Moving to the country

[Mike.Gayner]

So I'm tired of shitty neighbours and my general misanthropic nature is causing me to look into shifting into a lifestyle property somewhere within 30mins drive of Tauranga. Who here has shifted out of town, or vice versa? Did you have any regrets? What are the ups and downs, or things I should know?

I'm really only looking at a couple of hectares out of town somewhere. My biggest obstacle is cost, as it seems I would need to spend about twice the value of my existing home to get a decent house near town on a bit of land.

[sidecar bob]

Im not surprised, Corinna St is the heart of the Bronx.
Buy all the houses around you & rent them out, then you can choose your neighbours.
Good luck with a life sentence block, you may as well sell your bike now.

[Mike.Gayner]

Corinna Street?

edit: I just realised I know someone who lives there, but it isn't me, so not sure where you got that idea.

[TheDemonLord]

I moved from the UK to NZ - that's kinda like moving to the Country...

Also.

Moving to the Country, gonna eat me a lot of Peaches.

[Ocean1]

Im not surprised, Corinna St is the heart of the Bronx.
Buy all the houses around you & rent them out, then you can choose your neighbours.
Good luck with a life sentence block, you may as well sell your bike now.

Most excellent advice. About buying up the neighbourhood.

Got to say until last year I lived on 12 acres, an acre of orchard, half that in formal gardens. This one, in fact: http://www.trademe.co.nz/property/residential-property-for-sale/auction-991876060.htm

Took a solid day a week of work from both of us to keep it nice. It's worth it only if you get a kick out of the results. I did, and I still got the bikes out regularly.

Not there now simply because we both recognised that in a few years we wouldn't be able to manage it, and we didn't want to watch it deteriorate while we tried to sell it.

[BMWST?]

So I'm tired of shitty neighbours and my general misanthropic nature is causing me to look into shifting into a lifestyle property somewhere within 30mins drive of Tauranga. Who here has shifted out of town, or vice versa? Did you have any regrets? What are the ups and downs, or things I should know?

I'm really only looking at a couple of hectares out of town somewhere. My biggest obstacle is cost, as it seems I would need to spend about twice the value of my existing home to get a decent house near town on a bit of land.
Check out the neigbours first ,they are further away but closer if you know what i mean.Your neighbour is often the first post of call for information etc.Maybe you need to move a bit further away to do the swap for the same money

[puddytat]

Don't underestimate the hassle of having to drive further to work or the shops....or anything.
More land = A MORE BIGGERER section to manage...
You want at least 500m distance to your nearest neighbour...
If you can, I reckon its better to live on a in & out road rather than a road that joins another.....less likely to get burgled & you have a better idea of who's local & who's not.... but hey its the Nth Isl. so your fucked.
In all honesty,most lifestylers/small farmers only do it for so long then age invariably catches up with them & they move ...back into town.

But ...I totally get what you're saying so go for it I reckon. Just think of the veggies.....:drool:

[RGVforme]

So I'm tired of shitty neighbours and my general misanthropic nature is causing me to look into shifting into a lifestyle property somewhere within 30mins drive of Tauranga. Who here has shifted out of town, or vice versa? Did you have any regrets? What are the ups and downs, or things I should know?

I'm really only looking at a couple of hectares out of town somewhere. My biggest obstacle is cost, as it seems I would need to spend about twice the value of my existing home to get a decent house near town on a bit of land.

Did this a while ago...No regrets..

Went for a Ex farmhouse on small section 650sq... extra room for pets is nice but along with larger blocks=less free weekends to ride :niceone:.45mins from town is just long enough any more I found makes it seem like a 3 hour drive.

Look in the fridge and cupboards before you head to town and make a list of to dos...Never got to town for just one thing along with petrol costs can make that bottle of milk you forgot about $20 all up.
Understand that having tea if you run out of coffee or beans on toast if your going into town tomorrow anyway wont kill you.

Look over your fence.Yes he may be a farmer but if hes a crop farmer who grows beans then expect dust and harvester at 3am.Cows .....Enough said...but stock will not be there all the time and still better than a townie for a neighbour.You will get used to the cattle trucks.

Make friends with your neighbours=cheap meat firewood help when needed and give something in return always.
This worked so well for me I became self employed though it.:msn-wink:

Other than that just do it Any cons you find are far outweighed by the pros.
If zoned rural the rates are cheaper.
More room for toys and noise.
Far less dickheads and the ones you do find are easy to spot if not pointed out to you first.
Wheelies off the line right out your driveway.:wings:
If your jobs in town when you get home it seems a world away.

Good luck.

[Akzle]

So I'm tired of shitty neighbours and my general misanthropic nature is causing me to look into shifting into a lifestyle property somewhere within 30mins drive of Tauranga. Who here has shifted out of town, or vice versa? Did you have any regrets? What are the ups and downs, or things I should know?

I'm really only looking at a couple of hectares out of town somewhere. My biggest obstacle is cost, as it seems I would need to spend about twice the value of my existing home to get a decent house near town on a bit of land.

town is gay as shit.

