home sweet home....finally

Searching for the "perfect" home together was not an easy task.  One good thing is that Nic and I definitely had parallel check lists. I was so fortunate to have Nic's roommates agree to let me move in with them until we found a place of our own....the stay with three boys only lasted 6 weeks but for me it felt like an eternity.  I was oh so eager to begin our journey in Maui in a space we could make our own....together.

Everything was a NEW experience for me, and more overwhelming that I could have prepared myself for. Nic was settled as he arrived in Maui a few months ahead of my arrival, going about his daily routine, working etc. I on the other hand felt completely out of my element. Living in a new state, far from all things familiar, friends, family, Diesel.....I was without a job, without a home, living out of boxes in desperate anticipation for what was coming next. Starting with a home of our own.

Then reality sunk in....I've never actually house hunted.  I moved from the parent's, to the dorms in college, to the home in SD that I lived for the past 9 years. I had roots in San Diego, and have only lived in 2 towns my entire life.  Now at 27 I was embarking on this journey where each day I was encountering "firsts".  First time living with a boyfriend, first time living in a different state, first time not having a home of my own, first time feeling "homeless", first time without a single friend nearby, first time truly being bored.  I was bored out of my mind waiting for Nic to come home from work everyday as he was the only sole I knew on this island. Wait...what?!?! Waiting for a boy to come home from work because I have no one to hang out with....? This was soooooo out of character for me. I truly felt a little lost.  And finding myself was going to start with finding a job and a home. 

Luckily the job came within about a week and a half's time.....the home, well that was weeks to follow.  So I decided it was best to unpack a few of the boxes in Nic's room to feel a little more settled and make the best of this new beginning.  This was home for now....could be worse right, I could not be on a beautiful island in the middle of the pacific ocean with gorgeous sunsets, beaches and palm trees galore.  :)

We looked, and looked and looked....then finally it was down to TWO places.  A condo and an ohana.  Nic was pulling for the ohana....I just had a really hard time seeing past the current renters STUFF.  It was dark and cluttered.....but Nic was convincing.   After viewing the ohana for a second time and negotiating the price a little we finally landed!!! Move in date was still 3 weeks out, but we were over the moon with excitement. Our landlord is awesome and there is a yard for Diesel....but most importantly we are one block from the beach and have a second bedroom for our friends and family to visit us!

Here's our home sweet home....



Front view of ohana




view looking from patio out towards street
(our ohana is a back detached home - our landlord lives in front house)




night view of our front patio
(we also have a backyard...not pictured)




enter house....view from front door




view from back exit looking at living room and entry / dining area
we were able to paint accent walls - i love it!




view from hallway





obvious kitchen....homemade soup on the stove




small but functional bathroom




our bedroom...it was baby blue before we painted....
our landlord is so nice to let us paint :)




Nic in our not-so-decorated office / room for guets



It took a while to acquire furniture and get decorated, but Nic and I are incredibly happy and absolutely love our home we have made together.  And best of all having our own place meant that our life together was really starting.

friends, family and a few beers

Most of my bestest friends in life still reside in the SF Bay area in close proximity to my hometown of Petaluma. Which makes going "home" just that much better. I am so fortunate to have friends dating back to elementary school, jr. high and high school. Not only are my friends ah-mazing, my family is the best too.

Every time I visit home my parents are so generous to let me throw a backyard BBQ and invite my friends.  My going away party was no exception. It was perfect.

I thought I would share some photos from my 2010 NorCal summer and pics of the great party that my parents threw for me with about 60 of my closest friends and family (including Nic who flew out from Maui to be there).  The 'rents even surprised me with a steel drum player.  :)



Wine Tasting at Ledson



Swim day with my favorite nieces

Late night camp fire in the backyard

My daddy

Laughing with my besties

My kevin!

Most of the group of friends who made it to the BBQ

Pier 39 with my Alissa

World Series winners......Go Giants.....summer game with Aussie

Tailgating ritual at A's game with the fam for Bro's bday!!

what brought you to maui...?

This is a question that i get from my customers at work.....allllll the time. It would be assumed to say "my boyfriend" and although he is the person who presented me with the opportunity, it all unfolded quite differently, and a bit unconventionally I might add.

My Point of View:
WORK, WORK, WORK....and a little play, mixed in with some school.....I was exhausted.  Truly. A good six months of feeling like I needed a change, a BIG change.  And then my best friend (my now boyfriend too), received the opportunity to take a job in Maui. He asked me what I thought about the idea....and i said he would be crazy not to take it. 

So he accepted the job and was moving from San Diego to yet another beautiful vacation destination called Maui.  He was beside himself with excitement for his new adventure, and I was JEALOUS!!! So jealous. If you know me, you know that I love to travel. I love new cultures, countries, places. I love it all! I work to travel, I live to travel.

About a week went by and although I was so very happy for him I couldn't help but think of how lucky he was.  By this time I had been living in San Diego for nine years already, and was itching for something new, but I just couldn't bring myself to know exactly what the next step was. I could look for a new job, but you all know that looking for a job is a job in itself, and I was already maxed out on time. So the same routine was in place for some time....way past it's expiration date.

As I kept telling my best friend how excited I was for him and how I would love to be so adventurous and just pick up and relocate to a place that sounded as heavenly as Maui....he said it......"why don't you come with me?"  I replied naturally with, "I can't come with you" his response, "why not?" I pondered for a minute....and said "I don't know why not...?"

And so it was settled. He was leaving in May and I would work a few more months in San Diego to save some $$, then home to NorCal for a month and spend some time with my family before moving to Maui at the end of the summer.  We had no clue what this meant, me moving to Maui to live with him....but somehow it just felt RIGHT. It was a bit unconventional, but hey that's us and it works. I felt so secure and sure about this decision. As did he.

I moved for change: a change in scenery and lifestyle.  A change for my own well being and happiness. That is my response to the question...."what brought you to Maui".  I let it all go....the dead end job, the stress of an overbooked schedule and began fresh.  In a new place where I am able to create my own new world.



Sky Diving in San Diego the Day before he Moved to Maui

 So our friendship developed into a romantic relationship that was probably a long time coming our mutual friends would say, lol. But maybe we will revisit that topic a little later.... :)   All in all I can humbly say, it was one of the BEST changes of my life....thus far.

a new beginning...

So I am finally typing the first blog entry. A blog that I have been wanting to start for some time now, and keep telling myself that "I'll get to it, Ill get to it"...and I have finally GOTTEN TO IT! I'm pretty darn excited.

The inspiration for my new outlet is to document this chapter of my life. A lot of changes have been going on in my life and I truly want to remember these experiences, and what better way to do so than on an online "diary" so to speak? And better yet, friends and family can keep up with some of the things going on in my day-to-day life.  The transition for me truly began in July 2010 when I actually quit my "corporate" job  and decided it was time to get back in touch with my own happiness. Starting with moving to Maui!!!!

...stunning sunsets always...

...Island Map, to give you some reference....currently living in Kihei...

Just a warning, the first few entrys will take you through the many changes, thoughts, moments and adjustments that I have experienced over the past few months. Moving to Maui sounds heavenly, doesn't it? And don't get me wrong, it's beautiful, but a lot of unexpectancies came along with it.  I can say this however; I finally feel settled. *sigh*