We got an offer on our house today, above the asking price, so next month, the 2.3-16 is going to be shipped from Honolulu to Long Beach, CA and then filled up with some gas, a few bottles of water and Doritos to make a 385 mile dash on Interstate 10 across the desert to new digs in the Grand Canyon State. This is going to be fun, I think.

Mrs. MTI is staying back in Hawaii a few weeks to handle her work and the closing of the house while I set up the new digs.

Welcome to Arizona. Let me be the first to say, "Have you lost your mind?"

I love the desert but to trade a tropical island for 2 million square miles of "kitty-litter" (A Barry Goldwater quote from about 1964)?

Wow, why would you leave Hawaii? I'd probably just live on the beach if I had to!

My uncle lives in Honolulu....I wonder if you've ever crossed paths.....

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

"Living" in Hawaii is a whole lot different than packing a few bags and being on vacation for a week or two. There are some nice perks with working and residing in a tropical paradise, but at the same time paradise has its price. Besides, I'm tired of this "wet heat."

Who am I going to have a drink with when I visit Honolulu next time?

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

Arizona = all beach, no ocean.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

That's got to be grueling difficult move, good luck.

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I'm sick of .sig files

My room mate is from Kilua or whatever it is called.

He *****es about the weather all the time here in Ithaca. I told him he had his opportunity to apply to USC or some other Socal school BUT nooooo he had to go to the North East and be that one kid who left the island.

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-Typos courtesy of my mobile phone.

I have to say there are places in AZ I'd rather be than Phoenix, I did spend 16months there in 98-99. I really enjoyed spending weekends in Flagstaff and Payson areas, but then I'm more of a mountain and trees type than the insanely hot crowded desert type.

Keep driving until you get to Texas, then stop. The crappy economy hasn't impacted us much down here and we still don't have a state income tax!

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- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

Not so - the recession exists in Texas too. Since there are less dollars being spent, everything is effected. Recent past lower sales tax revenues tell the story.

Property taxes make up for the lack of the state income tax in Texas.

Arizona is a great state to live in for very low property taxes.

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

Fuel is typically much less expensive as you the the Az border too.

Take water with you and a cell phone. Not too many are prone to stopping and helping on the interstate in Calif. East of Palm Springs it gets pretty barren.

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1985 300D 198K sold
1982 300D 202K
1989 300E 125K
1992 940T

"If you dont have time to do it safely, you dont have time to do it"

"The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not."

Kailua is on the east side of Oahu, has the longest beach on the island. As for college kids, some do want to get far away and are totally unprepared mentally for "seasons" since they grew up with only one.

This move has been a couple years in the planning, I'm already licensed in AZ and already have a job lined up. During the past couple years, we have checked out Seattle, WA, Portland, OR, Sacramento, CA and Austin, TX, and while they were all lovely places to live, we found Phoenix to be a better fit. Yes, we've even been there in the middle of summer and didn't melt.

Property taxes and real estate prices are so low in Arizona, it's a buyer's bonanza for those with cash buying up real estate. Your dollar will buy 3 to 5 times or more in some parts of Arizona versus much of the rest of the country.

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert

Carry a bottle with you. AZ recently closed it's highway rest stops as a cost saving measure. Also closed some state parks I think. You better not look like a potential illegal immigrant.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13