Git yer ass a caravan and go and try some paddocks for a few years. When you find one you like, buy it.
This is a combination of aspect, amenity, proximity to boatramps, bush, noise, hot, wet, cold, windy, water supply etc. Things you never get to find out when just visiting.

Why the fuck do you want hectares? If you're one of those cunts that's just going to mow it, then stay the fuck in town.

Also. Fuck being close to town. The apropriate distance to town is "fucken ages"

gravel roads scare off townies and dropkicks (and police) and any dropkicks that do happen along can be accidentally nudged into the drain with a tractor.

Also, and it might just be me, but i plan for zombie apocalypse. Ideally you property should only be accessible by helicopter, or bulldozer/trailbike. The "no exit road" is good advice. Ideally at the head of a north facing valley and just below the ridge, down a treble gated driveway (all gravel - you'll hear em coming) backing into private bosh.
One way bridges are a bonus. Any river creek ford rail overbridges are good too as come the apocalypse they can be dropped to secure your position.

[Madness]

bush, noise, hot, wet...

So it's all about the hoes?

[Akzle]

So it's all about the hoes?

you know me, huh?

[WNJ]

We moved from akld to north Waikato bout 8 yrs ago don't regret it at all, sold up 1 house in Highland park ( about shoe box property size) moved and now 8 yrs later own 3 houses in different areas of Waikato, 1 in Cambridge , 1 in Te Miro, 1, 30 kms north Hamilton,and total of just over 10 acres, rent out two and the rent from them also pays for the third, fckn win win

[Voltaire]

town is gay as shit.

Git yer ass a caravan and go and try some paddocks for a few years. When you find one you like, buy it.
This is a combination of aspect, amenity, proximity to boatramps, bush, noise, hot, wet, cold, windy, water supply etc. Things you never get to find out when just visiting.

Why the fuck do you want hectares? If you're one of those cunts that's just going to mow it, then stay the fuck in town.

Also. Fuck being close to town. The apropriate distance to town is "fucken ages"

gravel roads scare off townies and dropkicks (and police) and any dropkicks that do happen along can be accidentally nudged into the drain with a tractor.

Also, and it might just be me, but i plan for zombie apocalypse. Ideally you property should only be accessible by helicopter, or bulldozer/trailbike. The "no exit road" is good advice. Ideally at the head of a north facing valley and just below the ridge, down a treble gated driveway (all gravel - you'll hear em coming) backing into private bosh.
One way bridges are a bonus. Any river creek ford rail overbridges are good too as come the apocalypse they can be dropped to secure your position.

what ...no mention of that other awesome website?
http://www.lifestyleblock.co.nz/index.php/forum/your-place/34809-help-plastic-water-tank

[Oakie]

I moved from the UK to NZ - that's kinda like moving to the Country...

Also.

Moving to the Country, gonna eat me a lot of Peaches.

Millions of peaches? Peaches for free?

[Akzle]

what ...no mention of that other awesome website?
http://www.lifestyleblock.co.nz/index.php/forum/your-place/34809-help-plastic-water-tank

no, but since you have:

lifestylers are fucking gay, too. They're just townies that dont live in town. Ignorant, arrogant, feckless gits with no fucking clue and expect that you're going to give them firewood/ tow them out/ use your stockyards / let them graze the thirty horses they got on trademe for a dollar for fucking free because it was such a good deal, then they'll moan about the fucking weather (in every fucking season, repeatedly, seriously, weather will happen for as long as you're alive, get over it) and complain that the lattes round 'ere arent so good.

Dont be a lifestyler.

[WNJ]

Just think of the DOPE PLANTS....:drool:

Fixed that for ya :shutup:

[Voltaire]

no, but since you have:

lifestylers are fucking gay, too. They're just townies that dont live in town. Ignorant, arrogant, feckless gits with no fucking clue and expect that you're going to give them firewood/ tow them out/ use your stockyards / let them graze the thirty horses they got on trademe for a dollar for fucking free because it was such a good deal, then they'll moan about the fucking weather (in every fucking season, repeatedly, seriously, weather will happen for as long as you're alive, get over it) and complain that the lattes round 'ere arent so good.

Dont be a lifestyler.

Totally jealous of you country folk. Must cut into quality internet time growing all those veges.:niceone:
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2012/02/08/article-2098177-0E5CA90C00000578-540_634x422.jpg

[Duncan74]

So I'm tired of shitty neighbours and my general misanthropic nature is causing me to look into shifting into a lifestyle property somewhere within 30mins drive of Tauranga.

After 5 years in the avenues, we moved out to Minden almost 18 months ago. The 'list' of requirements I had were-
1) Not in earshot of a neighbour
2) Not in eyesight of any neighbour.

The OH had some stuff about number of rooms, etc..

Interestingly then from here it's quicker to get to the mount than from the far end of papamoa. Takes me 25 minute to CBD. If I cycle. 13 mins if I drive / ride.

