Follow Me Everywhere

This was originally posted by me over at my buddy Sean’s site Location 180.  Definitely check it out if you haven’t seen it!

As a recap, I’ve been on Maui for almost 5 months now. I moved here with no job and no real expectations except to try something new and have an adventure. Now, I work at a hotel in sales, make decent money, and more or less am living the stereotypical island lifestyle. Every day I am reminded of how lucky I am to be living in such a gorgeous place, but that isn’t to say it comes without a price.

Although Hawaii is considered by most to be an island paradise, it does have obstacles to overcome when living here. The most apparent of which is the fact that “Haolies” (white foreigners), are often treated differently than the locals. In some cases this can be good (employment), while in others it can be bad (state licensure, service). Now, I don’t want to come across as if I dislike Hawaii, because the fact is, I love it here. However, it has taken some getting used to the fact that as a Haolie, I frequently get dirty looks and at times have been harassed by the locals. I am sure this is rooted in the fact that 50 years ago the island was not nearly the tourist hot spot it is today; hell if I were them, I would be mad about that too! Yet I suppose this can be a lesson for all of us who strive to become location independent and see exotic and foreign places. By dealing with this type of adversity one can learn more about themselves and other cultures, and in the end, peacefully coexist.

Something else that one must consider when moving to a new place, is the fact that it can get lonely on the road. I am certainly not trying to throw a pity party for myself, but I have learned that many times I have to be able to entertain myself. By working in the hotel industry I am constantly meeting people from all over the world, yet they always leave just as quickly as they arrived. This has made it really difficult to maintain a core group of friends. Maui has proven to me that it is a haven for both tourists and vagabonds alike. When you factor those people out, there is a very small percentage of people I have met that are here for good, and an even smaller percentage that is of similar age and interest. Due to this, I have found it imperative to be open-minded when meeting new people, as well as being OK with being alone, because it definitely gets lonely at times.

Many people who move to Maui get “Island fever” at one point or another. Essentially, this is getting the feeling of claustrophobia from being stuck on this rock 3,000 miles out in the middle of open ocean. I would be lying if I said I haven’t felt it myself. Sometimes it feels as though there is only so much you can do here, and only so far you can go. This is when creativity is vital. Instead of dwelling on the fact that you are on a desolate piece of rock, you go out and explore. Finding new places, hobbies and meeting new people has become a way of life for me.

I have talked to many people from various backgrounds, and there always seems to be one common thread to their thinking. When life is all said and done, what else do you have other than your experiences? You can’t take that nice car or house with you to the grave, but your memories and stories will live on forever.

I consider myself very lucky to be living in Hawaii. It’s natural beauty is fabulous and the recreational opportunities are endless. I just hope this opens your eyes to the fact that although it is awesome here, there are certainly some tough obstacles to overcome. Things aren’t always fun and games, but I certainly hope that more often than not it is.