits.

Also had a very nice shell and coral display, along with different types of small palm trees indoors and on the lanai.

Erica lived in Seal Beach, and her place was decorated in roughly the same manner.

Everytime, and I mean everytime that we got together during the weeks, we talked out our beloved garden island.

Soon, the year was up, and we would be flying over to Kauai, for our two week stays.

Finally, our hearts and minds being on Kauai, we finally moved over.

Anyway, that is how we handled it....glad to see that your heart is still here....

Denny

Dave wrote:

%26lt;you could read the threads about vacations lost to a week or two of heavy rain??? If predictions are accurate, there%26#39;ll a bunch of those between now and April.

Also read the local newspaper re our poverty and political corruption. Might take some shine off the apple. It%26#39;s a great place but anyone who tells you it%26#39;s paradise is on vacation.';

Jeez Dave. Having a bad day?

I think the OP would like to know how to recapture the feeling of being on Kauai, not slit her wrists.

Here%26#39;s some ideas on how to keep the love of Hawaii in your heart until you can come over again.

Fix up an area in your house to make it have a tropical feel. I redid a bathroom like this.

Listen to hawaiian music when you are relaxing, reading or driving in your car.

To pay for your next trip start that program similar to what Bank of America has. It is called ';keep the change';. If you charge 85 cents on your debit card they up it to $1 and you save 15 cents in a savings account. Or start a trip jar and put all your loose change in it. Cut down on one Starbucks a week and put that $3 in a jar and you%26#39;ll be amazed at how much money you can save for a trip. Half the fun in traveling is the planning.

I know the economy is bad and trying to imagine coming back to Kauai is hard, but having Hawaii in your heart is special. Hold that feeling until you come back to ';paradise';. It is paradise for many of us.

A little story for you, my dear, we married in 1973, went to work 2 days after the wedding,economy very similar to today, 3 years later saved enough to FINALLY have a honeymoon, by selling hubbies beloved Barracuda. 5 days on Kauai and 6 on Kona. It was heaven...actually stayed at the old Coco Palms! Amazing. Fast forward 22 years and we were able to introduce our 3 kids to Kauai and Kona...In the last 6 years we have managed to make it to the islands at least once a year. Age does have some perks. If it calls you you will find a way. There is something primal and very true there. My point, be patient, you will go back!

Thanks Denny and Jebett for your responses. I figured that Dave was having a bad day =) I actually have been doing the B of A ';save the change'; program for quite a while, so we%26#39;ll see where that gets me. The irony about your suggestion, Jebett, of decorating a room to look tropical is that the previous owners of our house, who moved to Florida, were obsessed with tropical decor. They left a lot of stuff, which we promptly changed, as it wasn%26#39;t really our style! Oh well...we still have the tropical foliage that they left behind, and we%26#39;ve managed to keep it alive for 2 years =)

I%26#39;m sorry Dave, but ';political corruption';??? Kauai seems like paradise to me even without the weather. After working in state government for 25 years in Illinois -- I%26#39;ve seen a little. It is a bit bothersome to have your home state be the laughingstock of the entire nation. Unfortunately, it is richly deserved.

Great suggestion for saving money, jebett! My honey and I have a ';penny jar'; and we both bank with B of A so I am signing up for the ';keep the change'; program. Anyway, when we counted our money from the coin jar for our Maui trip in May, we had $750. Not bad for some spending money!

Kimocat wrote:

%26lt;It is a bit bothersome to have your home state be the laughingstock of the entire nation. Unfortunately, it is richly deserved.%26gt;

Oh we are going to have so much fun talking next week at the TA get together.

Don%26#39;t let the bad economy scare you off. This economy is exactly the reason why one SHOULD consider travel to the islands. Airfares are down and hotels and condos are slashing their rates to attract renters.

Another hint........get yourself an airline visa card. Use it for major purchases and bills. I particularly like the Alaska airlines card because you get a $50 companion certificate EVERY YEAR, NOT JUST AN INTRODUCTORY OFFER. Yes, every year a second person can travel with you to the islands for only $50. We%26#39;ve taken advantage of this great deal for the past 3 years every year.

Hawaii does not have to be considered an expensive place to visit. Play your cards right and it can be done very reasonably.

white hair