Goal: Peaceful Relaxed Economical Living.

[azAZa]

here is the possibility-options plan. arrive by plane in Auckland, NZ on three month visitors visa in oct/nov 2010. after a few days in Auckland possibly doing a visa extension, travel to the bay of islands and check into a backpackers or tent camping. then visit yacht clubs marinas in the bay area and determine if it is possible to get a boat or crew a boat or live on a boat with an aim to doing cruising in the south pacific in april/may 2011 either on my newly purchased boat or as crew/passenger on someone else's. not having any speakable previous sailing experience but considerable past small power dinghy messing, obtaining any necessary certifications for international cruising in NZ during the summer/autumn. if not, flying to the pacific islands and living there for the autumn/winter season and then repeating the nz experience the next summer/autumn. continue in this manner until adnausium sets in, or boat objective obtained, and/or newer horizons call.

please point out the pitfalls or oversights or recommendations. i am an experienced long term 'economical' land traveler although not in this region except for short visits in my youth. so no current detailed visa and habitation knowledge. other options are to call nz home but permanent residence through working is not such an appealing prospect. also considering possible longer term precarious residence on pacific island(s)/countries so recommendation and experiences there also welcome..Â*

[JeanneP]

I'd like to answer your post in some detail, but there are so many roadblocks to your plan under some circumstances. So. Where are you from? What is your age? Are you retired with some sort of income that you can provide to prove you will not be a burden to your host country? There are others, but let's start there.

[azAZa]

Originally Posted by JeanneP

I'd like to answer your post in some detail, but there are so many roadblocks to your plan under some circumstances.Â*Â*So.Â*Â*Where are you from?Â*Â*What is your age?Â*Â*Are you retired with some sort of income that you can provide to prove you will not be a burden to your host country?Â*Â*There are others, but let's start there.

no, let's not..

[Lighthouse]

Originally Posted by azAZa

no, let's not..

Why not?

[redbopeep]

AZAZA--I don't know what reason you don't want to "share" but since not, only one thing pops out at me--you must be retired if you've been doing this travel bit for a while already and if you don't wish to share you've either got lots of resources or none. When my husband and I recently looked into staying in NZ for an extended period (years), as I recall, all one had to do was provide proof of sufficient annual income. I don't know how long you'd intend to stay...however... It seemed that number was quite low for an individual (say $30,000 US or so) and of course they don't care what you're spending it on once you're there. It would be very difficult to purchase a bluewater boat and maintain it as well as cruise internationally for more than a very short time if you don't have at least that much income per year or savings that may be used as such. So, if you're squeaking by, suggest you stick with the land based travels which are much more affordable by-and-large anyway.

Best to you.