Idiocraty

No worries. Human nature will always prevent French people - you mean, Cheap people - to do the typical mistake of over-indebtedness.

Right now, 5 years after the worst Housing bubble of history, which put hundreds of thousand of people ruined on the streets, all orchestrated by greedy white collarts, still, the common people did not get it.

Already, if you do not bid ABOVE the bank appraisal, hoping for it to be close enough, you can compensate with your pocket money, you are no chance to get anything that has not rotten yet.

Ok, you get it,  our offer, that I thought was fair, has been rejected. No biggie, I am just surprised that  people never learn. I mean, I barely follow the world politic scene and this North Korea Insanity, I still should know that. People never learn.

Myself, I just don't get it.

Damn, I need to see this movie.

Can you have it all ?

Maui is still part of the United States, and we have been living in US for a while now... What, 6 years ? Almost time to ask for citizenship ...
Still, I fell undoubtedly French nowadays. We have been hunting houses for the last 2-3 months now, and ready to give up. In fact, we already gave up on our initial price range. Now, we decided for a last try and made an offer at the limit of our affordability.

Here is the beast.

Nice, right ?

In the meantime, still struggling with the concept of our boat rotting on the ground in Napa, California, I met a nice young captain, who happens to have the same boat than ours and charters Maui. We eventually met face to face, and I got a tour of his-our- boat. it is insane like same boats are.. the same... Conversation going, we ended up discussing about bringing our Mobylette on this island, and yes, it would be expansive, but, for me the adventure of a lifetime, and well, we would have our boat next to us, in the water, for a change. Expansive, but doable.

http://www.kainanisails.com/

Then, now, everything is possible. Everything and Nothing. The house offer is still low related to the asking price, will be likely refused, and the boat is still for sale in California.

Anyway, that's not the point.

Being french, I found it already **INCREDIBLE** - literally, to be where we at now. Working and living the dream, on Maui. After all that time, I still love my job, game programmer is still rewarding and challenging. And our new life balance, allowing for intense work, fun family time and lots of water time, really fits me. Everyday, I am asking. Will that last ?

Being French, I cannot really imagine, living like that, plus having OUR yacht on our doorstep and living on land. In fact, we initially bought the boat as a replacement for a house. I always have been convinced that it was insane luxury to have both, house and boat.

Being French, I cannot really conceive owning a half million dollars home, even if this is relatively low by Hawaiian and Californian standards, even if you do not really own it, you are just owning a small part of equity, really. Very small ;)

Being French, Owning both - House and Boat - is just plain impossible.

Now, Being American, If you can afford it, You can do it. Right now, interests are so low, that we could afford it. Really. And we already own the boat and have the cash to bring her here. Then , technically, we could afford it. Being american, you will bet that your house will get a lot of value in the next five years (not too hard when you are at the bottom of the crash), and yachting is no more an exclusive sport, it is just part of your week-end activities, if you care for it. Then, overall, it would be a good deal that you should jump on.

Now, being a human-being, I just believe that all this does not make any sense. 

Another White People Problems.

On the other hand, Carpe Diem. Do it as you can, sell it all when you can't pay for it anymore. Don't get attached.

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.”
― Mahatma Gandhi

Gosh, I am glad this choice is out of my hand for now.

Maui - Surf side

Maui is well known to be the paradise for windsurfing and kitesurfing - due to the everyday presence of the wind, 20 knots trades getting pumped through the venturi "tunnel" that join the two volcanos of the island, the Kahului-Kihei axis.

However, there is some good surf too. It is more difficult to catch, you may have to drive more, and wait more. But when it is good, well, it is good.

Thanks to John, my surf buddy, immobilized by a stupid fall on a longboard-skateboard, we got some pretty cool pictures of the surf I never care to try to chase, on the other spots of the island, last winter.

Honolua Bay

Beautiful right on the west side

Hookipa - Middle on a big day

Looks like a heavy paddle out

Lanes, same day.

Jaw, aka Peahi

Reserved for the tow-surfing crew, most of the time.