[Wassim]

Its not ambition or a drive to make more money, or even to run away from political strife or persecution.... I just want to move my new family to somewhere we can enjoy being.

Slow easygoing family life. Casual social life, and hopefully long life.

I am always ready to work, invest and I am ready to put some good old elbow grease in the begining, but at the end of it all, I want to have the option to say I am staying in today and playing with the kids.

Is NZ the right place, or has it caught up in the frenzy that the whole world seems to be into.

[Richard_from_Long Beach]

I'm not sure you're going to simplify your life just by moving to New Zealand, unless the big factor complicating your life right now is the country you're living in. But as a general rule, life is simpler where there are fewer people, and so New Zealand seems less hectic in comparison to the big urban areas of the U.S. and Europe, for example. If your goal is to live somewhere you can "enjoy being," New Zealand will probably not disappoint.

[Diny]

I agree with Richard.

NZ has the same 'factors' that you will find in any other country - after all, it's inhabited by human beings. However, the fact that the population is so small compared to other places around the world I think you'll find it a little easier to live your dream.

Good luck and welcome to the forum.

Diny

[veronica]

I think its easier to live a quieter life here, especially if you opt to live and work in one of the smaller country towns. Property is cheaper there too, which may enable you to buy more space for your money.

[Avalon]

Wassim,

If you are after a simple life - I think you will find it a bit easier to get one here than say in the UK. But I have to say that if you were to make the same decisions in the UK you would probably be able to live a pretty simple life there too. (Ok, more people may look at you as though youve sprouted horns :) )

Ive never exactly followed the "rules" in the UK, and many of the things we do here to have a quieter life and less intrusion from work, we were already making steps on before we ever thought about emigrating.

Some things have made it easier here though - first and foremost - we are not going so much against the grain with not wanting to work till we drop from exhaustion. A 40 hour week remains a 40 hour week, and there is much more acceptance of people turning off thier mobiles at hometime, not working over the weekend, and needing to see thier families. On saying that - Alan is working at home today, and his boss wants him to drive in this afternoon for a meeting he has just decided to have! Alan isnt going and will do it by phone - but it still rankles. From what we have seen though - this is a bit unusual - the norm really does seem to be a better work/life balance.

Life certainly does seem slower here (or it does now that we have moved out of the "Big City" - all the shops shut at midday on saturday!) - im fine with that - its not much different fram parts of rural england.

The way I see it - as long as you have enough money to live on - do what makes you happy :nice1

[Carol]

There are pros and cons


I love not feeling the need to completely redecorate at least one room in my house every few months.

Or having to have things done "for Christmas"



But...

I do miss B & Q!

:o

[Diny]

.......... and M&S Carol !!!!!!!

Still got the bag?

Diny

[Carol]

Use it every day luv!!

I love it!
And my Asda one has been given the heady status of "technology bag" for all my techie stuff at school. i can't lose it you see - with it being bright green!!
:nice1 :laugh

[Hannah]

Pace of life does certainly seem to be slower and mpre relaxed. We were only just saying last night that you can walk round a supermarket or down the high street for the afternoon and not see a single person on a mobile 'talking shop'. I haven't seen a mobile phone for days - it's bliss (I hate the damn things!!).

The lower salaries may be an issue however. We both worked part time in the UK and shared childcare and this worked really well for us. We had a pretty simple life in the UK - not buying new products all the time, drove an old banger, rarely bought clothes etc. These were the sacrifices we made to spend more time with our children and i don't feel we've missed out. We have worked out that we would probably need to both work full time here, or at least one of us work full time to be comfortable (not affluent) - mainly because my job would pay far less here. We're not materialistic and for that reason NZ is a good place to be...but i don't want to worry about whether i can pay basic bills. Quality of life is not just about the scenery around you and whether people have time to talk in the street, it's also about what works best for your own families and that's a very personal thing.

Of course if either of us had found jobs yet that would help us get a real feel for income as well as outgoings (!!!!) but preliminary chats with potential employers have told me I'd be looking at at least a 50% salary cost and i'm still paying far more on shopping here than i was in England!!!
Ignore me, i think i'm just having a bad day!

[Carol]

Nah - can't ignore a post like that hannah.

(((((((()))))))) hug for you.

What sort of work are you looking for?