DH has the opportunity through his company to work on the island of Kwajalein (yes, it's a real place!). It's a tiny island in the Pacific, about 5 hours from Hawaii. There is a US military base and his company sends 3-5 people there each year to work on research projects (he's an engineer). He's talked about Kwajalein and this opportunity as long as I've known him, but it's something that's been on his mind a lot lately.
The advantages of going out to Kwaj are largely financial. It's a two year deployment, during which he'd be paid his regular salary plus 20%. The first $100k is tax free (except for a small 3-5% local tax). Housing is paid for, as is the move. The lab will also pay for us to come back to Boston once a year (lodging and flights). I guess many people come back for 3-4 weeks a year--the lab pays for one week of lodging and the rest is on you, but the flights are still taken care of. They'll also pay for one trip to Hawaii, and then you can go wherever from there. I'm only working PT now, so my salary is pretty negligible at this point. We'd be able to save a large amount, as we wouldn't be paying astronomical Boston rents or childcare, and housing there is provided.
The disadvantages--it's quite literally the middle of nowhere. The island is tiny. We'd be on a military base, and there are no restaurants (beyond food court type stuff). We'd be on the other side of the world from our families.
But on the plus side, we'd be on a tropical island, and we'd be able to do things we'll never do (easily). We can travel easily to Asia or Australia. We'll go to Hawaii. We can learn how to snorkel, scuba, sail, etc. And most attractive, we'd be able to save enough money that we could come back to Boston and put a down payment on a house, a financial goal that will take us many, many years to achieve otherwise. Now is probably the best time to do it, before #3 comes along and the girls begin school.
So, would you uproot your family to do something totally different, in the hopes of fast forwarding financial goals?
With the age of your kids? Yes, I think I'd do it now. Rather than in a few years when they are older, in school, etc. I think it could be a really neat experience.
Our girls are young--3 and 8 months, currently. We'd probably be out there from the time DD1 is 3.5 or 4 to about 6, so she'd likely do one year of school on the base there. DD2 would be 1-3 or so. You can't have a baby on the island (no prenatal services), so it would delay having #3 by a couple years, but I'm not worried about that.
I don't consider myself adventurous, but the 'adventure' side is appealing. I don't particularly want to travel to Asia/Australia, but if it was closer I would. We lived away from our families when DD1 was born until she was about 1.5, but then we were a short plane ride away, not across the world. I'm not worried about moving away from family as we don't rely on them too much for help, but I am worried they'll freak out about us 'taking' the grandkids away.
Post by CrazyLucky on Mar 28, 2014 11:42:13 GMT -5
I would not do it. We live in rural NC, and I constantly complain about being "in the middle of nowhere." I could not handle being in the ACTUAL middle of nowhere.
Post by cricketwife on Mar 28, 2014 11:43:02 GMT -5
How exciting! I would very seriously consider it. 2 years is really not that long. I would need to know a bit more about the island. I nannied on Bermuda and island living is great with kids. But Bermuda is 2hrs from continental US, so hardly in the middle of nowhere. Does the island have accessible beaches? Is it safe to swim there? Housing is paid for but what will it cost to live there? Cost of food/clothing? Do you get to shop at the base's commissary?
I would calculate a $$ figure that you realistically think you can save while you're there and then decide. Of course, even if you don't save much, it could be a really neat experience, depending on what the island is like.
The middle of nowhere is what scares me. Would you eventually get bored of going to the beach and snorkeling? With two little ones, would there be activities for you to participate in? Is there shopping?
I think it sounds amazing, but I am too much of a homebody and would miss my family/the familiarity too much.
So funny my parents had an opportunity like this come up in the same place Kwajalein, but ended not being selected for it or something like that or maybe they wouldn't take them because they had older kids.
My sister and I were excited but nervous about moving to a tropical island and a little sad when it never happened.
