[randy101]

Hello All,

Just want to introduce myself. Just starting the process - EOI was selected today!

My partner and I visited NZ a couple of years ago and fell in love with it. So, now we're taking the next step.

I read about the cost of living and housing, but not much can top Santa Barbara. One can buy a shack for $700,000 and it only goes up from there. Beautiful city but we're both just a little tired of it now and are feeling restless.

I'm 49 and figure it's now or never!


Randy

[dusk]

Hello and congratulations :)

[JandM]

Congratulations and welcome.:)

[TrentBridge]

Congratulations!! :raebanana :raebanana

S

[Alan+Mignon]

Welcome and good luck!

[Eve & Paul]

Well done and welcome! :)

[Kiwi-In-Texas]

Hello and welcome... Congratulations on your EOI selection.

[DanFromCali]

I feel you Randy. I love Santa Barbara - my sister used to live there, several of my friends went to the UC there and i still visit with my family once a year, but man is the real estate absurdly expensive. You know its gotta be absurd if Jacko set up shop there!

[peebles16]

Congrats and welcome from us too :)

Karen

[Bruckner]

IYou know its gotta be absurd if Jacko set up shop there!

That's reason alone to up sticks and move. BTW, welcome to the forum!

Emily

[jdbob]

Congratulations Randy!

Three decades ago (I can't believe it's been that long) I lived up on Oramas Rd (just off of Alameda Padre Serra) for about a year.

Bob

[barryp]

We left SB just before Thanksgiving, 2006. I definitely miss friends and family. Also afternoons at Brewhouse, music at Soho, and walking the dogs on Summerland Beach. Don't miss the degenerating downtown area one bit (where I lived for 6 years) but look forward to the Solstice Parade this year. And lots of Mexican food....

House prices are crumbling there, cept perhaps in 93108. It'll take quite a bit more pain before locals admit that reality, though.

Good luck with your move!

[randy101]

Yes, prices are dopping, which will be a consideration in deciding to sell or just rent the house out until things pick up again. And I also want to be certain about the move as once you sell here it's pretty difficult to come back. Yes, I also like the Brewhouse, taking our dog to Butterfly beach, and the Mexican food!

We're just waiting now for the ITA and we'll take it from there.

You're coming back for a visit in June?

[barryp]

Yes - a couple of weeks in SB and Ventura. I love Wellington, but a brief escape from winter here is a good thing.

Bringing a dog from the USA is its own form of torture - the process takes six months, costs a lot, and is unpleasant for the dog. There are at least two vets in SB who know how the process works, though, since they helped us. Things can happen quickly if you decide to make the move, but the animal import procedure is an exception - it can't be made to go faster. Best to get the info you need from MAF straight away. Lots of experiences on this very forum too.

Good luck on your ITA!

[randy101]

Dear Barry, Thank you for the heads-up regarding MAF. I knew it was a process but didn't know how long it really took. What vets do you recommend in SB?

[napiers]

Hi and welcome. Good luck with everything - I hope it works out for you. :raebanana

[barryp]

Our vets were La Cumbre Animal Hospital and Saint Francis Pet Clinic. I have nothing negative to say about any other vet, but those two had experience moving our animals and did a good job.

All the facts about NZ requirements are here:
http://www.biosecurity.govt.nz/imports/animals/standards/domaniic.spe.htm

I'd guess that most vets have experience with owners moving to Hawaii, and the scope of the requirements is similar. THE RULES ARE NOT THE SAME THOUGH!

Plenty of discussion of this topic in this very forum.