New Zealand - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.

[Wayne Potgieter]

Had a old client pass a comment that he is waiting for me to come back. The mind is is turmoil at the moment!!!

if you come back you better come stay in the east or I will be grumpy.

[Ramrod]

Back to NZ or SA?

Back to NZ

[Ramrod]

Been wondering about that Ramrod...do you miss NZ at all, having been here for a bit? Usually we hear about it the 'other way around'...

There are certain things I do miss, but we have a good life here in SA bar the standard complaints about crime and the economy.

[Ramrod]

if you come back you better come stay in the east or I will be grumpy.

I asked the wife today what we would do differently. One thing was stay closer to friends. Socialise more with friends etc.  One thing is for sure there is no way I am doing that commute over the NH bridge into the city.

 

But the big thing is we said we would let my step daughters finish school first. That is still 2 years to go.............

[intern]

There are certain things I do miss, but we have a good life here in SA bar the standard complaints about crime and the economy.

Agree with that. There's no question that you guys live like kings in SA. I think the thing that gets to most 'leavers' is uncertainty - uncertainty of life expectancy, employment or earning potential, wealth preservation, political future and, of course and most importantly, prospects for the next generation. Some of these things you can mitigate, others not so much.

 

For those who stay, the benefits are many, for sure- check the people who stayed behind in Zim or Kenya, for example, they still live like kings 30, 40, 50 years after independence. But have adapted to 'unusual' circumstances. Maybe the same in SA.

 

Anyway, like I've said, it isn't a question of 'better' or 'worse', one country or the other. It is more a question of 'different' and finding the balance which best suits your situation, lifestyle and wants/needs.

[intern]

if you come back you better come stay in the east or I will be grumpy.

 

You're already grumpy man ;-)

[Wayne Potgieter]

You're already grumpy man ;-)

shudduppayourface. Edited October 25, 2018 by Wayne Potgieter

[Mamil]

Who is it that lives like a king in za. Certainly not me. I'm a middle aged professional person self employed and I certainly don't feel like there is much of my life that is kingly. I have 2 fairly nice bikes, a decent car, a bond on a modest house, a hospital plan, a child in a private school, access to spectacular places to ride my bikes and take photos with my expensive camera but life isn't easy. And I think I'm in a better position than the majority. My skin is white.

 

I do see some people living like kings around me but it really looks like a small minority. Most people I know are working flat out trying to build something. I'm not trying to be argumentative but your comments about you guys living like kings decades after :independance" (a framing of political events that makes me think you might wear a pith helmet) seem pretty out of touch from the middle class throne where I drop my after breakfast turd.

 

Ok maybe i am being a little argumentative.

 

I've just put another chunk of my royal wealth into security on my already fairly secure home to try and ameliorate some of the anxiety caused by a recwnt escalation of violent home invasion and car hijacking in the area.

 

I also have a window of opportunity in front of me to go to NZ and build something there for myself and my offspring. That won't be easy either but I can't help but feel that if I don't in 25 years time when I am an old man and even more curmudgeonly than I am mow that I will wish I'd made the move.

 

Agree with that. There's no question that you guys live like kings in SA. I think the thing that gets to most 'leavers' is uncertainty - uncertainty of life expectancy, employment or earning potential, wealth preservation, political future and, of course and most importantly, prospects for the next generation. Some of these things you can mitigate, others not so much.

 

For those who stay, the benefits are many, for sure- check the people who stayed behind in Zim or Kenya, for example, they still live like kings 30, 40, 50 years after independence. But have adapted to 'unusual' circumstances. Maybe the same in SA.

 

Anyway, like I've said, it isn't a question of 'better' or 'worse', one country or the other. It is more a question of 'different' and finding the balance which best suits your situation, lifestyle and wants/needs.

[Stretch]

 

 

Who is it that lives like a king in za. Certainly not me. I'm a middle aged professional person self employed and I certainly don't feel like there is much of my life that is kingly. I have 2 fairly nice bikes, a decent car, a bond on a modest house, a hospital plan, a child in a private school, access to spectacular places to ride my bikes and take photos with my expensive camera but life isn't easy. And I think I'm in a better position than the majority. My skin is white.

