Opportunity came knocking (Knysna)

Pitbull

Pitbull

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Ok I have an oppertunity to relocate to Knysna.

Slight problem I'm having is leaving everything and everyone I know up here behind. Salary would be the same and wife will be given a job too. So it all sounds great, but is it really worth it?

What is Knysna like?
 
Ask yourself - will your quality of live be better off living in a small town with clean air and relaxed atmosphere, or better living in a polluted, stressful city?

There's drawbacks of course, small towns doesn't have all the shops and the such as in a city. Some things (groceries) might be a bit more expensive though.

I would do it if I were you... ;)

But it's your own decision. Talk to your wife and see what goes.
 
Sorry to burst your bubble ....

I know Knysna well, and I own a 180-degree unobstructed sea-view home in Brenton-on-Sea, close to Knysna, which I rent out. Would I live there permanently ? Never! Knysna & surrounds is great out-of season, but in-season (Easter, Xmas & New Year seasons) it is a mass of seething tourist humanity.

Then they have all thse festivals ... Oyster Fest, Pink Loerie Fest:whistle:, and a couple of others, when many visitors (of various culinary, and sexual, persuasions ...) flock into the area to partake of the festivities.

Traffic is a nightmare. Restaurant service is atrocious (read: non-existent). Traffic Cops are over-eager. Local residents do one of two things ... (1) go all out to rip the visitors off, or (2) disappear from the streets and shops and restaurants until all visitors go home (or maybe they disappear into the forests where the attempt to re-establish the once-famous "knysna woodcutters" colonies ... a largely interbred & strange community :wtf:

But if you DO ignore my advise, and go there ... :twisted: I'll give you a good rental on my sea-view property! Current tenants moved out a month ago ...
 
Pitbull said:
Ok I have an oppertunity to relocate to Knysna.

Slight problem I'm having is leaving everything and everyone I know up here behind. Salary would be the same and wife will be given a job too. So it all sounds great, but is it really worth it?

What is Knysna like?
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If it's anything north of the WC, go for it! :p (Where you're moving FROM.)

If the salary is the same -with the possibility of an extra income, go for it!

As Sting said, it's laid back...you can't go wrong. ;) (Unless you're on of the "those" addicted to the hustle and and bustle of big city life.)
 
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Agree in terms of lifestyle its far better but I dont think I would sacrifice my career (unless I get a very good job offer) over lifestyle. I would probably get bored of living in a small town.
 
As TL suggests, do it! Compared to Jozi it's heaven-on-earth... ;) Especially if you are a nature lover. The area is awesome. And you'll be minutes away from the beach! :) Shopping isn't that good, but George is only an hour away, with a nice big mall on the Knysna side of town. Just watch out for speed traps in Kaaimans pass... :o
 
atomcrusher said:
Sorry to burst your bubble ....

I know Knysna well, and I own a 180-degree unobstructed sea-view home in Brenton-on-Sea, close to Knysna, which I rent out. Would I live there permanently ? Never! Knysna & surrounds is great out-of season, but in-season (Easter, Xmas & New Year seasons) it is a mass of seething tourist humanity.

Then they have all thse festivals ... Oyster Fest, Pink Loerie Fest:whistle:, and a couple of others, when many visitors (of various culinary, and sexual, persuasions ...) flock into the area to partake of the festivities.

Traffic is a nightmare. Restaurant service is atrocious (read: non-existent). Traffic Cops are over-eager. Local residents do one of two things ... (1) go all out to rip the visitors off, or (2) disappear from the streets and shops and restaurants until all visitors go home (or maybe they disappear into the forests where the attempt to re-establish the once-famous "knysna woodcutters" colonies ... a largely interbred & strange community :wtf:

But if you DO ignore my advise, and go there ... :twisted: I'll give you a good rental on my sea-view property! Current tenants moved out a month ago ...
Click to expand...

I might just take you up on that offer. I need to get down there in the next 2 weeks to go look for a place to rent if I do decide to take the job. I will let you know :)
 
PythonFSi said:
Go for it dude!

Knysna is one of the most beautiful places in SA.
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My Friends/Family/Family in-law everyone is in Gauteng :D
Wife is very excited but I need to get this past my mother in-law who stay 2 kms from us that she won't be able to see the twins when ever she feels like it no more :D
 
It's also a great place to be a kid. Lots of outdoor activities and fishing on your doorstep.
 
I'd love to live in Knysna, it is indeed beautiful, but I reckon the guy with the place there is more than correct about the tourist nightmare and traffic, the amount of times I've gotten stuck in that bloody place on the way to Cape Town. :mad:
 
Pitbull said:
I might just take you up on that offer. I need to get down there in the next 2 weeks to go look for a place to rent if I do decide to take the job. I will let you know :)
Click to expand...