For us it's been fantastic, but we spent a long time finding the right place. As alluded to above, then be realistic about the land you get and what you will do to it. We chose somewhere with lots of lawn which is a 45min task on the ride on every 10 days in summer, 2-3 weeks in winter. Then add in a dedicated weekend every 6 months and the rest of the 'estate' is kept in check.

The biggest problem was when I fecked my ankle and couldn't drive for 4 months, no public transport and would have been easier if I was in town. However, silver lining is I worked out I could ride a scooter, and hence my presence on this forum.

Being honest then I've spoken to the neighbours a few times, but probably less then when in the avenues. And it's fantastic that I can't hear those neighbours flushing the loo, coughing, or watching TV.... Ok, you can hear one occasionally shooting the wabbits, but the rest around here are retty much townies / lifestylers like us. FFS one gets one of those food box meal deliveries every sunday ;-)

Not sure what your budget is, but 30 mins from TGA gives you a LOT of options. Omokoroa, Te Puke, the hills up welcome bay, etc. Omanawa had some good properties at a wide range of prices, and is often overlooked. Also, Paengaroa is cheap as chis at the moment. Yes, I know you'l be paying $4 a day for the toll, but that's $80 a month which is a small fraction of what you'll be saving on rent / mortgage in town'. However, does depend on your household composition. If you've got kids then don't forget you'll be spending your whole life taxiing them around.

[Dadpole]

Just beware of what happened to us when we moved to the sticks. Rellies come and stay for days...

[Blackbird]

Just beware of what happened to us when we moved to the sticks. Rellies come and stay for days...

Ditto....... Relies, other bikers, sigh......

[Akzle]

Totally jealous of you country folk. Must cut into quality internet time growing all those veges.:niceone:


i give a fuck!!!





//no, wait. I mean the other thing.

[Akzle]

If you've got kids then don't forget you'll be spending your whole life taxiing them around.

your doing it wrong.

Also. They learn to drive when they're about 8. So they can drive you home from the pub, and fackoff by themselfs.
Or get them a hoss.

[Mike.Gayner]

Thanks everyone, appreciate the insights. Keep it coming.

Duncan74 - you sound just like me, with the exception that we're a reasonably young childless couple looking to have kids in the near term. That's the #1 issue holding my wife back from this idea.

Akzle - you thoughts are illuminating. Unfortunately I'm a 100% townie looking for the "lifestyle", which will hopefully include few to no animals, so I'm just the kind of person to piss you off. On the other hand, I'd be happy to lease a couple of acres for kiwifruit/cropping/grazing to a neighbour to save myself the effort of mowing a lawn.

My greatest desire is distance between myself and neighbours.

[Duncan74]

your doing it wrong.
.

No, I'm doing it right, I was just mentioning the kids thing in case that applied to the OP on the basis of comments from colleagues. However, the lack of kids does also mean that none of the clocks on the microwave, oven, etc show the right time for 6 months of the year:confused:

[Duncan74]

we're a reasonably young childless couple looking to have kids in the near term. That's the #1 issue holding my wife back from this idea.


Cuts both ways. Until they are at school, then aparently it's less of an issue. However, someone else that did jsut that, moving to Whakamarama just before child 1 had a bit of a struggle. Essentially he was at work and travelling, and she was a bit stranded out in the middle of no-where seeing no-one. I can relate to this as after my ankle op I was workign from home for a few weeks, and even I was going a bit loopy by the end as I'd not seen anyone for best part of a week and was starting to have deep and meaningful conversations with the wild rabbit and pheasants that live in the garden.

[sidecar bob]

I think living in a shit neighbourhood is making you think town is a crap place.
If you bought in decent 'hood, most of your problems would go away without the need to go bush.
Lower socioeconomic areas are full of inconsiderate shitheads.

[Mike.Gayner]

I think living in a shit neighbourhood is making you think town is a crap place.
If you bought in decent 'hood, most of your problems would go away without the need to go bush.
Lower socioeconomic areas are full of inconsiderate shitheads.

I live in a decent neighbourhood. I'm just very intolerant of people in general. It's my nature. Plus the renters behind us are shit heads.

[Duncan74]

I think living in a shit neighbourhood is making you think town is a crap place.
If you bought in decent 'hood, most of your problems would go away without the need to go bush.
Lower socioeconomic areas are full of inconsiderate shitheads.

Biggest grief we had was from the neighbours and the neighours kids. Let their dog shite on our lawn, and their kids kept having wild parties every time the parents went with 100 pissed 16 year olds pissing / vomiting in the bushes and music to 3am. We were only renting, but our place was one of the cheaper in the street and sold for over $1m once we moved out. The neighbours place was way up from that as they had tennis court, pool, etc etc.. Having lived in both high and very low SE areas, then I'm not sure that there's a clear difference. Perhaps the noise in teh upper SE areas was constrained more to a weekend, but I was less pissed about being tired for work on a weekday compared to trying to get up at 4:30am to go to a race on 1hrs sleep on a weekend.

[rambaldi]

I think living in a shit neighbourhood is making you think town is a crap place.
If you bought in decent 'hood, most of your problems would go away without the need to go bush.
Lower socioeconomic areas are full of inconsiderate shitheads.

