Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to want us to move to Australia in later life?

410 replies

OneFedUpFarmersWife · 12/08/2026 15:52

First time poster. I will give some context for this post. Been married to my DH for 31 years we have a 30 year old DD. This is my second marriage and I have two DD from that relationship. I am 70 and my DH is 74. He is a farmer on a tenanted farm and his family have been here over 100 years. My eldest DD emigrated to Australia 9 years ago and has a great life. I was heart broken when she went taking my two GDC with her ( kids are now14 and 10) I try to get over every year to see them and I love Australia, My youngest DH and her husband have said that they are looking to get a visa to emigrate. My heart dropped but I told her she should try as it’s a great place for kids and it’s something I would have done given the chance. I have told my DH that I want us to emigrate too and he’s said ‘no’ without any discussion. I have lived abroad before so the thought of moving to another country does not faze me. My DH has always lived in this house. He’s a bit selfish to be honest. We had discussed him retiring as I would like to move to our other house which will be much easier to maintain. I’m starting to worry a bit that something may happen to him and I’ll be left with this farm to sort out and live in this big house till I can move. He doesn’t seem to be bothered. He decided not to retire without discussion as he likes farming. I want to go to Australia to spend what time we’ve got left with my DDs. I couldn’t bare the thought of the youngest going. AIBU to want us both to emigrate?

OP posts:
Quitedark · 13/08/2026 14:14

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Swiftie1878 · 13/08/2026 14:13

OneFedUpFarmersWife · 13/08/2026 14:12

I’m going to try to persuade him As I was told by my mother often, if at first you do t succeed, try try try again !

Just be careful you don’t cross the line into bullying him.

Quitedark · 13/08/2026 14:13

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

OneFedUpFarmersWife · 13/08/2026 14:12

SusanJJ · 13/08/2026 08:56

The first clash, but a huge one, and you're putting it that he's obstinate and selfish has 'decided he doesn't like flying', rather than that you are very different people with different needs and wants. How are the two of you going to resolve this? The practical issues are the least of it, and you seem well able to deal with those.

I’m going to try to persuade him As I was told by my mother often, if at first you do t succeed, try try try again !

OP posts:
Swiftie1878 · 13/08/2026 14:12

OneFedUpFarmersWife · 13/08/2026 14:09

Never, but there again I had a place in Dubai for 20 years and he never went there either

You sound chronically mismatched!

Quitedark · 13/08/2026 14:11

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

OneFedUpFarmersWife · 13/08/2026 14:09

Quitedark · 13/08/2026 09:33

Out of interest, how many times has DH accompanied you to Australia on one of your visits?

Never, but there again I had a place in Dubai for 20 years and he never went there either

OP posts:
OneFedUpFarmersWife · 13/08/2026 14:07

Quitedark · 13/08/2026 09:32

But you describe him as selfish, not bothered and makes decisions without consulting you?

Well no one’s perfect are they? I know I have faults too! Did I say he wasn’t bothered? Maybe I did!

OP posts:
Strokethefurrywall · 13/08/2026 13:28

I would absolutely go OP, you like Australia and your family is there.
You’re not unreasonable in the slightest, if you can make it work you should. You’ve got means to live on and your daughters are on board so why not? Life is too short!

tiredbutkeen · 13/08/2026 13:25

OP, go for it! Life is too short. After your youngest DD emigrates, what’s here to keep you? You will miss them too much

talk to DH again, explain to him all the reasons / benefits of moving vs staying here. Sell your assets here, look for opportunities in Oz - maybe he could continue farming as his hobby over there. It’s our family / relationships that we need to be happy.

I think you need to be prepared to leave DH behind (which will be unpopular opinion here) but you need to put yourself first and you deserve to be happy.

good luck!!! Hope you will navigate all admin re. visas 🤞🤞🤞

Quitedark · 13/08/2026 13:08

OneMoreBanana · 13/08/2026 11:10

So just to be clear: You have one DD with your current husband, and two DD from a previous marriage. The one that has moved to Australia (you called DD1) is the one with your current husband, and then one that is intending to (you call DD3) is the younger one from your previous marriage?

No.

Dh’s step child emigrated to Australia 9 years ago
His child is only considering emigrating to Australia
middle child is in Moldova

Quitedark · 13/08/2026 13:05

StormGazing · 13/08/2026 10:35

My mum retired there, so I’ve been lots of times. My brother also did some of his training there so have stayed for extended periods on Perth, Cairns and Sydney. I’ve e peroencef both living and tourist … living side I didn’t like, tourist was good but I’d not go again now unless it was for a specific reason

Your mum loved it?

