The Coconut Wireless

The Lakewood-JBLM Patch has served as a main artery for me, over the past 8 months, helping with the acclimation process, as I have planned and implemented my relocation to your fair city.  I fell in love with the State of Washington 15 years ago when I first visited my dad, who spent the last 20 years of his life in Yakima. Leaving ones home and birthplace is always difficult, especially if your home is Hawaii and you are a native.  However, the wonderful, warm way in which my dad was welcomed by the people of Yakima, including their Native Indian population, sparked a small fire within my heart that continued to burn throughout the years.

A year ago, my son, who is in the Army, returned from Korea to his new station at JBLM.  Like his Papa, he started a romance with this beautiful state and became the catalyst for my decision to settle here.

I have found the people of Lakewood to be incredibly friendly. Two possible job opportunities have agreed to extend their hiring window so that I can interview when I arrive in a month!  My apartment/house search has been great.  As beautiful as Hawaii is, rentals are at a minimum and the costs are incredibly high.  Pet friendly situations are rare and apartments are, for the most part, very small.  While I am still on a quest for that perfect place, it feels so good not to have to settle!

So the count down begins. This Sunday (the 7th) marks "one month to Lakewood", I am so excited!  Things have just been falling in place, reminding me that this is the right thing...that my canoe is headed in the right direction.  Oh, and did I mention that my bank in Hawaii is Homestreet?  Yes, the bank with a branch in Lakewood!  Now, this may not seem unusual to you, except that Homestreet Bank is relatively new to Hawaii and there are only 3 branches here. As my kids would,half jokingly, say "so is this a sign, mom?" Kind of our inside joke..yes I'm a believer in the law of attraction!

Thank you for creating the warm and friendly environment that I have been experiencing in Lakewood, you folks really live up to all the good things written about your city on the local website  https://www.cityoflakewood.us/.  I am grateful for the way in which you host our warriors too, I read that so many of them decide to make Washington their home based on their positive experiences here.

I have so much to wrap up; a couple of yard sales to do, a lot of hugs and lunches with family and friends, training my job replacement. In the midst of it all, I continue to pour over every new PATCH publication, excited to attend the events advertised...shop at your Farmers Market and get involved in the Lakewood community.  By the way, I am traveling light, however I AM planning to bring a lot of Aloha with me...hopefully sharing it with you via this coconut wireless blog!  A hui hou..until the next post!