Disillusioned with life in the UK...where shall I go?

[Pinkarsedfly]

Having somewhat of an existential crisis, and spending a lot of time dreaming about pastures new.

Anyone live anywhere they think is getting it right? Good standard of living, decent values, nice scenery, a government being run by human beings?

Indulge me, please - help me plan my escape, or at least help me construct a pleasant fantasy; before I lose faith in humanity altogether.

Sarahlou63 Portugal has the smallest class sizes in Europe I think!

I mean, I was incredibly happy on a beach in Mexico. My inside was in clover there.

But you can’t live on a beach in Mexico forever.

You could look at teaching in Asia- better work- life balance. Not a huge amount of democracy though 😆

Wherever you go, you take yourself with you. Reminds me of the quote: "Wherever you go, there you are"

Someone I know lives on Alderney in the Channel Islands and says it's fantastic.

I have friends who live in Orkney and they love it. It looks beautiful but they both say it's gets very cold and blowy

Get thee to TES International, OP!

(I buggered off to the ME 4 years ago & haven't looked back...fantastic salary, great work/life balance, weekends on the beach/by the pool...)

I am a teacher and live 2 km from a beach in Thailand.
Life is very good.

www.tes.com/jobs/search?locations=International&contractTerms=Fixed%20Term

Send a postcard!

Channel Islands are my dream but I don’t think we could afford it - and they are very picky about who is allowed to live there anyway.
We tried NZ but actually it didn’t suit us and we came back to UK.

Life is too short to feel the way you do. Even if it's just in your attitude and head, it won't go away until you move, I reckon.

If you don't have children who would be upset by a big move then go! Save for a while and then rent out your house so you can always come back.

Australia did the trick for me. I tried Ireland first, it was pretty good apart from the weather, but Oz is way better. It’s a huge move though, but for us it was worth it, we live in paradise..

I don’t know anything about it, but my biological father bought a finca on the beach retired to Panama years and years ago. He loves it there. We sent DS to visit him for a week when DS was 13 and he loved it there too.

missB I didn’t know they were fussier than any other place. In what way? Do you speak French?

My children are grown, but I still have elderly parents who need a lot of help, so I’m stuck for the time being.

It’s nice to dream though.

OP I have an elderly mum, so stuck in London for now

but tbh I haven't thought at all beyond living in a more quiet and isolated place. I don't think other countries are going to be that helpful to me on the sexism/racism issues.

A lot of this is about money though. I have one friend who moved to the countryside but she has a huge area of land, which makes a big difference. I can't go for a short walk without encountering drunks and problems, but she can. But yes, that's a lot of money needed for that.

Orkneys should go on my list too I guess, but not sure how the woman living alone thing will go, alongside racism.

Pinkarsedfly Then here is your plan.

Move to a boarding school within the U.K. that has international students. Live on site. Rent out your house to get some savings (you’ll have to pay tax on this as it’s considered income but you’ll have very few living expenses at school). Learn a language or two if you don’t have already.

In a few years when your parents are looked after in a lovely carehome, look to move overseas and use house rental £ to visit them in your breaks.

Work out the mileage. DH lived in Germany and it was quicker to get to London than it was for his sister to get here from the north!

I teach in the ME. I live in a villa on the beach - drive along it every day on my 10 min drive to work.
I'm basically a lizard so ridiculous temperatures suit me too.
And I like diving. And the wild camping. And the lack of Ofsted....

@Pinkarsedfly I, too, fantasise about leaving the UK behind!

I actually came here from an EU country as a young adult, and it was fine for a while, but the Brexit referendum made everything turn to shit (or rather it revealed truths that I couldn't see before).

DH is British born but just as fed up as I am, and we are planning our escape.

Unfortunately it looks like it might take a few years for a realistic escape plan to be possible, and for us to be in a position to secure a similar lifestyle elsewhere.

We have been thinking of Canada, or France maybe

Even if it takes a few years, have a plan. Start language lesson, loads free online, home your skills to those that look attractive to other countries (such as international student experience) and find out which British qualities are liked, a thorough knowledge of U.K. universities and their entrance requirements for instance. Read the ads for ideas for preparation. Play the long game!

Musetti nice plan, but I have a DP to throw into the mix.

Money isn’t a big problem. I have some investments and own my house outright. I’m incredibly lucky in that regard.

But I do have family ties and responsibilities that limit my movement.

I found a gorgeous one-bedroomed flint cottage in North Norfolk on rightmove that I would dearly love to pack everything up
and move to...but parents.

They refuse point blank to go into a care home. Despite the fact that mum’s more or less immobile and dad’s more or less blind

Hone not home

Oh, and the other thing is that I’m no spring chicken (nearly 45) and DP is 60.

So time is not our friend.

Pinkarsedfly Unfortunately the choice of a carehome may be taken away from them eventually. Something will happen and the services will get involved. Hospitalisation sometimes ends in the carers saying the person is not fit to go back to their home. Unless you or someone can move in to be the carer, the choice maybe taken away from all of you.

Bakewellpath I hate to say it, but that would be the best thing that could happen.