Sweet Spot Neighborhoods

This is a courtesy post for all of the people trying to figure out the best place to live. Stuff (a free news resource here in New Zealand) recently put out an interactive quiz to help identify the perfect neighbourhood for you and your interests. This is more of a tongue-in-cheek approach to finding the best place to live, but it is a fun exercise. Apparently I should be living in South Featherston? I’ve never even heard of this place!

https://interactives.stuff.co.nz/sweet-spots/

I’m a big proponent of staying in assorted AirBnbs to test out different neighbourhoods before settling. Prior to our move, we made two reconnaissance trips when we slowly made our way from Auckland to Wellington, stopping in different towns and different neighbourhoods along the way with an eye of where we might like to settle. When we made the move, I generally knew where we wanted to live, so we chose an AirBnb in the Eastern Bays of Auckland to land in while we looked for a rental. I’m also a big believer in not signing a rental contract until you have physically visited the place yourself. (More about the renting process here.) If you can’t make a trip over ahead of time, I’d strongly recommend moving AirBnbs every few days your first few weeks on the ground as you look for a more permanent place to settle down. There are so many different communities here, each with their own vibe. You will eventually find one that works for your lifestyle.

Finding the right fit neighbourhood can be a bit daunting. One of my frequent reflections during our first few months in New Zealand was that no decision had to be permanent. If we made a bad choice, we could also change course as needed - and that includes housing. So as hard as it may feel, try not to stress about this decision too much.