Why now leave?

It has been 8 years of living in Hawaii and now it is time to go back to California. My wife was lucky enough to have the opportunity of opening up a new store here on the island. The company she works for offered to move us out, pay a couple months rent and all this for a minimal one year commitment. On the otherhand, I came to Hawaii with no job, having just left working retail for a high end company. I only knew that I did not want to work in that environment one more time. So, of course life decided that is where I should be working.

I am now doing what I love, what I was meant to do and what I know can change the world. I teach. I love all the people I have met and the opportunities I have been afforded, but sadly it is time to leave that all behind. Hawaii is a very unique place and everyone here likes to remind outsiders of that, but I am not leaving as an outsider. It may have taken me a while to "get it", but I am a part of this community. So, why now leave? I cannot control the roller-coaster of life. I can get on or off, but it will go where it must. This is not to say that I am just along for the ride. "No," I am choosing the roller-coaster I ride. Some are really exciting and some just keep moving forward, but all of them have their ups and downs.

I am asked by some, "Will you come back?" I will always be here in my soul. I may be called back to this oasis, but only when the time is right. I am grateful for all I learned here, for all my new friends, for my teaching career and most of all for the Aloha.