Fucking accountants with their straight pipes getting ready for their Sunday cafe run. I should have gone somewhere less affluent if I wanted a bit of a lie in.

[Smifffy]

I moved to the country end Aug. I was still living in a rural town prior to that, so not city living by any stretch. Now I'm closer to a 'city' but much further from neighbours and the nearest shop.

Our road has a number of black rubber snake tracks down it. Latest about two weeks ago. About 6 months before we moved from town we had a drive by shooting at the end of our street.

Just under 2 Ha, so far done nothing with it. On tank water, and this weekend has filled the tanks to over-flowing, will see how this El Nino pans out.

I have a shitload of shed space, which I never had in town. The council doesn't over-spray my vegie garden like they did in town. I don't expect to have to get the vet to remove another slug gun pellet from my dog's back out here - he's already made friends with the RD man.

I look over the top of my PC monitor right now, and I get an awesome view.

My commute to work has gone from 10 mins to just under an hour, but all highway driving. I'm riding the bike more, since it's worth getting geared up to ride it to work.


When my house in town sells, I'll tell you about the bad stuff that happened there. ;)


Buy land, they don't make any more of it, and most of it is being sold offshore, and will never be in local ownership again. ;)

[Grumph]

The only important point which has not been covered is kids schooling. Live in the country with kids and you're a full time taxi service.
Even if the bus stops at the gate, anything after hours or weekends will require YOU to do transport duty.

But, hey, that's what correspondence schools and boarding schools were invented for.....

[Swoop]

Having a bit of land will enable you to follow in the footsteps of the kiwi farmer.
If it hasn't rained for a week, it's a "fucking drought" and that you "deserve government financial support" because of it.
It it has rained recently, it's a "fucking flood" and that you "deserve government financial support" because of it.

Also, never look at a weather forecast, as that might inform you to get animals out of the impending doom of *insert whatever type of weather disaster here* rather than actually taking proactive measures to avoid said disaster.



Plus, as others have said: you get to be a taxi service to kids and plan ahead for your trips to town for supplies.

[Smifffy]

Having a bit of land will enable you to follow in the footsteps of the kiwi farmer.
If it hasn't rained for a week, it's a "fucking drought" and that you "deserve government financial support" because of it.
It it has rained recently, it's a "fucking flood" and that you "deserve government financial support" because of it.

Also, never look at a weather forcast, as that might inform you to get animals out of the impending doom of *insert whatever type of weather disaster here* rather than actually taking proactive measures to avoid said disaster.



Plus, as others have said: you get to be a taxi service to kids and plan ahead for your trips to town for supplies.

And you can get a farmlands card and get a massive discount off everything, and you never have to pay tax ever again :facepalm: :Punk:

[Swoop]

And you can get a farmlands card and get a massive discount off everything, and you never have to pay tax ever again :facepalm: :Punk:
That's the spirit! Thanks for playing.

[Mike.Gayner]

And you can get a farmlands card and get a massive discount off everything, and you never have to pay tax ever again :facepalm: :Punk:

Jeez, a lot of butt-hurt Aucklanders on here. I'm a 100% townie, but I have quite a few rural clients, all of whom pay their fair share of taxes. And trade prices are hardly something exclusive to the agri sector.

Aside from which, I don't intend on being a farmer at any scale.

[huff3r]

I'm about to do exactly that... almost. Moving from a low socioeconomic suburb in Palmy, to right on the edge of Sanson. I'm getting 3 acres, rainwater (way better than palmys shit water), a 2 bay and a 3 bay shed, modernised 3 bedroom ex-state house (relocated), and my rates are going down $800 despite the property being worth $150k more.

Admittedly I can see my neighbours, the house on the left is approx 100m away, and the right less than 50m. But I don't envisage it being a problem, as they are lifestylers too (and the neighbours house is brand spanking). I will have a longer commute, however might be moving jobs out round there anyway later in the year (if they'll take me ;) ), and I'm looking at sorting out a new motorcycle because of it :D

It helps that my GF also has horses to eat the grass. Don't let your missus get horses. They eat money as well as grass.

[RGVforme]

The only important point which has not been covered is kids schooling. Live in the country with kids and you're a full time taxi service.
Even if the bus stops at the gate, anything after hours or weekends will require YOU to do transport duty.

But, hey, that's what correspondence schools and boarding schools were invented for.....

Not a bad point but the pros may well be.....

Actually spending more time with your kids(Even in the car)
Smaller classrooms numbers more one on one teacher time.
More adventurous rounded make their own fun kids.
More room for kids to play
Less chance of them getting run over or picked up by the local pedofile on the way home.
Teaching your kids to cook so they can instead of just buying takeaways.

Yeah having to drive them around would be a real bastard.lol:crazy: :msn-wink:

[sidecar bob]

Less chance of them getting run over or picked up by the local pedofile on the way home.