Crikeyalmighty · 13/08/2026 11:53

We are likely going to Germany or Sweden next year ( lived in Copenhagen for 2 years at Covid time) the biggie is the finances OP- and health - when you aren’t part of the system then lots of beauracracy kicks in that a citizen who lives there doesn’t notice and takes for granted - before it’s discussed in detail, you need the ins and outs of a ducks arse researched and listed and a total picture of the ‘how’ - including housing - Australia is expensive and you would need a ton of cash at hand .and we are early/mid 60s so different things matter at this stage compared to someone going mid 20s who is looking for an experience and will be able to work- we are taking our portable business with us and plan on at least 6 years more with it paying into their system, and even then thanks to Brexit we have to jump through multiple beauracratic hoops

CypressGrove · 13/08/2026 11:11

Nearly50omg · 13/08/2026 06:44

You have no idea just how expensive medical costs in Australia are do you??$86k will be gone through in MONTHS!!! Just blood tests alone are thousands of dollars let alone scans and hospital costs, just an appointment with a gp is around $140! You will have to pay all your own medical costs until you get the full visa wnd medication is full price there is no discount! A 5 day course of antibiotics is $200+!!! That is sll
i included in the medical costs!!!

youre living in cloud cuckoo land! You need on average $350,000 just for medical costs and cost of living for the 5 years!!! You have no clue just how expensive and hard it is living out there! Can you afford to spend around a million dollars on a little house??!! It’s one of the most expensive places in the world to live!

Luckily exclamation marks are free there though!!

OneMoreBanana · 13/08/2026 11:10

So just to be clear: You have one DD with your current husband, and two DD from a previous marriage. The one that has moved to Australia (you called DD1) is the one with your current husband, and then one that is intending to (you call DD3) is the younger one from your previous marriage?

bluetongue · 13/08/2026 11:07

It might sound blunt but Australia doesn’t want you (the Australian government that is). I’m sure you’re lovely but we have enough issues with our aging population without adding more older people who have never laid into the tax system.

See this article about how impossible the visa system is for older parents https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/aug/07/australia-parent-visa-processing-applicants-die-waiting

Ferralraccoon · 13/08/2026 10:58

This sounds really difficult. I think the first thing to do would be to really research fully into the cost of living, visas and your money situation. You need to find out if it’s truly possible before discussing this properly with your DH. I don’t think you’re unreasonable for wanting to go and be close to your children and grandchildren.

StormGazing · 13/08/2026 10:35

Quitedark · 13/08/2026 06:03

Out of interest… have you ever been? If so, how many times and for how long?

My mum retired there, so I’ve been lots of times. My brother also did some of his training there so have stayed for extended periods on Perth, Cairns and Sydney. I’ve e peroencef both living and tourist … living side I didn’t like, tourist was good but I’d not go again now unless it was for a specific reason

mulberrymilk · 13/08/2026 10:33

Nearly50omg · 13/08/2026 06:44

You have no idea just how expensive medical costs in Australia are do you??$86k will be gone through in MONTHS!!! Just blood tests alone are thousands of dollars let alone scans and hospital costs, just an appointment with a gp is around $140! You will have to pay all your own medical costs until you get the full visa wnd medication is full price there is no discount! A 5 day course of antibiotics is $200+!!! That is sll
i included in the medical costs!!!

youre living in cloud cuckoo land! You need on average $350,000 just for medical costs and cost of living for the 5 years!!! You have no clue just how expensive and hard it is living out there! Can you afford to spend around a million dollars on a little house??!! It’s one of the most expensive places in the world to live!

This is a strange collection of false "facts". Are you thinking of the USA?

TFImBackIn · 13/08/2026 09:36

What about your daughter in Moldova? When would you get to see her?

Quitedark · 13/08/2026 09:33

Out of interest, how many times has DH accompanied you to Australia on one of your visits?

Quitedark · 13/08/2026 09:32

OneFedUpFarmersWife · 13/08/2026 09:31

Yes, I’ve worked full time since our youngest was 1, I’m still working PT but about to retire. DH has been fully supportive to all of my children. He is a good person or I wouldn’t be with him. I had a bad first marriage, I gave it 20 years and realised I was flogging a dead horse.

But you describe him as selfish, not bothered and makes decisions without consulting you?

OneFedUpFarmersWife · 13/08/2026 09:31

Quitedark · 13/08/2026 09:06

Have you been working for the last 30 years whilst he’s been farming?

Has he been a loving and supportive step parent to your children?

Edited

Yes, I’ve worked full time since our youngest was 1, I’m still working PT but about to retire. DH has been fully supportive to all of my children. He is a good person or I wouldn’t be with him. I had a bad first marriage, I gave it 20 years and realised I was flogging a dead horse.

OP posts:
OneFedUpFarmersWife · 13/08/2026 09:29

Quitedark · 13/08/2026 08:48

The child has to have been resident for 2 years AND apply to be sponsor before the Op could even apply for this

Once again, in case you missed it, my DD and family have been in Australia for 9 years!

OP posts:
mulberrymilk · 13/08/2026 09:09

Yes, processing time 33 years!

Parent visas queue release dates
Subclass 804 Aged Parent visa

Swipe left for the next trending thread