[MadMax]

Originally posted by Reformed_Quint
This country has actually gone to shit.

You are free to leave at any time.

When you are afraid all the time, it eats you up inside. It makes
every little thing seem a bit ominous. I lived in a University town in
Oklahoma, USA. We had more police personnel than teachers in that
town. No matter what street you were driving on, if you were in your
car for more than fifteen minutes, you'd see a cop. Even innocents
feel watched when they live like that.

I feared for my son. I couldn't see any way to get him away from his
nice but loser friends without moving. And god forbid he ever cross
the juvenile "justice" system!

The only way out of fear and constant anger over being made afraid,
was to leave. Fight was out of the question. The enemy was far too
great, and frequently unseen.

So we left. We saved our son and our sanity. As the plane did its
sweep of the NZ coastline in the dawning sunshine, I cried quietly. I
felt this huge burden of fear slip off my shoulders. It landed
somewhere off the coast of 90 mile beach.

After five years here, New Zealand, and New Zealanders still delight
me. I am so grateful to have found this place. In my neighborhood, my
neighbors know me and say hello, sometimes they even stop to chat when
I'm out in the front garden.

The guy at the dairy pulls my brand of cigarettes out when I walk in
the door. The real estate agent on the corner of the village comes out
to chat with me when I go there for something. They don't have to ask
me any more if I want cinnamon or chocolate on my cappucino at the
village cafe.

I have embraced my little community, Beach Haven, and for the most
part, it returns my affection. I love the quiet, the simplicity, the
genuine appreciation for kindness that Kiwis display.

I love the fact that my old boss used to take a week off to go to his
kids's school camp. I love the dozen or so early 20's that hang out at
my house all the time. I love Kiwi children. They have no fear of
strangers. They are lovely open little spirits.

This morning, I awakened to my grandson's kisses. I took my tea out
onto the upper deck and watched the morning unfold while the birds
chased each other through the bush that surrounds my house. My cats
came and demanded their breakfast by pretending to love me, and I came
downstairs to the mouth-watering smell of New Zealand bacon.

I love New Zealand.
Tarla