We just got back from Maui spring break. A couple of similarities between Aspen and Maui leaped out at me immediately. Upon landing after a long long commute we went to the big Safeway supermarket to load up on food because eating at home is supposed to be cheaper, and I am cheap.
Holy smokes food at the big 'cheap' supermarket was about 40% more expensive than Clarke's market in Aspen which is about 50% more than City Market (our discount market). For those of you not good at math, food was double the cost of ASPEN. Ugh. Maui has about 4 times the population of the roaring fork valley but its spread out over 9 times as much space resulting in some really small schools and really long commutes. They do have a Krispy Kreme but if you need a medical specialist you are probably flying to the big Island or more likely the mainland.
Bottom line living in Maui is expensive and kinda a pain in the ass. Why do it? Just like in the roaring fork valley people live here not for the convenience but for the great outdoor recreational opportunities. Want some of the best waves in the world--go to Maui. Wanna hike in rain forest, play in waterfalls and freshwater ponds and enjoy white, black and red sand beaches--go to Maui. Want to hope on your road bike and climb over 10k vertical feet? Maui's got that. Want some great food (and honestly after the trip to Safeway I am starting to think that food is less expensive in restaurants than grocery stores) Maui has you covered.
Just like in Aspen, the folks that move to Maui don't do it for convenience or cost of living--they do it to recreate. That means be very, very careful and respectful of locals offering advice. What seems like a easy surf beach to them might seem crazy to someone who doesn't get in the ocean twice a day every day of the year if possible (blowing away those Aspenites with their 100 ski day pins).
How do you handle the local suggestion to ignore the park ranger and signs that say don't jump into this pool (blindly from 25 feet up)? And you are with your kids who you want to obey laws? In either town the local giving you advice might be pictured in the ski-surf coffee table book in the house you rented. What the loco locals suggest as fun you might find a wee bit frightening.
Bottom line--Aspen and Maui locals have lots of excellent local knowledge, and you should absolutely listen to what they got to say. But also keep in mind what a local sign said at one of the north shore beaches---IF YOU DON'T KNOW, DON'T GO
PS: another example of living in the bubble too long--Aspen Ski co is making a push to draw more visitors -------------------from uphilling, It is a ton a fun and with the new equipment its popularity is EXPLODING with.......... locals. Someone at skico has gone loco local thinking that people from New York and Chicago (ie sea level) are gonna fly to Aspen and rent skinning equipment and skin up mountain. My guess is being the best uphilling resort in the country adds 1% to our out of state visits. Only locals and dirt bags uphill and they don't spend money. Duh.
