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Suggestions on destination required

PostPosted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 5:07 pm
by rickeymourke
Hey, peeps.

I wondered if I could get some advice on destination to move. I'm currently living in UK being Lithuanian myself and I'm just fed up of London.
I have a dream of having/renting a small house somewhere warm by the coast where I could surf, rollerblade and work wood - make surfboards, longboards and such. I am a furniture maker/paint sprayer and have very skilful hands along with very creative mind.. Sooo... I kinda decided to finally live my dream and doing a vast research on where to go. I'm thinking Australia/New Zealand/Central America. Maybe hawaii??:DD

If you people could put me on track by explaining visa policy, giving some advice on decent location in each destination stated above. Like average accommodation prices, carpenter/ spray painter wages, etc.

I would appreciate VERY much for any single piece of information.
Even google maps coordinates would be great.
Maybe there are some surfboard makers out there in need of an apprentice?:)

Re: Suggestions on destination required

PostPosted: Tue Dec 31, 2013 9:59 pm
by jaffa1949
OKAY Rickey, there is an encyclopedia of answers needed for you.

Visa requirements vary from country t country and so I would be going to the government sites for the countries you are thinking about.
Australia requires a specific working visa usually related to an offer of employment and is time limited.
Working on a tourist visa or arriving without funds or access to funds sufficient for your visit may cause your visa to be cancelled and you get flown home immediately! EEEk.
If you are a good furniture make and make traditional Northern European quality furniture, I would look at becoming a bespoke furniture maker and using the heritage of those designs as your base and then try surfboards in wood etc as a sideline.
Why? Most surfboard makers are either just above the poverty line or using automated systems both of which have little need of apprentices in the traditional way.
A lot of the new wave of makers started by hanging around surf factories and doing little bits around their daily surfing and grew a few backyard boards to start.
The country soul scene is alive and well in all your destinations and the dream is possible but a good designer and maker of furniture much more viable
A question here; Do you surf?

Re: Suggestions on destination required

PostPosted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 4:42 am
by PommeDownUnder
Firstly How old are you? if your under 30 maybe the holiday working visa would be the way to go to Oz or the US. Give you a chance to get to know the place before you decide to completely dedicate yourself to it and finding you don't like it (not that I can imagine that possible) :D .