I was born in the NYC area and lived here most of my life. Good to know, if only as a forgiveness tool for any of my remarks: New Yorkers are to-the-point, sometimes blunt, but always honest. When we say we are your friends we truly are. No matter where I go, the NYC part of my blood and nature is always there. In 1992, I moved to San Francisco, CA mostly as the result of coming very close to losing my own life from a gunshot wound during an attempted robbery in Manhattan. Yes, I did have a near death experience and it was truly fascinating. San Francisco and the West coast forced me to slow down until I did. I remember, early on, being asked to give someone her personal space and not even understanding what that meant. After several attempts at working for others, I started a Landscape Design & Service company which became successful and ran for 11 years. I specialized in roof gardens, large ones costing many thousands, and renovated commercial properties. In 2005, I decided I was "over" SF, sold my company and moved south to San Diego (La Jolla). Although this may have the perfect setting, I was a lost soul and I guess it showed. I couldnt figure out what I wanted to do, didnt know if I could even work for anybody else. I ate almost every meal in restaurants, drove around in a beautiful black Mustang convertible, and spent the money until it was almost gone. I came to the Big Island on a round-trip ticket and decide to stay. My ex lives here so I moved into his house & started looking for work. Hawaii has been difficult but definetly beneficial in my life. I have never been this poor but I have also never been so grateful for any opportunity. I am currently planning to return to San Diego but how long I stay will depend upon my (renewed) first impressions. Mostly, I have found it difficult in HI to find work that matches my own experience. So I guess its all up in the air for now: I'm leaving, I don't know when, I dont know if Im returning but I am certainly enjoying Hawaii. I live in what would be described as a commune, "The Shire" and it has gone through many transformations in a short time. Some good, some bad, but these days it is a small group with some pretty good ideas and so, after being here almost 2 yrs, I begin to feel like I am really cultivating a family. This makes it even more difficult to leave but perhaps, like the characters in a Hesse novel, I will travel until I return home to find my peace. So, where is home?