Having spent several glorious weeks in New Zealand my first impression upon returning to the sand pit is what the ***** am I doing wasting my time here?

I now spend most of my time deep in fantasies of living in New Zealand. Own a vineyard near Queenstown and spend the weekends trekking and drinking good coffee. A bit far from the UK but bugger that. I'd move the family over.

It does niggle at me that NZ might eventually be a bit too quiet for me but let's not ruin a good fantasy right now.

What about you? If employment/money were no objection, where would you set yourself up, and what would you be doing? Owning a posh B&B in an ancient rial in Marrakech? Living the high life in NYC? Working as a banker in Hong Kong and nights with Filipino girls in Wan Chai bars? Or even a semi in suburban England with the family close by and rainy barbecues?

Don't think location really bothers me. As long as the prevailing culture is friendly and non-aggressive (which sadly rules out most of the UK).

Somewhere that is generally always warm as I hate winter is what I need. Ideally, I think Southern Europe or maybe California. I like the emerging markets but they are all ****ed up in one way or another.

Love my job right now so more of the same. Although I do not intend to do it for more than 10 years - planning a career change when I'm late 40s.

Honestly don't know.

I think Southern Europe but then I think i'd be frustrated with such a meandering pace of life.

I think somewhere in the States would suit me. Maybe connected to a big city (NYC for example) but outside in suburbia surrounded by golf courses.

I just don't know. My dream (when younger) was to work hard, save up, buy a bar on a beach somewhere, chill the **** out. Live a nice life. It was based on this incredibly cool French couple who did exactly that in Martinique, beach bar (and a nice restaurant in the town). They made good money and chilled in the CAribbean. What's not to ****ing love?

I will be living that dream from the 7th of April when I leave Dubai for retirement It will be hasta la vista baby from me

Also tempted by NZ but too far from my parents so that is not an option that will be available for many years I hope. Moving back to southern France would also be an option

Work for another 10 years, earn enough to buy a house in a beautiful, remote location (Scottish Highlands/NZ/Canada), take up photography full time. Sorted.

Growing vegetables and looking after fruit trees at our house in NE Thailand.

It's very satisfying watching things grow.

Growing veg in Saudi too right now.

I want to own a huge farm. Like acres and acres all around me. Throw in a few crops / fruit gardens / fish farms etc to generate enough income to get the necessities sorted you know. I wouldnt mind living in Canada, like right out in the boonies where it snows all the time, or in the Australian outback. I already own a large piece of land in Pakistan, where we have a similar setup but I dont think I want to live there anymore. Get up at your own time (let the slaves get up before dawn!), get the kids and grandkids sorted (I dont have grandkids yet but I want atleast a dozen of them, so large house is very important, obviously they all will live with me, freedom be damned!
nice big open air wooden table where atleast one meal a day is a must for everyone and then maybe they find me a spot under a tree closeby once I kick the bucket
it doesnt cost anything to dream right?

THAT! Very few people get it when I try and explain that

Totally get it, we've got sweetcorn, tomatoes, cucumber, morning glory, lemongrass, watermelon, pumpkin, basil, and mint going right now.
Even more satisfying when you're in the middle of a big lump of sand.

http://britishexpats.com/forum/newre...ply&p=11898301
http://britishexpats.com/forum/newre...ply&p=11898301

Im in my early thirties so at least another 20-30 years of work ahead of me . but long term plan sell my flat in central London and pool it with the money i have saved here and buy a place with some land and a pool in southern California ideally in or around San Diego and live off my investments as long as the global markets dont go into melt down again

I would own a large home in superb location (views) on the West coast (US).

The home wouldn't have many bedrooms or large living area, the large size would be accomadate equipment (woodworking/metalworking) , cars/trucks , a forklift and loading dock.

A large saltwater swimming pool.

I can tell you all, that many of the Caribbean islands are great places for expats to work. Jobs aren't all that hard to get, if you're qualified in something useful, and the wages are tax-free in some places. My wife and I came here 38 years ago with our two-year-old son, intending to stay the customary three years before moving on. (We had worked in Canada, Bahamas, and a South Pacific island before.) It was just too good to leave - not least because it was such a wonderful place to bring up an outdoors-loving child.

Down-size to a comfortable, interesting property in a certain haven in God's Own Country. Spend half the year there, and the other half travelling, holidaying mainly in Europe, and Japan for New Year, spring and autumn. Golf, Norton Dominator, photography (including digitizing several thousand photos and slides), reading, weight trainging and erging, eating and drinking. I think that covers most bases...