Post by leonard131 on Mar 28, 2014 12:34:26 GMT -5
I would do it in a heart beat. It may be in the middle of no where but the opportunities out way the negatives to me. Getting to go to Australia, Asia, Hawaii. Those are once in a life time things. Espeically because your kids are not in school.
Plus you may find the community will create it's own activties. I know a lot of expats that live in parts of the world where socail activities are very limited but they have found they have created such a tight group of friends that they find their own activities. So instead of going out to eat you switch houses to eat at. Stuff like that.
Absolutely. I'd go just about anywhere and that location sounds amazing to me. Dh keeps poking around for opportunities to go abroad. We have friends in Bangkok right now and while it's obviously not the same, it has been amazing for their family. Especially with the ability to live like kings and save a ton of money.
Post by redpenmama on Mar 28, 2014 12:49:35 GMT -5
I wouldn't, but I'm not the adventurous type. Hell, we live 800 miles away from our families, and even that is too far, and I keep pushing H to look for jobs closer to home.
However, if you do like to travel and explore, I can see how this would be an appealing opportunity, especially given the financial benefit.
What is medical care like on the island? That would be my biggest hesitation, but yes I would strongly consider doing it.
This. I wouldn't move anywhere without top medical care. Aside from that, I'd be very tempted to do it.
Definitely a consideration. It's a US base, so they have medical facilities and I'm sure they are adequate, but I'm guessing not the best.
My biggest hesitation is the middle of nowhere aspect. I'm the type of person who needs to be busy...I don't just sit well. I'd really have to work on finding fulfillment in a simpler lifestyle. And in thinking about this, I realize that I like consumerism...without Starbucks and target, what do I do? But, it would be a unique opportunity to break from that.
I lean both ways about this. Part of me thinks yes, we definitely should...and the other part thinks it's just totally crazy. And my BFF and sister are in the 'totally crazy' camp-we haven't discussed it with anyone else.
I wouldn't do it, but I am admittedly not a very adventurous person. It sounds too isolating and being away from family and friends would be extremely hard with young children.
I might do it. What's the housing like/how comfortable would you be living? If it were comfortable and I could make my own activities beyond going to the beach (reading, writing, arts and crafts, cooking...though some of these things might be difficult to come by), I would seriously consider it. Are there any other people there/could you make even one friend?
I question the travel opportunities though...will you really be able to save money and go on trips to Australia and Asia with such little kids? I mean, it'd be cheaper to fly to these places from there, I'm assuming, but still expensive once you get there (assuming that you are going via Hawaii and just getting a discount on the flight/distance). I love to travel though, so it would probably be worth it.
Post by rootbeerfloat on Mar 28, 2014 13:33:38 GMT -5
As someone who lives in HI, I wouldn't be terribly anxious to move to Kwajalein as it's pretty isolated. Besides missing Target and Starbucks, you also won't be able to order something from Amazon and get it in 2 days either. But I think being on a military base will mitigate some aspects of missing home and will get you access to medical care.
Still, I would be in favor of a short-term adventure like this, especially while you have young kids.
I would do it. My sister and I were almost exactly the same ages as your children when my parents moved to Puerto Rico for my dad's job for three years. My sister doesn't remember much but I do. It was awesome and I'd love for N to have that experience. We briefly considered moving to St. Kitts for my husband's job but then we found out I was pregnant.
No. Before I left my job as a military contractor, a LOT of my coworkers got sent to Guam regularly. Which is a larger island that Kwaj, but certainly not civilization by any means. Every single one of them was miserable. They said there was nothing to do, the military personnel AND locals treated them like outsiders, there was no access to even modest comforts of living (like one brand of toilet paper, which everyone complained about). Have you been to a military base before? It's loud and boring. The aircraft and ships are incredibly loud, louder than you ever though possible. It just wouldn't be worth it to me.
I would talk to the people in his company who have done the same gig. Talk to them about your fears and concerns- I think first-hand testimonials will really help.