As you all know, Karen and I have been planning a return visit to the U.S. since soon after we returned from our 2018 visit. We would have been back two years ago if not for covid.
The big hindrance really has been New Zealand's closed border, with far more demand than capacity for the expensive managed isolation and quarantine system put in place as part of the "elimination strategy".
About a year into the pandemic we both decided that we were not going to let covid rule the way we lived. Hand washing, sanitising and social distancing were concepts we already were familiar with due to Karen's compromised immunity. Mask wearing was not enjoyable, but we could survive with it. This was before Delta, and later Omicron, changed the elimination to a living with covid reality most of the rest of the world had already adopted.
A few months ago isolation and quarantine was eliminated for fully vaccinated Kiwi's returning to the country, and earlier this month tourists from visa waiver countries were also made exempt. All tourists will be welcome back, vaccinated or not, from the end of July.
Since early this year Kiwiland has been subject to an Omicron surge. It is the B.A.2 variant, which is only recently become established in the U.S. So far we have managed to avoid picking up the virus when it is estimated almost half the population have contracted either Delta or Omicron. We do not live like hermits. I still shoot most weekends and attend country music clubs twice a month. We just choose to spread out a bit more and select who we associate with.
A few months ago, about when the borders reopened, we looked at the feasibility of a return trip to America. Unfortunately the economics (inflation, rising interest rates, dropping NZ dollar, limited flights and supply chain issues) meant that we could not easily free up the cash right now, so we decided to put an investment property on the market a few years early, becoming debt free and with more than enough left over for a trip (and roughly doubling the superannuation fund too).
It is not the best time to sell. Values are dropping and the market is soft. We set a "bottom line" price and engaged a real estate agent, setting in for the long haul. We doubted that we would sell quickly, but as the property comes with a small acreage and is priced reasonably, we knew we would eventually find a buyer, if not now then later in the year. America would just have to wait until Spring 2023.
Yesterday the agent phoned me. A cash buyer is making an unconditional offer with a quick (3 - 4 weeks) settlement. The offer is just under the top of the sale price range we had settled on as our "bottom line", and the agent has advised we counter offer at our top price.
We are still awaiting the formal offer. We expect it will be e-mailed to us tomorrow (Wednesday) and our lawyer has office hours in town Thursday, but it looks like we will sell and settle within the next month. meaning a return to the U.S. this September/October is not only possible but probable.
It will, of course, mean having to avoid crowded attractions, like river cruises, restaurants and live events. But as we found most museums and attractions uncrowded on our last visit, will be concentrating on outdoor activities and intend to do some more "off the track" exploration, we are confident we will be safe.
Well that is the plan right now. The next month or so we will be closely. And I will have to replenish our supply of N-95 and KN-95 masks too.
The big hindrance really has been New Zealand's closed border, with far more demand than capacity for the expensive managed isolation and quarantine system put in place as part of the "elimination strategy".
About a year into the pandemic we both decided that we were not going to let covid rule the way we lived. Hand washing, sanitising and social distancing were concepts we already were familiar with due to Karen's compromised immunity. Mask wearing was not enjoyable, but we could survive with it. This was before Delta, and later Omicron, changed the elimination to a living with covid reality most of the rest of the world had already adopted.
A few months ago isolation and quarantine was eliminated for fully vaccinated Kiwi's returning to the country, and earlier this month tourists from visa waiver countries were also made exempt. All tourists will be welcome back, vaccinated or not, from the end of July.
Since early this year Kiwiland has been subject to an Omicron surge. It is the B.A.2 variant, which is only recently become established in the U.S. So far we have managed to avoid picking up the virus when it is estimated almost half the population have contracted either Delta or Omicron. We do not live like hermits. I still shoot most weekends and attend country music clubs twice a month. We just choose to spread out a bit more and select who we associate with.
A few months ago, about when the borders reopened, we looked at the feasibility of a return trip to America. Unfortunately the economics (inflation, rising interest rates, dropping NZ dollar, limited flights and supply chain issues) meant that we could not easily free up the cash right now, so we decided to put an investment property on the market a few years early, becoming debt free and with more than enough left over for a trip (and roughly doubling the superannuation fund too).
It is not the best time to sell. Values are dropping and the market is soft. We set a "bottom line" price and engaged a real estate agent, setting in for the long haul. We doubted that we would sell quickly, but as the property comes with a small acreage and is priced reasonably, we knew we would eventually find a buyer, if not now then later in the year. America would just have to wait until Spring 2023.
Yesterday the agent phoned me. A cash buyer is making an unconditional offer with a quick (3 - 4 weeks) settlement. The offer is just under the top of the sale price range we had settled on as our "bottom line", and the agent has advised we counter offer at our top price.
We are still awaiting the formal offer. We expect it will be e-mailed to us tomorrow (Wednesday) and our lawyer has office hours in town Thursday, but it looks like we will sell and settle within the next month. meaning a return to the U.S. this September/October is not only possible but probable.
It will, of course, mean having to avoid crowded attractions, like river cruises, restaurants and live events. But as we found most museums and attractions uncrowded on our last visit, will be concentrating on outdoor activities and intend to do some more "off the track" exploration, we are confident we will be safe.
Well that is the plan right now. The next month or so we will be closely. And I will have to replenish our supply of N-95 and KN-95 masks too.
