January almost done

2014 seems to have taken off without my realizing!
Finishing off our time in NZ it was really quite amazing to see NZ through Sharene's eyes.  She made an astute observation that kiwi's often say "love", usually preceded by "thanks".  I've never really noticed this but once Sharene pointed it out it I got it.  While she had loved Auckland and meeting so many of my pals, much like me, it didn't really resonate with her.  I've always found it odd that so many of my dearest friends live there but it's not a place I would want to love again.  Auckland is to Wellington as Sydney is to Melbourne as San Francisco is to LA.  Havelock proved to be magical to her as it was a quiet peaceful time.  Janine and Kathy's house just invites relaxation (also helped that Sharene was mostly over the flu at this point).  It's a lovely place to be and the Hawkes Bay would have been my pick to retire.  Queenstown offered different adventures.  It is a tourist town and more analogous to some of the town in the USA.  Karen and Brice's house offers a different type of magical view and our outdoor adventures were great fun.  As we left in NZ Sharene did ask "why aren't we living here......"
Bigger news, we have found a place to live and are moving in together Feb/March.....we have the keys to the house with Sharene, Madi and Brax leaving their place by Feb 20th.  I have engaged an agency to rent mine (renting here is complicated so I am opting for experts) with the goal of having my place rented by March 1.  We are off to the beach!!!! Half Moon Bay is a little like moving to Paramata.  We are one block from the beach and have a HUGE house that offers four bedrooms (so an office for me to work from home), two living areas (lounge and TV room), two full bathrooms and a 1/2 bath i.e toilet (jeeze why don't they just say that.....), massive kitchen and dining room.  There is a nice backyard (gardener too thanks very much) and....it's perfect.  Rentals here are expensive (note I can cover my mortgage and expenses and still making money out of renting). But you just have to suck it up.  Also people bid up the rents, that's how we got the place.  It was between us and another couple so we upped the offer on the rent.....bingo, got it.  We'd learnt a thing or two having missed out on another place (glad we did, much happier to be in Half Moon Bay).  It doesn't really change my commute but is more like living back in Santa Cruz, once I cross the hill it all feels different.  Sharene and the kids will have to travel more for school etc than they are used to.  But I can also help out and drop the kids for school on the way to work when needed.  2014....got a lil family going on!