So Many Choices...

As soon as I started applying for jobs in Hawaii, it seems that many doors where I currently live in New Mexico have suddenly opened to me.  In the past week, I have been offered three new employment opportunities and that job in Maui that I desperately sought is not a closed door, but one that is being delayed.  Apparently, I was being considered for a position when a new center on the island opens in a few months, not the center where I thought I would be working.  I am interested in working at the new center, but it was a surprise to hear that my hiring might be put on hold.  In the meantime, two job opportunities arose in my area without me sending out a single application.  I was contacted by these companies and I was offered a promotion and major salary increase at my current employer. 

Many people might say "forget Hawaii."  Many people would just gladly take the promotion and be satisfied.  I did take the promotion.  It's my second promotion at my employer in the past 8 months.  I have been doing well, but I still want to move to Hawaii.

It will only bolster my resume and give me a better chance of landing my perfect dream Hawaiian job!

It's difficult to consider new opportunities at any other locations at this time.

I still find myself having dreams of being in a warm, tropical breeze, listening to the sound of waves crashing on the beach while smelling the salty ocean air, but for now, it will have to just wait.

Life is best lived one day at a time, and today, I am happy to have received a promotion and being doing well at my current job.  I have income, food, clothing and a roof over my head.  That is plenty to be content with and thankful for...

Until next time, Aloha and Mahalo for reading my blog.

Close to A Dream

One step closer...

This week, I interviewed for a position at a substance abuse recovery center in Maui.  The interview went very well and we discussed salary requirements and starting dates. That's always a good sign.  The hiring manger told me that I must speak with the Executive Director of the site before I will be officially hired for employment.

He is supposed to call me within 3 business days of the interview. It has already been two days.  Monday will be the third business day.

My heart tells me that the job is mine.  I believe we will have a good conversation and the hiring will be final. 

Then comes the actual moving part.

We are cleaning our house today on Saturday and beginning to think about all the household items we need to sell or give away before the move. I am still working at my other position, so I have been quite busy with work lately, working 12 hour days.  When I come home, I'm too tired to think about moving, but it needs to be done.

The greatest part about this job (at least to start) is that I will start working for them from home.  I can do telehealth and provide counseling sessions to clients via Internet. I can also start completing trainings online. This will help me to make some extra money to save for our moving expenses.

It's all working out.

I just wish it was finalized.  I'm a TYPE A personality and I need everything organized, completed, finished yesterday...

Waiting is not always my strong point.

I'm so excited though.  I think our move is actually getting ready to happen.

I'll keep you posted after I talk with the executive director.  I've started thinking about logistics of how to ship my car to Hawaii from a Pacific port, such as Los Angeles.  If I can get plane tickets, first/last rent and utility deposit money, and have the money to ship my car a couple weeks ahead of my move, I will be fine. 

My husband, due to his military discharge, may be left behind for a few months.

That's ok, we'll be together in our forever home in Maui soon.

:-)

A Will and A Way

It's been a few days, and I've filled out about 20 new applications.  I've decided that somehow, some way, we are moving to Maui.  I've narrowed down the search from all of the Hawaiian islands to Maui.  I want to live in Maui...

Today, I have another interview for a substance abuse counseling position in Maui.  It would be perfect for me.  My fingers are crossed and my prayers are going up.

I have been reading that finding a job in Hawaii (any of the islands) without actually being ON the island at the time you apply can make things very difficult.  However, I have also read that working in any type of healthcare job makes a person much more marketable, and possibly will help me overcome the difficult of being hired from the mainland.

My husband has also been applying for many jobs, but his situation is a little different.  He is unsure of when he will be discharged (exactly) from the military and therefore cannot list an availability date.  I imagine this may keep him from getting a job anytime soon, but we will see!

I knew moving to Hawaii would be hard.  I knew there were challenges.  We have only been trying for less than a month to really find employment, but like with any job search, this one is already getting annoying.

I have never liked the whole process of filling out applications, having to list the same information over and over and over, even when I have a perfectly good resume and cover letter to attach.  It seems highly redundant, but it's absolutely worth the effort when the right job comes along.  I looked for several months before I landed my current position.  I love where I work, it's just not in Hawaii.  That's the only problem.  My company has no facilities on Maui, or I would just transfer there and save all the trouble.

Last night, I dreamed of telling my boss that I was giving my notice of resignation.  Maybe it's a sign of how this interview will go today, or maybe it's my brain just wishfully thinking about moving again.  I've been having other dreams.

My brain is entirely focused on this move. 

I've been told more than a few times in the past month...YOU ARE CRAZY.  People constantly ask, "Do you know that it's expensive to live in Hawaii?" 

Uh no...I don't...just kidding.  Of course I DO!  I know how crazy this all seems, and I know that many people probably think we are going out there to sink ourselves financially.  They look at me with half-cocked eyes and just take a deep breath. 

One of my neighbors finally said something positive.  She said, yes it's expensive, but it's MAUI.  What if you go there and you have to figure things out for awhile, but you get to live on MAUI.  What if you go somewhere else and just settle and end up miserable?  Will it be worth it, just to save some money? 

My husband and I both have excellent education and experience in technical and highly-demanded fields. He works with electrical/mechanical systems and I am a counselor.  We are not looking for hotel front desk jobs or to become waiters (not that there's anything wrong with that), but we are looking at better paying jobs.  We won't go if we can't pay our bills.  Period.

I probably watched too many tv shows about Hawaii living.  The man said, "You don't have to be rich to live in Hawaii, you just have to want it."  Well, WE WANT IT.

I believe that man.  I believe where there is a WILL, there is a WAY.