Risk & Reward

A lot of people have asked with some concern whether we are sure we want to do this relocation. After all, it's somewhat drastic. We are giving up access to family and longtime friends, a good job, our house and "stuff" (see earlier post), and the comforts of familiar surroundings. We are giving up all of these things to pursue a life in a place where many things will be different, and we'll be on our own, alone, with no support system in place. It's no surprise people wonder what is luring us over there. Well, I can't sum up every reason for our move in one post, but I can certainly get started...


Wow. Look at that place! New Zealand was referred to by Thomas Bracken as God's Own Country in a poem he wrote in the late 1800's. Modern Kiwis evoke this nickname often, and I have to agree with their boastful assessment. This view is representative of most of the country, and I could not get enough of it during our trip there last year. Spectacular rolling green hillsides, lush rainforests, looming volcanoes and geothermal features, and pristine coastlines are just a few of the natural wonders that I am so eager to explore. I have always been fascinated with extreme geography--mountains, coasts, deserts, rainforests--and always wanted to live near at least one so that I could explore it. NZ has all of those things and more, most of it within easy access of Wellington (our destined city).

Many people live in an area and never leave their neighborhood. I am rather proud of the fact that I managed to explore a fair bit of Georgia while I lived here. I intend to do the same in my new home, hopefully even more.