[KiwiHopeful]

It's not just about time. Traffic is an important consideration, as is the fear of abduction, but I'm not sure whether that's real or perceived."

She added: "Over four generations our family is poles apart in terms of affluence. But I'm not sure our lives are any richer."

Quite ironic ... the wealthier we have become, the more out of tune with what really matters we become. When I was a kid, my family was definitely less well off than I and my kids are today, but I see the same thing. When we lived in the small cities I grew up in, we rode our bikes all over the place, tramped through the woods like they belonged to us, and generally ran wild--we were 'free range' children I guess! I can't see my own boys doing that here, and thus our move to NZ!