forgot to mention, i have been in hk for 15+ years and moved to db after living around the rest of hk for 6 years.
we spent 6 years in db and the past 3 years in sai kung.
as for db people socialising with those on hk island??? well EXACTLY the same thing could be said for those who:
1) live in mid-levels
2) work in central
3) go out to LKF
4) consider a trip to tai koo shing as an "excursion"... god forbid someone mention going to kowloon (the dark side) or even worse...gasp! the new territories.
for someone who wants to be isolated, you can be isolated right smack dab in the middle of des voeux road at lunch time.... it's all in the mindset.
personally, i have a more difficult time accepting the mindset of those who live on hk island than those who live in db.
now, by no stretch of the imagination is db perfect! aiya! it's a far cry from that! but for thousands of people it's a great place to live (pop. 15-20,000)
Plus, if you had ever fantasized about living in a real-life version of the Stepford Wives, it's brilliant.
LOL! i never understood that either. stepford wives, everyone's perfect... db certainly isn't like that.
listen, Aaron, you REALLY need to come with your wife and have a good look around, if you havent' already, at different areas.
you may want to include on your list:
DB
Park Island
Southside
Happy Valley
Mid-levels
Kowloon Tong
Kowloon west (near to kowloon station)
Sai kung (although may be a little far for you to commute)
Only YOU can decide what is right for you! besides, it's only 14 months. if you absolutely hate it, you can move again soon!
Yes Aaron, heh heh, your wife will come to love it here... once she has the brain controller installed...
i disagree there with you on three accounts:
Park Island to work is a direct ferry for me. from point A to point B. no changing at buses, etc. plus park island has a second ferry to tsuen wan (not that i take it a lot, but the one or two times when i go to shatin or shenzhen, it does make a difference).
secondly, the bus shuttles to kwai fung and tsing yi are both more frequent, shorter and more diverse than the sunny bay connection
last but not least, you can take a direct taxi to park island after work or drinks, which is something i really appreciate
this is how i appreciate the convenience myself and other people might have different priorities. but it made the difference for me.