Aren't pedophiles allowed to live in the country now?
Does everyone walk to town? In absence of footpaths I'd venture that it's probably easier to get run over, especially by the range of agricultural & commercial vehicles that frequent country roads.

[Akzle]

Akzle - you thoughts are illuminating. Unfortunately I'm a 100% townie looking for the "lifestyle", which will hopefully include few to no animals, so I'm just the kind of person to piss you off. On the other hand, I'd be happy to lease a couple of acres for kiwifruit/cropping/grazing to a neighbour to save myself the effort of mowing a lawn.

My greatest desire is distance between myself and neighbours.

no cunt likes townies. Thats why you're moving...

Go to a place with likeminded lifestylers, or find a way out bush block and adjust your attitutde.

Kiwifruit is a generational crop. Not just something you lease a paddock out for a year or two.

Grazing possible, needs fences and water at your cost, loading yards/ within driving distance for the stock. Cropping only likely if it's easy contour and close to, ie your neighbour is already doing it.
Haylage possibly your best bet, but again, economies of scale and distance to...

Orchards are well worth having though not a quick return on investment. Bees will bring in honey if not money. (i can eat a shitload of honey...) llamas and goats are the only lawnmower animals (i hate sheep).
Fattening/finishing/runoff stock is an option if you have the acreage.

Buy a farm and employ a farm manager.

[RGVforme]

Aren't pedophiles allowed to live in the country now?
Does everyone walk to town? In absence of footpaths I'd venture that it's probably easier to get run over, especially by the range of agricultural & commercial vehicles that frequent country roads.

:facepalm:
Its down to numbers there mate.

More cars intersections to cross dickhead blind drivers and chance getting stalked by a pedo in town.
More so when biking to school.

Tractors ect do tend to go a bit slower and the drivers not texting just split their coffee or rushing home in time for shitland street.

More things further away than walking distance in the country so less walking to things more bus/ mum/dad driving you point mentioned.

"Less chance"

Nice try though.....:drinknsin

[Duncan74]

Paedophile. Not pedofile, peedopfyle or any other corruption.

/Pedant

[T.W.R]

27yrs living rural ;)
Started with 4.5 acres freehold, have sold off 6 sections over the years & still sitting on another 6 and the place has still increased in value 800%

Some call it a lifestyle some say life sentance but its all in what you do with it. The quality of life is far in excess of anything the city can give, the sense of community is something townies could only dream of & the peace and quiet is worth its weight in gold.
Can travel into the city faster than most take to get across a couple of suburbs. Have one of the highest rated primary schools across the back paddock; community well water with the highest quality grade in the whole region.
No continuous drone of traffic as background noise or other bullshit disrupting anything.
Can leave things unlocked for days without fear of being stolen or broken into.....no freaks or creeps liable to pay unexpected visits onto the property.
Better than fucked up urban city living and people hiding behind falsified mortgage controlled quality of life any day of the week:rolleyes:

[Berries]

Tractors ect do tend to go a bit slower and the drivers not texting just split their coffee or rushing home in time for shitland street.
Ha ha. Spent the last week helping out on the farm driving tractors to bring in the bales. Every time I pulled out on to the road on a blind corner with forks extended I worried that someone would be coming around the corner. Every time I turned right back in to the paddock I was aware that I was not looking over my shoulder to check for traffic, and fuck knows if it had indicators. Made me realise even more that if I do fang around a blind corner and end up in the arse of a Massey Ferguson it is my fault as much as the dude driving it.

Fucking farmers.

[F5 Dave]

A mate bought a lifestyle block which was hidden on the side of a suburb. Like being in the country without the soul destroying commute he was doing .

Had to do a few things, makes some runs, build a few things.

His money went on mini tractors/mowers, his time went on being a slave to the earth. Motorcycles? Yeah, nah.

[sidecar bob]

I looked at moving out to McLarens falls road up the kaimais before I bought the townhouse I'm in now.
My decision was affected by two things. The first was my mate Murray that lives up there, he asked me "do you want to live in the country or sleep in the country" I thought about that really hard, the second was a council planner I knew that delt with a heap of complaints from ex city lifestyles complaining of noise & "disruption" to their quiet country living.
She said, the country is a working industrial area, which due to the nature of the work, has no defined knock on & knock off times & can be noisey, smelly, dusty, toxic (spray drift) you wouldn't move into an industrial subdivision between a shift work factory & a truck stop & complain about disruption, neither should you move in between a dairy farm & a kiwifruit pack house & do the same.
The country is also full of reclusive weirdos that don't relate well to other people as this thread demonstrates, that is why they moved to the country in the first place, so your chances of having a difficult neighbour are far higher than in the city.

[Shadowjack]

I shifted to a small community 45 minutes out of town about 18 months ago. Had researched the option for several years (geologic events here made it about 4 years longer than originally intended, but that's another story).
Commuting doesn't take any longer (and is sometimes shorter) than my city-based colleagues. And, apart from snow/ice days, the bike is used for this.
I live on 800 sq mtrs; modern(ish) small cottage; section had been let go a bit, and is a project. Rates are cheaper than in town.
No street lights; river and bush down the back; seven neighbouring properties (three permanent), rest of it is rural outlook, as they say.
Power supply is affected by wind storms, and snow events. A small generator and a wetback takes care of that.

