Destination envy hits hard when you've made the wrong choice, writes Shandelle Battersby.
I've always had jobs where working through Christmas and New Year — and the public holidays surrounding them — is the norm.
Spending endless sunny summer days in the office was what happened at this time of year, with the luxury of a few extra bucks in your pocket from working the statutory holidays, and the small comfort that at least it's your choice when you take your break, rather than being dictated to by your employer. At least, that's what you tell yourself anyway while everyone else is gallivanting about at campgrounds and embarking on long, hot road trips full of swims, icecreams, barbecues and beers.
This summer I found myself in the unusual position of having the same time off as the masses, and though I mostly loved it, I found social media put a whole level of pressure on the tight holiday break that I hadn't anticipated.
The major sticking point was the weather. In my mind, weather in New Zealand in late December hasn't been great since the 80s. These days, it's changeable and blustery — cold even ("Christchurch was freezing," a friend lamented, and I can attest Wellington was not much better). You've got a 50 per cent chance of getting good weather and that spin of the dice - whether you head north or south — impacts everything.
