[ShellBda]

Thank you MB and Ebianca. I can always count on you and the forum to bring a little calm to otherwise choppy seas!

What you have said make sense and quite honestly if I had been able to get past the anxiety that was causing my brain freeze I would have realized how to plan at least my first few weeks in NZ.

I have spoken to my mother and asked her if she would be willing to fly to NZ with me and I would pay for her ticket. She keeps asking me if it would be a vacation for her or if she would spend her time babysitting and at first it made me a bit upset that she would think about herself and how she spends her vacation time but I realized that it is also a long trip for her and that she would be leaving us there when the time came to return home. I think that is what was bothering her the most. I did tell her that while I would need her help with Hayden and there would be times when I would need her to watch him, I would also need to sightsee and experience more than I did on my last trip. I really just wanted someone to be there and give me emotional support and yes, help me with my son at least until I settle.

I do believe Hamilton is going to be my first option. Yes, my forum friends that live there play a big part in pulling me in that direction but I am more likely to find a job that I like, that pays what I need to earn and is a lovely area from the little that I have seen so far. I will definitely be using NewLife NZ. I have a great amount of confidence not only in their ability to help me but also in their desire to help me (as long as it doesn't cost me my second born!).

I am nervous about driving - car or campervan! Not so much on the 2 lane roads because apart from the speed limit there is not much of a difference between driving in Bermuda and NZ. It is the motorways and navigating through the cities. I am sure however that I will figure it out.

I will definitely need to stay in Auckland a few days to work out the kinks and jet lag and meet up with a few old friends that live there. Is there an alternative driving route from Auckland to Hamilton that will circumvent the motorway? Please say yes....

Our house in Palmerston is rented at the moment. The problem is the rent contributes to the mortgage and Bermygirl and I split the difference. I would love to be able to move into the house and pay my 1/2 of the mortage but then Bermygirl would have to pay a bit more each month while I am living there. A bit complicated but that would be the only way as I cannot afford to pay the monthly rent that we are bringing in AND my half of the mortage. As it is, I will have to pay rent for a 2 bedroom somewhere else and my 1/2 of the remaining mortgage. This will definitely put a strain on things for a while. Unless we sell and make a profit...

All that said, I still want to move to NZ next year - I am looking at flying in in October 08. I am working on a new office building project for my company and handling all of the interior fit-out design and working with the contractors - my first love and I don't think I could leave them with the project unfinished. Move in is scheduled for Sept. 08. I am flying to Toronto in a few weeks to meet with office wall and partitioning manufacturers.

Thanks again and will stay in touch more.

Shell