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Bye bye Winter, Spring is here

Started by Pete H, September 01, 2013, 03:23:55 AM

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Pete H

Hi Guys,
Today is the first day of spring here in Oz. 74 degrees F. Light northerly wind (that's the warm one down here),sun is shining, looks like winter is really over, and we've survived another one. Winter is always a bit sad, being the season for colds and "flu", our town always seems to lose more elderly citizens during winter than in the other seasons.

As well as doing a few little jobs around the house, I've been messing about with the boat today, nothing major, just messing, getting ready for the first sail of the season. Can't wait! Nine months of sailing weather ahead! Well, I have to fit in a 5000 mile trip with the Tear Drop caravan up to the northernmost tip of the country and back next month, then a motorcycle trip along the south coast in November to celebrate the new lobster season. This retirement is a hard job, but if someone has to do it, it may as well be me.

Enjoy the rest of your sailing season,

Pete



Pete H
Muggler (Compac Legacy)
Victoria
Australia
" Nothing satisfies the man who is not satisfied with a little".   Epicurus 341 BC-270BC

Bob23

Pete:
   Us American Compac-o-nauts feel that this is a cruel demand on your retirement time. We feel compelled, as Compac Brothers to help so we're flying down right now to take part of the load of the 5000 mile trip for you. We might as well stay into November to assist you in the motorcycle trip. Hopefully, we'll get to sail with you too. Hey, what are friends for?
Bob23

skip1930

So long summer, Fall and Winter is coming. Can we flip the globe around please?
Not looking forward to 20 deg F below zero. Hey the Sister Bay [Wisconsin] Marine Fest was yesterday and a display of several Ice Boats could be seen.

Burrrr zzzzinnn skiiii!!

skip.

Pete H

Hi Bob,

You are welcome to come down and join us. Those Southern Rock Lobsters are beautiful and there is plenty for everyone.

Seriously, if any of you Compac people are ever in Australia, give me a call, and if you are anywhere nearby we have motorcycles, caravan, camping gear or a car you can borrow (as well as the boat). So come on down.

(Skip, come south, trade winter for summer)

Regards,

Pete H
Pete H
Muggler (Compac Legacy)
Victoria
Australia
" Nothing satisfies the man who is not satisfied with a little".   Epicurus 341 BC-270BC

Bob23

   I don't think I could handle 24 hours of flight time...I'd go nuts on a plane that long. But thanks for the invite.
   Back in my younger days, I did toy with moving to Australia but now I hear that any job that can be filled by a national can't be taken by an import. Is that correct?
Bob23

Pete H

Hi Bob,

Come on down! Break the flight time up into shorter hops, East Coast to West Coast, West Coast to Hawaii, then to New Zealand, and on to Melbourne. All part of the holiday.

Migration.  I'm not an immigration lawyer but I don't think that there is a bar on the types of work available to new migrants.
This country has been built on migrant labour. Currently we take about 200,000 new migrants each year, and the Government runs a program to try to attract suitable people to apply. There are restrictions on those that they accept based on health, criminal record (basically mass murderers and drug dealers will usually not be acceptable) and skills. There is a skilled worker target in the program of about 60,000per annum. There is also an effort to attract medical professionals. Applicants to migrate may also be required to pass an english test.

Currently the unemployment rate is about 5 to 6%, which when you take in those who can't work, those who wont work and those who no one in their right mind would employ, means full employment, with employers screaming for workers. In some industries they are flying in short term workers from Asia who for various reasons can't qualify as immigrants (or don't want to). So I don't think there any limits to the type of work open to migrants.

So there is work for those who want it. For example, the building industry has been flat out, with home loan approvals up by 29% last month.

The unemployment rate for skilled, english speaking migrants is 4%, which is below the national average. If you are unemployed, the government unemployment scheme pays a living wage (not a luxury income for sure, I think about 18,000 dollars for a single person), which I believe is available to new migrants (after a qualifying period) who haven't been able to find work.  The gov operate a free medical and hospital service which is available to new migrants. Education is free and compulsory for children and is available to all.  The government age pension (a basic living income of about 30,000 dollars per annum) is not available to migrants until they have been here for ten years.

So, if you are interested, get on the Australian Gov web site.

Anyway, come on down, have a sail, miss the northern winter.

Cheers,

Pete
Pete H
Muggler (Compac Legacy)
Victoria
Australia
" Nothing satisfies the man who is not satisfied with a little".   Epicurus 341 BC-270BC

Bob23

Pete:
  Thanks for all the Aussie info. I'm a self employed building contractor here in NJ...sounds like you may have a place for guys like me.
   Everytime the wife and I have moved, and it's only been 3 times in the last 34 years and all within a 20 mile radius, it's been sheer hell. I could just see trying to move halfway around the world! Btw, I like the northern winters but lately it hasn't gotten all that cold. Looking forward to cross country skiiing IF  we ever get some snow again.
Bob23

kahpho

Hey Pete,

Hope your sailing season goes well. I'm told retirement is tough but I'm thinking I might like to try anyway.

Seems like you have your campaign all planned out.

mel
'07 Legacy "Amphibian"