visit New Zealand

In 2008, work got in the way, but I’ve got a lot of time in the new year, so maybe for just a few months… :D

I’ve almost completed my working holiday visa application—I need to renew my driver’s licence (a year early) this week to complete it and start processing the content.

Next step will be in establishing a budget for projected expenses in the next 6 months before I go, projected income on job 1, and determine how much I can save before I leave. Knowing full well that it won’t be much, I’m also looking into 2 additional jobs between now and December 31, 2006. Seasonal stuff—prolly retail. Maybe as a server… ungh.

I’ve been reviewing the opportunities for work, so now I’m developing a list of people I’m interested in working for, and where they are located in the country. Ideally, I’ll be able to move from north to south, and back up to fly home.

So, I’m bored with being an ad exec, not ready to settle down and marry/birth/buy a house and most of all, am tired of having hater-envy for everyone that studies/travels/lives abroad.

I just turned 28, the time is right to have an adventure.

My new plan is to save like mad, tie up all my loose ends and leave for New Zealand in January of 07. It’ll be mid-summer, we’ll stay until late harvest. I’ll start applying for my working holiday visa now, update the passport, get vaccines and begin making my exit for a 4-6 month working hiatus on the other side of the world.

I plan to work on organic farms in exchange for room and board via WWOOF-NZ. Tending sheep, horses, helping in the gardens, in the vineyards, making meals, weeding, building… I can utilize my Master Gardener certification, love sheep and chooks, enjoy viticulture and horticulture, have supported and studied organic sustainability for the last few years, it’s a good fit.

My only real concern is being gone while Dad is in such poor health—his cancer keeps getting worse. Being so close to my Dad, it would devastate me to be on the other side of the world if he took a turn for the worst and I wasn’t able to be there right away…