[quote=Jazzman][quote=bearishgurl]Jazzman, the coming “retirement” you have planned for yourselves sounds absolutely extraordinary![/quote]
If you consider my wife waited 15 years to get her green card to be with her family in her old age, you’ll realize the decision to leave was not taken lightly. We felt that strongly about it. Having seen dozens of homes, the reaction was nearly always YMBJ if you think we’re going to pay that. Are we better off than most? Yes, so we shouldn’t whine, but our “retirement plan” had to offset the heartache and disappointment my wife felt. It’s nothing personal against California. My home town of London is a lost cause, with tens of thousands of potential buyers probably permanently priced out, and if you dig around enough you’ll find the deep seated frustration that still consumes so many. It makes you wish there was something you could do to help. But then I suppose, many parts of the world would scoff at our pleading poverty.[/quote]
Jazzman, you might want to look into Continental vouchers from Honolulu to LAX/SAN so you and/or your spouse can visit her family in SD more economically. She may have used them in the past. They used to have them in the ’80’s/’90’s and at that time they were available for purchase in bundles of 3, 6, 9 or 12 (connecting to Cont’l Air Micronesia, if needed). They may only fly from HNL to SAN 2-3 times per wk but fly to LAX 1-2 times per day.
The way they used to work is one voucher is good for ONE leg in the “Pacific Theatre”:
A “leg” consisted of a one-way ticket to/from:
* HNL to CONUS (CA, Portland, Seattle)
* HNL to PPG (American Samoa)
* HNL to Guam (GUM – Hub)
* PPG to Sydney (SYD)
* PPG to Brisbane (BNE)
* PPG to Melbourne (MEL)
* PPG to Christchurch (CHC)
* GUM to Manila (MNL)
* GUM to Micronesia (KSA, PNI, YAP)
* GUM to the Carolines (KOR)
* GUM to the Marshall Islands (MAJ)
These vouchers were often used by US military personnel and their families to return home on leave when they could not catch a timely EML flight (military MWR flight).
With the recent Cont’l merger w/United, not sure about the routing now.
Also, Hawaiian Air often has good RT deals from HNL to CONUS and back. They are much better prices than the reverse (where a huge captive audience exists to pay more) :={.
I think you did fine, Jazzman. Personally, I’d rather have the homes you bought in HI and abroad and visit family :=].