 

I do see some people living like kings around me but it really looks like a small minority. Most people I know are working flat out trying to build something. I'm not trying to be argumentative but your comments about you guys living like kings decades after :independance" (a framing of political events that makes me think you might wear a pith helmet) seem pretty out of touch from the middle class throne where I drop my after breakfast turd.

 

Ok maybe i am being a little argumentative.

 

I've just put another chunk of my royal wealth into security on my already fairly secure home to try and ameliorate some of the anxiety caused by a recwnt escalation of violent home invasion and car hijacking in the area.

 

 

 

Private school... Secure estate... Cars.... Home mortgage... Step out your bubble and you'll see that you are

[rad006]

If you have a domestic worker or gardener we do live like kings compared to NZ.

 

In saying that this is what I have currently @ 32:

Huge House with a view

New Shape Ford Ranger

Medical Aid

2 Bicycles

1 Motorbike

1 Trailer

2 Dogs

Twice a week Domestic

Twice a month Gardener

 

If I moved to NZ I would have:

Rent a small flat

Own a R80 000 Honda Jazz

Have 1 Bicycle

No Medical - In the long run

No Trailer

Maybe 1 Dog that will cost a fortune to get over there

No Domestic

No Gardener

 

So would I make the move and give it all up. Yes I would.

NZ is amazing and worth every sacrifice.

NZ I have not given up on you!!!!

Hurry up and declare me as a refugee please....

[GrahamS2]

Private school... Secure estate... Cars.... Home mortgage... Step out your bubble and you'll see that you are

As a foreigner pointed out to me once, we have many nice things in SA, but we don't have our freedom. She was appalled that it is simply not safe to use the majority of public access areas in this country. Certainly got me thinking.

[rad006]

As a foreigner pointed out to me once, we have many nice things in SA, but we don't have our freedom. She was appalled that it is simply not safe to use the majority of public access areas in this country. Certainly got me thinking.

 

I couldn't agree more.

Edited October 26, 2018 by rad006

[Chris_]

Who is it that lives like a king in za. Certainly not me. I'm a middle aged professional person self employed and I certainly don't feel like there is much of my life that is kingly. I have 2 fairly nice bikes, a decent car, a bond on a modest house, a hospital plan, a child in a private school, access to spectacular places to ride my bikes and take photos with my expensive camera but life isn't easy. And I think I'm in a better position than the majority. My skin is white.

 

I do see some people living like kings around me but it really looks like a small minority. Most people I know are working flat out trying to build something. I'm not trying to be argumentative but your comments about you guys living like kings decades after :independance" (a framing of political events that makes me think you might wear a pith helmet) seem pretty out of touch from the middle class throne where I drop my after breakfast turd.

 

Ok maybe i am being a little argumentative.

 

I've just put another chunk of my royal wealth into security on my already fairly secure home to try and ameliorate some of the anxiety caused by a recwnt escalation of violent home invasion and car hijacking in the area.

 

I also have a window of opportunity in front of me to go to NZ and build something there for myself and my offspring. That won't be easy either but I can't help but feel that if I don't in 25 years time when I am an old man and even more curmudgeonly than I am mow that I will wish I'd made the move.

 

 

Stretch has a good point, at the end of the day South Africa is a phenomenally poor country, so you/we are very lucky to have what we have. (although lucky is probably the wrong word, it is earned)

 

But I agree with your thoughts. 'What if's' are a terrible thing to have come back to haunt us. 

[Chris_]

As a foreigner pointed out to me once, we have many nice things in SA, but we don't have our freedom. She was appalled that it is simply not safe to use the majority of public access areas in this country. Certainly got me thinking.

 

100% true. and 100% unnecessary the more I think about it.

[Mamil]

Don't patronize me please. There is no bubble around me, i know exactly what my socio economic position is relative to the majority of the population of our country.

 

 

Private school... Secure estate... Cars.... Home mortgage... Step out your bubble and you'll see that you are

Edited October 26, 2018 by Mamil

[Mamil]

This is the point. Across the socio economic spectrum all race groups are besieged by violent crime and inefficient and corrupt government processes. The living like kings applies to a fraction of the population who increasingly employ private security to insulate themselves from the violence and poverty.

 

 

 

 

As a foreigner pointed out to me once, we have many nice things in SA, but we don't have our freedom. She was appalled that it is simply not safe to use the majority of public access areas in this country. Certainly got me thinking.