I'm asking this question because like most kitesurfers, we all dream about living in the best kite spot in the world. And I'm no exception. But now, I'm about to take it a bit further and I need your help.

I'm a father of a young child (under 1 year) and my wife and I have decided that we are willing to move to anywhere in the world for 1 year, before we plant our roots. We will consider all locations, but legally we can easily move anywhere in Europe or USA but I'm sure other areas will grant us temporary visas if we try hard enough. I speak English and intermediate Spanish.

So where would you live?
- Rideable Wind All Year
- Enjoyable Weather
- Family Friendly
- Wonderful Cultural Experience

This is a once in a life-time opportunity for us and we'd love to hear from anyone who has insight about great kite spots globally.


PS: We currently live in Florida, USA.

-Rideable Wind All Year
- Enjoyable Weather
- Family Friendly
- Wonderful Cultural Experience

tell me! in my experience all of the above do not come in one package, if I am proved wrong I am immediately moving there. NZ cold in winter (not too cold tho) but overall only place I know in world I could get very regular year round decent swell and wind. (winter southern swells - summer cyclone swells)

gonna be aching this week.... http://www.windguru.cz/int/index.php?sc=25739&sty=m_spot

Richard Branson's private island, Necker.

You didn't say that cost was a variable we had to consider.

Haha, you got me! That looks amazing. Wish I could afford that for a year.



Hmm. I've only heard great things about NZ, I'd seriously consider.

How do you guys feel about Mallorca, Spain?
Or even Hawaii?

As for that list I made, it's just a general reference. Wet suits are fine, but don't know about having to wear a dry suit. I also don't want to worry about my child's safety is all (kidnapping, drug/gun culture).

NZ is a great cultural experience if you like drunken rugby players baying like morons, assholes who want to fight you over the most trivial of things, and having all your gear stolen.

There are many reasons I love NZ, but almost none of them are the people

Personally, I'd rather trip around... a month here, a month there.

well that's the end of those great things... lol

Hawaii - Oahu not windy year round, Maui is fun - groundhog day wind - don't know how long i would last living there tho - so many people coming and going -small place and real expensive, Spain - I can't even get with the concept of crowded beaches - in fact beaches with more than a few people on them at all.

Western Australia - siiiiick riding in summer, shit in winter

A pacific island? plenty to choose from

if u go nz u need to arrive about right now and leave in may, unless u like the mountains - then u move to wanaka in may (can kite near there too - cold tho- snowkiting too tho..) - or go to port douglas in aussie (not all time spot but not too bad - great barrier reef - no waves) or maui or a few pacific islands- fiji - cooks tahiti new caledonia...

Utopia?

Greece + Spain + Tunis + Morocco + Turkey + Cape Town (SA) in Euro winter. All have one in common - Cultural Experience, budget flights, etc.

English speaking countries or not? Budget? NZ and AU is expensive. Perth (AU) is ultra expensive now.

Greece is probably best bet with a wind. Crime? Which crime?

Really? We generally have a good reputation & are normally in the top 5 for friendly people countries. All the feedback I get from foreign boarders is great. It sounds to me like you either had a really really bad experience or you haven't actually been to NZ? Where did you go mate?
Sounds like you were hanging around a rugby club at 2am rather than one of our beautiful beaches....

Let's stick with a subject. What is the cultural experience one can expect at NZ?

For me Japan was great cultural experience. Duno about kiting there tho.

Portugal,
wind and waves never that far from wherever you live,
great food and wine, port & medronha.
lovely climate, Lovely people
and a great culture plus you have access to the rest of europe and north Africa easily,
easy flights to Cape Verde, Azores, Madeira et al
cheap living and an amazing empty road network.
and you`ll pick up the language easily with a basic knowledge of Spanish
My wife and I did the very thing you are thinking of on the birth of our 1st child, having driven round Europe for year before her birth. we returned to the UK for her arrival but soon decided to go and live in Portugal for a year before planting our roots, we stayed 3 years and only returned to have our 2nd and start schooling, real earning and keeping the inlaws happy.
As soon as the last daughter, #4 is at university, we are off back there,,,, happy days