Auckland is a livable city. With a population of only 4 million (plus 10 times as many sheep), the whole country has a kind of smalltown feel. The kiwis surpass even the Dutch as my favorite white folks. They're down-to-earth; NewAgey but not flaky, sincere without being bumpkins. They were the first nation with the good sense to give women the vote, and they still lead the world in environmental policy.

Although kiwis are smart, resourceful people, they don't seem to feel the pressure to have intense office careers. One woman we met had farmed venison for a while before she started a nature-kayaking business. She gets her tidal reports and ozone-layer updates off the Net.