So what do I need to do to SUCCESSFULLY move to Oahu?

Thanks for the input. I would make one point of divergence however. Just because the average stay is two years that doesn't necessarily mean that the trip wasn't worthwhile! I believe that Thor Hyerdahl "only" stayed on Fatu Hiva with his wife for a year (it nearly cost both of them their lives), but it was one of the defining experiences of his life! Those who walked on the moon were able to experience it for a matter of HOURS and yet for many it was THE defining experience of their existence. IF we moved to Oahu (or one of the other islands) for a year or two and ended up coming back to the mainland would we really be any worse off than in our current situation? Would we regret the decision to move out there in the first place? My significant other and I agree on at least one thing we don't plan to EVER retire! Whether or not I live in Antarctica or Hawaii, my plan is to stay in school until I DIE (penniless so that I won't even leave an estate for the government to confiscate). Indeed, one of my "dreams" is to start a "cheaper, online, but accredidated" college where those like myself (in boatloads of student loan debt) could take 6 hours to defer their loans (basically forever), but instead of charging $150.00 per credit hour, get the rate down to closer to $50.00! I know MANY people who started, but did not finish med school or law school who owe as MUCH or even MORE than me, but instead of making 55K per year earn less than 30.

Here's the thing one way or another I'm going to get to the islands the only questions is whether or not it will be living in a nice apartment/condo or in a tent somewhere up in the Ko'olau mountains. An even more basic question is which scenario would ultimately make me happier!

She is a pretty "matter of fact" person and doesn't care to participate in online activities especially discussion boards. She loves to socialize, but vastly prefers face to face interaction. Our son is homeschooled so changing schools isn't an issue. No doubt she has higher standards for life than me. I could literally be happy living in a tent (as long as it's near the beach and I can afford at least one decent meal once a week or so, indeed during nursing school when I dropped from 270 to 180 over the course of a year I often water/multivitamin fasted two sometimes three days per week (and ate low carb the rest of the time when it was necessary to meet my self imposed weight loss goals). She is on board with Florida perhaps to an even greater degree than myself (it may not be paradise, but at least they have Disney, the beach, and no snow) and providing that we can find jobs which approximate what we currently earn (about $28.00, and $30.00 with night shift diff included) will be movnig within the next three to six months. She would consider herself (self described) a Jimmy Buffet, Hedonist, but with conservative, Glenn Beck like liberatarian social/political views. She considers me something of a left wing nut job, but never the less sometimes finds me at least remotely attractive if only in passing. Before being nurses we were once essentially "debt free" and gambled it all on a business which did well for several years. We basically decided to go back to school, take on massive debt and earn about 1/2 the money to enter a field that we felt would offer better long term prospects and offer the potential for life time growth (not to mention things like health insurance and work weeks which were not seven days per week and 16 hours long!). Plus, as I said originally we literally sat down and said what job(s) could do where we could dependably find work even in places like Hawaii (at one time nursing pretty much fit the bill!).

I would argue that I would simply prefer to stay in school and take classes and continue to improve my educational base if I can do so at price that is less expensive than paying the loans directly. I would argue that it's no more a matter of taking advantage of a loophole than those who trade their cars in for $4000.00 subsidies paid for by other tax payers or banks that take billions based upon governmental programs that authorize them to do so. At least half my debt (the Perkins loans) could actually be forgiven OUTRIGHT, if I only applied based upon the type of facility that I work in as a nurse (but I haven't applied for this and have no intention of doing so). Also, if I took a job at the VA (as several of my classmates did) ALL of my loans would have been repaid outright by the government (plus I would make more, have more vacation time, and better insurance/retirement pay). If it's not "stealing" to accept a job which pays the loans off with government money, then how is it such to defer my loans indefinitely while I'm in school?

As a free market liberatrarian I believe that money/perks are great motivators! When I used to wait tables no doubt money was my primary goal however I gave 110% to each and every one of my customers (I used to sometimes annoy my co-workers, parents, and friends by saying things with a fanatical zeal like the customer is my God and I will have no Gods before them), this is not to say that I always did a good job because frankly I just wasn't that GOOD of a server. In the same way although I entered nursing in large part for the money, flexibility and benefits I still give 110% each and every shift. I seldom take breaks (only to use the restroom), allmost never take lunches (only when they occassionally have ribtips and then only for 10 minutes to run to the cafteria), and usually stay late to chart "off clock". I serve each of my clients like they were the President himself and it doesn't matter if it's a prostitute with late stage HIV (a typical type of client at my inner city facility) or my own mother (and speaking of nepotism if I were in position to hire someone it wouldn't matter where they were from or if they were my best friend or worst enemy if anything I would hire my enemy first just to prove my fanatical dedication to my ideals of equality). This is not to say that I always do a good job, because I'm frankly not that good of nurse yet, but darnit I'm trying very hard to be the best one I can be. Yes, I'm motivated by the HOPE for a worthwhile future/career with good pay and flexibility, but I wouldn't try even one percent harder were I motivated by the promise of eternal life and salvation and the revocation of my sins (as were the Crusaders who approached their goals with fanatical zeal). As I look back upon my youth saying "the customer is my God" was foolish, but serving each and everyone of my clients to the absolute best of my ability matters to me greatly.