The nearest supermarket is 20 kms away, but a little forward planning means very few separate trips are needed.
Petrol and other small goods cost more at the local store, but then again, it's there, not 20 kms away.

The local garage does motorcycle WOF's. Even in town, you had to go looking for a suitable WOFman.
The local Business Information Exchange is about 5 kms away, and calling in on a Friday after work can solve most construction project issues.
My children are adult now, the move wouldn't have been a goer 10 years ago.
I haven't regretted a second of it (except, well, shovelling snow becomes not-fun after the first shovel-load).

[F5 Dave]

Golly its a struggle to agree with scbob but sounds like a well reasoned answer.

OK here's another alternative. I'll use the same bloke as I used before as an example. Let's just call him John.

Anyway when Jeff (see what i did there?) was single he bought a warehouse in an industrial area. He was lucky it was in a 8-5 /5 days a week, lots of storage type area. He had to do some conversion for a decent bedroom and the boy racers were a pain when they were swarming. But it was a real lads pad, had heaps of space for work and motorbikes, no garden maintenance, and for the most time he was home, no neighbours.

Had his RD350 in his lounge near the wood burner. You can buy building recycled kitchen or whatever and reassemble it in a corner, there's always a corner.

He regrets ever following a woman out of there and now can't afford to go back.


Movin to the industrial area, gonna eat a lot of pizzas.

[sidecar bob]

My next purchase will be a double glazed tilt slab stand alone lock & leave industrial building with small living quarters & large workshop.
Fortunately my wife is as big a petrol head as me & half the toys in the garage are hers & she's right into the idea.
We will keep the houses as rentals so we have some choices later if we want them.

[Ocean1]

The country is also full of reclusive weirdos that don't relate well to other people

Cheeky cunt.

Besides, like I said, I'm not there any more.

[Ocean1]

My next purchase will be a double glazed tilt slab stand alone lock & leave industrial building with small living quarters & large workshop.
Fortunately my wife is as big a petrol head as me & half the toys in the garage are hers & she's right into the idea.
We will keep the houses as rentals so we have some choices later if we want them.

A mate has probably the best of both worlds. Bought an ex MOD warehouse, rural enough to have the neighbours at a safe distance but civilised enough that the local roads make reasonable test facilities.

Building must be an acre, one corner machine shop, another kitchen, another for toy storage.... you can still play cricket in the middle when it's pissing down.

[jasonu]

30 years ago you could have moved to a small town that seamed like many hours drive north of Auckland and bought yourself a decent plot for buggar all. Albany...

[jasonu]

The only important point which has not been covered is kids schooling. Live in the country with kids and you're a full time taxi service.
Even if the bus stops at the gate, anything after hours or weekends will require YOU to do transport duty.

But, hey, that's what correspondence schools and boarding schools were invented for.....

I grew up in Bulls. Most of the farm kids went to boarding school.

[Grumph]

My next purchase will be a double glazed tilt slab stand alone lock & leave industrial building with small living quarters & large workshop.
Fortunately my wife is as big a petrol head as me & half the toys in the garage are hers & she's right into the idea.
We will keep the houses as rentals so we have some choices later if we want them.

Old ex racer mate has just that in chCh. when he dies it's going to be like Auction Hunters as it's chocca with so much bike and car stuff he can barely move.
He'll probably die from an untreated infection caught bumping into something while trying to move around in there...

Shadowjack - 18 months in Whitecliffs isn't enough to find out just how bad Selwyn Council is....you'll learn.

Which raises rural councils as an issue - down here they're crap. Poor representation. Unless you belong to fed farmers, you can't get heard if you have a problem. rates are going up constantly to pay for gin palace offices....

[tri boy]

5Yrs in our latest rural home.
Pluses.
We own it.
Closest neighbour is a farm workers house about 700mtrs away.
Quiet place about 80% of the time. (cropping/calveingetc happens but is over in a few weeks)
The commute to work is an easy and enjoyful 35km. (about the maxium I was willing to do)
The neighbours are very approachable, but we all live our own lives. (just need to know each other for emergencies etc)
Life slows down
Many more pluses also

Minus's
Property maintenance ties up a fair bit of free time. (But the place is yours, and it;s more of an attitude change needed)
Thats about it.

[jasonu]

Looks like you don't have to worry about your rural cat disappearing...
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11569008

[pritch]

Paedophile. Not pedofile, peedopfyle or any other corruption.

/Pedant

That's brave of you, not many people would stick up for the pedos. As I have mentioned previously though, you do have to give them credit for slowing down when driving past a school zone.

[Voltaire]

30 years ago you could have moved to a small town that seamed like many hours drive north of Auckland and bought yourself a decent plot for buggar all. Albany...

