Hawai’i ain’t cheap...that’s gotta be hard wage in which to make a living. I’m looking forward to DU’s malaise and mahina weighing in on this.

FWIW, I live in Missoula, MT. Relatively expensive cost of living, particularly housing...wages aren’t that great. Median home price is $315K in the valley which is considered “affordable” and well,above that in more “desirable” neighborhoods. We also have a shortage of labor here. Help wanted signs everywhere from fast food to fancy restaurants to auto mechanics to RN’s and physicians at both hospitals. I have friends...a couple...who own two high end outdoor equipment retail stores in town...they are both working all positions at their business because they can’t find people to work there. It’s a stellar business. They treat employees well, pay them well, benefits etc...Outdoor equipment retailers are where it’s at here...this is an outdoor recreation hub. I don’t know what to attribute this to. It’s unnerving.

as I seem to recall a raise

and I always thought the democrats were a little too conservative. Senator Brian Schatz lived down the hall from me for a couple of years when he was a local politician and he and his wife were very nice, but I never thought he was liberal enough. Sometimes we had political discussions in the elevator. Don't get me started on Tulsi Gabbard and her despicable father. Edited to add that I greatly preferred living there to Oklahoma where I moved when I retired 5 years ago to be near family. Now I have two of the worst senators in the country.

We were forced to move during the recession of 1991. Couldn't survive on the low wages anymore. Joined the HUGE communities of Hawaii expats who moved here to Seattle.

Tore my heart out, but we had exhausted all other options at the time.