That has certainly been the case for Otago Goldrush forward Casey Lockwood.
The 24-year-old Princeton University graduate came out to New Zealand with her partner, Kent Centers, on a five-month holiday two years ago and the couple ended up staying.
The Californian natives fell in love with New Zealand and spent 18 months working on a paua hatchery on Stewart Island before shifting to the Marlborough Sounds and another paua hatchery.
From Princeton to paua and California to Stewart Island.
How did that happen?
"It's kind of a long story," Lockwood said.
"We were wwoofing, which is willing workers on organic farms. We only worked at a couple of places but one of them had a paua hatchery, and Kent has some experience in the field back in California."
The couple joked about returning to run a hatchery and learned of an opening on Stewart Island.
Their travels were taking them down that way so they decided to investigate.
"We were planning on going back to grad school and many other things. But we sat down on the beach at Stewart Island - it was a beautiful day on that day - and we just said we can't pass up this opportunity, and made the decision to stay."
The couple have permanent residency now and Lockwood has been selected to trial for the Tall Ferns.
The trials begin later this month but Lockwood has the Otago campaign to get through first.
The Goldrush is one of the teams to beat in the finals of the Women's Basketball Championships, which get under way tomorrow.
But Lockwood may not spend much time on court.
She is struggling with a knee injury and has not taken a full part at practice.
"Unfortunately, I'm pretty injured at the moment and I'm not even sure how much time I'll be able to give them.
"I'm just trying to stay positive and see what I can do."
In her senior year at Princeton, Lockwood started in all 28 games for the Tigers, averaging 10.3 points and 5.6 rebounds, so Otago is desperate to get as much court time out of its star as they can.
Likewise, the Tall Ferns are keen to see what 1.83m power forward has to offer.
When Lockwood is not doing whatever it is you do on a paua hatchery, or playing basketball, she loves to write her own songs and perform her own music.
