If you could, would you

[ilkleymoorbartat]

Move abroad and have a total lifestyle change?

If your work was flexible, so practically too could. Small kids in primary school (years 3 and 2). But all friends and family were close by, would you still do it?

I dunno prob not if kids so young. Maybe if they had finished school. But that's because out family are all vet close by. We see them all the time they're fab for childcare and anything we'd need at the drop of a hat. Our kids are so close to my parents, inlaws and everyone

Would depend entirely on where.

I grew up in the ME and would love to take my kids but there are few places left I'd be comfortable with.

Nz/Oz, too far.

If I hadn't had adult dc(just the small ones!) when I met dh we would be living in rural Scotland for sure.... That's more attractive to us than abroad!!

Somewhere in europe. I'm so desperate for a change of scene and a bit of an adventure. We're in such fortunate positions that we could theoretically do it, seems like such a wasted opportunity not to. Obviously that's massively taking for granted what having a close network of family and friends around you provides.

Yes, 100%. I’d move heaven and earth to do so and the benefits would outweigh any family support here.

Where would you go? Europe is your oyster. But Spain probably most obvious given one of us speaks Spanish. Portugal an option too? Would potentially want somewhere with easy access to a more happening vibe. Not completely remote.

Yes. My dad lives in the Dordogne in France, my uncle also has a place there with a house that needs renovating, I'd go in a heartbeat if we could afford it!

It's such a hard one when you've got children. My ds is 33 now and I wanted to desperately when he was younger. My dh was against it as he'd lived abroad growing up ( America, Jamaica) and travelled in his 20s with the army. So he'd been all over. We settled here and brought up our ds with a brilliant support network/ lovely family relationships etc that my ds wouldn't have had if we'd moved abroad. My parents are long gone but the relationship my ds had with them was priceless. It made him who he is today in lots of ways.
I don't regret it as you have to compromise. Anyway, I'm free to travel now ( mid 50s), and as soon as the world let's me, I will have my very own adventure!
Good luck in your decision. It's a tough one.

No. I struggle with learning languages and I wouldn't move abroad if I couldn't speak the local language.

10000%

I could if I wanted to. My family owns a house in rural Spain. But my Spanish is minimal and I have no friends there. I'm sure I'd get visitors, but I'd rather be able to meet someone for lunch or dinner, not have them 24/7.
I also don't like the heat!

I live in the Cayman Islands and have done for nearly 15 years.
I came here when I was a single 28 year old and now have a husband and two kids.
I think so highly of those who move once their children are born as it’s obviously that much harder to up roots and go when you have a family.

This is my home now and my kids know no different. I come from an incredibly close family (both immediate and extended) so we make the best of it with FaceTime etc.

That being said, I’d hazard that our support network here is far more extensive than it would have been in the UK. When I arrived I met a large group of other unmarried couples/singles and we formed our own family. We were there for each of our weddings that happened like dominoes (one after the other) and then the babies followed each of us having our first 3 months after the other which meant we could support each other significantly in the absence of immediate family. We all got to know each other’s families when they’d visit as well. These friends were with me during the best and worst times of my life and now so many have left to go home (Australia, USA etc) but we keep in touch as best we can.

Support networks are the key to moving to a new country - id say Cayman has an amazing capacity for support, even for newcomers with family. Everyone just takes newbies under their wings and because it’s such a small island it’s easy to see people generally.

If you’re in a highly skilled profession in finance or law, I’d recommend cayman if only for a couple years. Mind it’s eye wateringly expensive here and cost of living is often out of range for most but if you can work remotely, you can apply as a global citizen and live here whilst still working your UK role.

Nope. I like it here (rain and all).

I'm not sure I'd even recognise easy access to "a more happening vibe"