You can still live cheaply in Albany, large lifestyle block just West of the town, fully fenced, long leases available :msn-wink:

[pritch]

Which raises rural councils as an issue - down here they're crap. Poor representation. Unless you belong to fed farmers, you can't get heard if you have a problem. rates are going up constantly to pay for gin palace offices....

Got like that here too but the last election saw off most of the main offenders. Still, the Council staff will undoubtedly be working hard to knobble the new guys.

We went through the gin palace thing earlier. The mayor at the time had developed a certain reputation. When asked what the mayor's job was worth the answer was "A hundred grand and as much Steinlager as you can drink".

Afterthought. When I referred to the gin palace thing in the past tense I had forgotten this our new art gallery. It was not supposed to be funded from public money but there was widespread suspicion that there had been ummm creative(?) accounting. This became the flagship issue for those wanting a cleanout of the spendthrift councillors.

[F5 Dave]

You can still live cheap any, large lifestyle block just West of the town, fully fenced, long leases available :msn-wink:
Is that one of those Cult/communes where someone else chooses your sexual partner?

What was that song by Tool?. . . ,

[Grumph]

Got like that here too but the last election saw off most of the main offenders. Still, the Council staff will undoubtedly be working hard to knobble the new guys.

We went through the gin palace thing earlier. The mayor at the time had developed a certain reputation. When asked what the mayor's job was worth the answer was "A hundred grand and as much Steinlager as you can drink".

Afterthought. When I referred to the gin palace thing in the past tense I had forgotten this our new art gallery. It was not supposed to be funded from public money but there was widespread suspicion that there had been ummm creative(?) accounting. This became the flagship issue for those wanting a cleanout of the spendthrift councillors.

The Rolleston pool is our big white elephant currently. Too close to ChCh but funded from a targeted rate across a district going as far as Arthurs Pass...
Some creative accounting going on here too. Word from the inside is that it's running at a big loss but all the PR is saying the opposite.
I just hope the facts come out before the next elections. At least our invisible mayor is standing down....finally.

[Autech]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19McuaPKjI8

:facepalm:

[Big Dog]

Of all the places I have lived the share milkers cottage in egmont village was the best. Remote enough you had to make your own fun but close enough to town to have a couple of part time jobs that paid the bills for 3.
The only neighbours within 45 minutes walk were great fun... just a little outside the box.
Hot water, toilet, outside taps and washing machine on "farm suply" cold water on tank.
Nicely insulated house with a huge lounge and wetback fireplace.
Kitchen had a standard oven/stove and a wood chip small oven , hob and wet back.
Power went out a lot but I have never slept so well in all my life.


Sent via tapatalk.

[Big Dog]

I also like living in tuakau but the house still needs a lot of work and the proximity to Auckland means the township is slowly filling with jafas. Much like us I guess.

Sent via tapatalk.

[swarfie]

My bro has a 5 acre "workstyle" block between Cambridge and the Tron. I look at it and all I see is frigging work, and not in the shed working on bikes...or riding them much either. Got a mate who has 10 acres and a missus with galueters (horses for those that don't like making glue out of them) and he NEVER gets to ride or race much these days. Stuff that, Me...I'll stick to my 666 sq/m section in the middle of suburbia with easy care gardens and a low maintenance lawn thanks muchly. Get to ride my bikes heaps, work on them all the time (my hobby) and my work is a leisurely 6 minutes away on me pushy.:bleh:

Only problem is either lack of shed space or too many mosickles.....bugger

[Tazz]

Lifestyle block = deathstyle block.


Most excellent advice. About buying up the neighbourhood.

Got to say until last year I lived on 12 acres, an acre of orchard, half that in formal gardens. This one, in fact: http://www.trademe.co.nz/property/residential-property-for-sale/auction-991876060.htm


How refreshing to see a bit of effort put into those pictures of the property. Nice place, but yeah, unless you want to employ someone to tend to it all fark that.

[Big Dog]

Lifestyle block = deathstyle block.



How refreshing to see a bit of effort put into those pictures of the property. Nice place, but yeah, unless you want to employ someone to tend to it all fark that.
Another great thing about egmont village... we only had to mow 200sqm. But had the use if required of any of the surrounding farmland provided it was not for profit and did not impede the farms profit. E.g I could have had a dirt bike but could not have ripped up the grass. I could have kept a horse but not a herd.
I was not able to mow the lawn over the Christmas break due to my part time jobs suddenly being full time jobs for 6 weeks so the landlord dropped off a sheep and a couple of lambs to keep it down.


Sent via tapatalk.

[Tazz]

My bro has a 5 acre "workstyle" block between Cambridge and the Tron. I look at it and all I see is frigging work, and not in the shed working on bikes...or riding them much either. Got a mate who has 10 acres and a missus with galueters (horses for those that don't like making glue out of them) and he NEVER gets to ride or race much these days. Stuff that, Me...I'll stick to my 666 sq/m section in the middle of suburbia with easy care gardens and a low maintenance lawn thanks muchly. Get to ride my bikes heaps, work on them all the time (my hobby) and my work is a leisurely 6 minutes away on me pushy.:bleh:

Only problem is either lack of shed space or too many mosickles.....bugger

Enough land to keep you busy, not enough land to be worth being busy with (you will never make a really good return).
They are cutting up decent farmland for this shit too, although to be fair the city will and does eventually grow out to them and then they are subdivided. Rolleston comes to mind for that.

