Lovely post, Eden. I agree wholeheartedly!

RE: Moving to New Zealand. I don't know a lot about it, but I do know that they have strict requirements for retirees (income related, mostly, I believe), and for working folks, they have some kind of points system based on your profession/expertise and their need for that type of work.

I would never move that far from my family, as long as I still have some family, so I haven't paid more than a cursory bit of attention to anything about moving to New Zealand. Would love to visit, though!