u/Handout

We've (41f and 33m) found ourselves able to do our dream trip to New Zealand for the month of December and a week into January.

We've never been and this is a once in a lifetime trip.

We've traveled all over America in an RV for 1.5 years so we're familiar with camper-life, but also familiar with the limitations that size vehicle can bring.

We are mostly coming for nature, culture, and food. We don't drink alcohol and not super into city life. (We're also LotR fans and have Hobbiton booked for Dec 4th)

I'm getting overwhelmed trying to pre-plan hotels and a full itinerary without really knowing how long we'd want to spend in each place.

How stupid would it be to just play it by ear and grab hotels where we are?

Would renting a camper make that easier or would we need to get a campground booked each night anyway?

What if we did a camper on one island and then a car and hotels on the other? I'm not even sure we can bring a camper on the ferry and I've seen here the ferry isn't super reliable.

What about Christmas-New years week? Anywhere we should avoid? Or anywhere extra special that time of year that's worth it?

Thank you thank you thank you for any help!

Previously enjoyed games: Tropico and Raji

Preferred genres: Any good cultural OST (I'd especially love some African vibes but literally anywhere makes me happy). I also prefer something not super combat heavy or if it does have combat, to have an easy or story mode.

Budget: Whatever

Other Notes: n/a

It's a wild world we live in. I'd be afraid to live outside of my country for fear of war or deportation.. but maybe that's just because I'm from the US and it's scary af here. I've not traveled abroad (yet) but I think I'd like New Zealand just based on the nature. Maybe Belgium based on the history.

A few years ago I got one of those custom paint-by-number kits of a picture of my service dog. I loved doing it so much, but those kits are pricey ($50-$80) so I haven't done another one.

Last year, my dog passed away, so I built a frame inside the canvas frame to hold his ashes and got it professionally framed at Michaels. It's perfect.. and I miss him desperately so I look at it a lot and remember painting it with him sitting next to me.

Life isn't proper for another pet (my treatment changed a while ago and my doctor asked me to go without a service dog to see how I do), and won't be for at least another year.. and I find myself rotting away on screens. I'd really like to paint more but my nervous system can't handle the failures that come with learning a new skill.

I can't justify the cost of getting these painting kits and not doing anything with the finished product. I don't have much family and I've already gifted my friends so many crafts.

Here's my idea:

What if I sold paintings of peoples' pet pictures, I use the paint by number kits, I'm very honest about it, and literally just charge the cost of the kit? I'd do all the painting and cover shipping and be up front about the whole thing.

The way I see it, is people are paying for AI slop.. Not everyone has the time or skill to paint or paint well (I'm really attentive at staying in the lines and making sure you can't see the numbers through the paint), and I'm not making any money off of it. They'd be helping a disabled person not lose their mind.. and they get a painting of their pet.

I just don't know if it's morally an issue.. and I don't know where I'd even sell such a thing since it's custom.

TLDR: I'd like to use custom paint by number kits to paint peoples' pets, be honest about it, and only charge the cost of the kit (I'd cover shipping to them).. is that scammy? Do you think anyone would go for it? Where would I even sell such a thing (would have to be digital, not like craft fairs).

Aloha friends,

TLDR at the end

I'm coming out to Oahu mid August till about December with my partner who got accepted into a continuing education program in Honolulu.

After researching, rather than committing to a full year and taking up what little affordable housing there is, we decided to just stay enough time to complete the 3-month course and split our time between a couple airbnbs around Manoa and Ala Moana/Waikiki.

His classes will be just 3 days a week and we both want to partake in an learn as much authentic cultural arts as we can while remaining as respectful as possible as nonlocals, but not get suckered into tourist trap classes.

TLDR: We'll be in Manoa/Ala Moana for 16 weeks Aug-Dec. I'm very interested in dance and arts. My partner is into martial arts. We both like playing music.

My question is, do you have any recommendations for my partner and I to learn dance, martial arts, other arts, or instruments, etc. with classes that would accept some respectful nonlocals without it being terribly touristy?

edits: I'm on my phone and didn't catch all the autocorrects before posting.