Proud to be a Kiwi :)

[Entropist]

And they don't get taken down or defaced by religious nuts? (Or by guys like me who would only take one of each to hang in the guys lounge/garage.) How much would it cost to move to NZ from the US? I might consider that when it's time to retire!

Its difficult (I've tried). You can get a three month visitor visa maximum. There are a few avenues you can take with the NZ Immigration Service, but you basically have to have specific skills they want at a given time (something important, like a doctor). Or you are f*ing rich.

There's another route that is a bit of a catch-22: Certain prospective places of employment are certified with the NZIS and if you get a job offer at one of those places, you can get a work permit, which is a stepping stone to obtaining residency and eventually citizenship. The problem is, those places of employment aren't keen on interviewing someone without already having a work permit. I never sussed that one out (as kiwis would say).

Last time I looked, if you are 55 or older, you can't do it (unless, again, you are loaded).

Be wary of the immigration agencies you can pay for services. I got burned by one back in 2007.

Or you could just find a nice kiwi girl and get married.

I understand the immigration process is similar in Australia and also Canada (I've looked). Its very complicated and maddening.

Because, idiot me, I dropped out of university years ago I screwed myself over. Here I am at age 40 unhappily stuck in the US-- and in the south, no less. My best bet is to move to Vermont.

NZ is a beautiful country, an interesting culture and the vast majority of the people I knew, met and came across were so nice it took some getting used to.