[jasonu]

You can still live cheaply in Albany, large lifestyle block just West of the town, fully fenced, long leases available :msn-wink:

How big are the blocks and how much $'s?

[jasonu]

Is that one of those Cult/communes where someone else chooses your sexual partner?

What was that song by Tool?. . . ,

http://www.nzonscreen.com/title/centrepoint-a-spiritual-growth-community-1980

[Akzle]

How big are the blocks and how much $'s?

1-5 years if you're white, 5-30 if you're black. At about 400k/yr, paid by everyone else.


(hahahahahahahah when was the last time any cunt that did 30years in nz??)

[Laava]

Lifestyle block = deathstyle block.

What about a bush block? Privacy, space and leave it the fuck alone. A lot of bush blocks do not have or need fences to the perimeter either.

[Ocean1]

Nice place, but yeah, unless you want to employ someone to tend to it all fark that.

Her indoors loved doing the garden work, but trouble with the hands was going to be an issue down the track a bit, and as far as she was concerned hiring someone else to do it sorta defeated the purpose.

I miss walking up the stream through the orchard after work with a glass of something cold in your hand. Good way to re-calibrate the head after a fang on the bike too.


Enough land to keep you busy, not enough land to be worth being busy with (you will never make a really good return).
They are cutting up decent farmland for this shit too, although to be fair the city will and does eventually grow out to them and then they are subdivided. Rolleston comes to mind for that.

Trouble is, most local council reg's dictate blocks of around 10-12 acres. Which is more than most people want to maintain. That above property was 12 acres, half regenerating native bush, another 4 acres in paddocks, which left just a couple needing to be maintained to "urban standards".

[Tazz]

What about a bush block? Privacy, space and leave it the fuck alone. A lot of bush blocks do not have or need fences to the perimeter either.

Yeah bush blocks aren't all bad. Bees and other insects (and animals if big enough) need a place to live and things to eat, plus oxygen, nom nom. With minimal prodding and little time you can have it revert to native. Shit even if it is full of gorse in under a decade it will go back to native from what I've read.

[RGVforme]

Of all the places I have lived the share milkers cottage in egmont village was the best. Remote enough you had to make your own fun but close enough to town to have a couple of part time jobs that paid the bills for 3.
The only neighbours within 45 minutes walk were great fun... just a little outside the box.
Hot water, toilet, outside taps and washing machine on "farm suply" cold water on tank.
Nicely insulated house with a huge lounge and wetback fireplace.
Kitchen had a standard oven/stove and a wood chip small oven , hob and wet back.
Power went out a lot but I have never slept so well in all my life.


Sent via tapatalk.

The sleeping part is pure gold.
I had a ringing in my ears for the first week wondered wtf it was.Thought it was tinnitus.

Realized it was the sound of silence.:laugh:

This is why I like motorcyclists from the town or country if they are dressed in riding gear on or standing beside a bike in general they are going to be a no bullshit good bugger with a common interest.:chase:

[Duncan74]

Yeah bush blocks aren't all bad. Bees and other insects (and animals if big enough) need a place to live and things to eat, plus oxygen, nom nom. With minimal prodding and little time you can have it revert to native. Shit even if it is full of gorse in under a decade it will go back to native in under a decade from what I've read.

We're surrouded by native - too steep and unstable around us for anyone to build on. However, all that wildlfe seems to insist on upgrading it's accommodation from bush into 'house' at every opportunity :nono: Thankully so far then we've had a few mice, no rats, a few possums, feral cats, and pretty much every type of bird there is. Oh, and in the last few weeks a rabbit has moved in to keep the weeds on the lawn in check.:headbang:

And as for the gorse spent a weekend last year which grew from a 30 minute job to 700kg of gorse dragged out. Was fecked by sunday night, and skin on arms has only just recovered 10 months later. Needs another hack soon, although pleased that very little has grown back so it's just keeping on top of stuff.

I spend a bit on garden kit, but that's because I was starting from zero. Not been too bad, leaf blower, ride on mower, and a few hand tools. No chain saws as I would be a liability, and if there's a job that needs one it's cheaper to buy a decent bottle of wine for a neighbour or get a professional in. Think it's cost me $500 for 3 trees to be dropped and chopped and a bit of stump grinding, that's it.

[RGVforme]

Its surrounded not surrouded or any other type of bastduggery there Duncan74 lol.:buggerd:

I call touché sir.

I better be on my spelling game now ive done this :eek:

[Akzle]

gorse is an excellent nurse crop. Only idiots spend money clearing it.

[F5 Dave]

Is that one of those Cult/communes where someone else chooses your sexual partner?

What was that song by Tool?. . . ,
Ahh ya dicks, this is what I meant.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5sIXUbMgF0