Yep - you do that ... my place is available for immediate rental (unfurnished). We have left it empty, hoping to get an OTP very quickly ... but the sea-view market is really only attractive to rich 'northerners' from north of the Vaal river, usually Doctor's or Lawyers, or business folk who just a want a lock-up-and-go for the Easter / Xmas season hols. But I am in two minds whether or not to sell, or to continue renrtal ..... living in Jhb my partner & I own a total of 6 properties, 4 here, and 2 in the Cape (Brenton-on-Sea, and Swellendam ... we can manage the rnetals here locally, but those two long-distance rentals are a nightmare, as we have to use rental agents. Once we move (we are retiring) to Swellendam next year, we will be able to manage the Brenton-on-Sea rental easily, as it is only 200km from Swellendam. So we have considered self-manage-rental of it

Send me a PM when (if) you have made the decision ... Brenton-on-Sea is a great location, but has no shops (except fro bread 'n Milk type things, and all main shopping would be done in Knysna town itself, or in George. Lifestyle in the entire area is very laid back, stress-free, and brenton on sea in particular is crime-free. Just avoid Knysna town centre when the festivals are on, or the holiday season is in full swing. Knysna has good shopping infrastructures, and some very good restaurants. It was our retirement location of choice until we went there over one Xmas season a couple of years back to inspect our Brenton property

Visit this link here ... http://www.sa-venues.com/visit/sheercliffs/ ... although this unit is not ours, our place is in the same area of the sectional title complex, with the same views, and it is a very quiet complex which is well managed. Our place has 3-bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, great sea views from master bed and lounge and stoep. It has a huge double garage, plus store & boat storage area underneath the upper dwelling.

BTW .. our place would go on the market for around R1.9 - R2 mill
 
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I know Knysna well. The town itself sucks. Try someplace nearby, like Sedgefield. Most locals drive to George to shopping, banking etc., to avoid Knysna
 
Amazing opertunity, fishing/surfing lots of outdoor activities.

We use to have a holiday home in Sedgefield, best years.
 
I live in Plett (30km away), but my children go to school in Knysna - atomcrusher does not live in Knysna, he only sees it at its worst. For 5 weeks a year we have the North come down and invade (and it is a terrible time) , for the other 47 weeks the town belongs to the locals. For that period one simply hibernates (stay at home) and let the "holiday makers" fight and "enjoy" their time here. Then they go away and we get on with our lives

What is important to you - Quality of life (no traffic jams, no major queues in the banks and traffic departments, max 5 min to appointments, low crime, beautiful eye pleasing scenery, free nature activities - beach and river) or The City Life of malls, good shopping, massive choice of products and services. Do you thrive on the hub-bub of city life, or do you enjoy the outdoor life and family time

The area has everything you may require in terms of normal living. Specialised items (computer equipment etc) may require that you make a trip to George (1 hr away) or to PE (2.5 hr away) or abusively make use of the internet and courier services. The schools can be a concern but Knysna has one of the best private schools in Oakhill which take pupils from Grade 00 all the way to Matric, if you can afford it ! The outdoor life cannot be matched - beaches for swimming, playing on and walking, the lagoon and rivers for boating and fishing, forests for walking and hiking, mountain bike trails, beautiful places to go running. Most of the tourist attractions offer a full year access for the price of a double single entry, and we often spend an afternoon at a place like birds of eden. With a SANPARK wild card you have access to a multitude of nature reserves in the area

Knysna is a bit of a village town with quaint shops and friendly people, the lagoon and only Brenton on Sea as a beach, but close by is Sedgefield, also very villagy but no so expensive, and on the other side Plett, more modern town and with better access to swimming beaches

With respect to family, I think only you can make that decision and determine how important it is in your life. Is it more important that Ouma can see the grandchildren at any time, or that your children get to grow up experiencing a much different lifestyle. Remember Ouma can always come to visit and have a good holiday

As suggested, the only way to make a good decision is to actually come down to the area and get a feel for it. My accountant wanted to move to the coast, she came down, had a look at Plett - mmmm, but fell in love with Knysna and has recently packed up the business in JHB and is happy as hell in Knysna


Regards

Andrew
If you come down or want to discuss things regarding life here in paradise, want the ins- and - outs from a local, send me a PM with pleasure

PS Forgot to mention about the weather - we have a mediteranean type of climate - hardly ever too hot and hardly ever too cold :-D
 
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