Do you ever about emigrating?

[Tenmus]

I always notice how much better I feel in the hot weather and with longer days and it gets me thinking. I think about it more and more.

Probably just a castle in the sky, but I bet I wouldn't regret it if I did it...

No. I had family who emigrated to Aus, only to return 20 years later.

It's something I've considered with DH as we have the legal right to live in the US. But we get a fair bit of funding for disabilities in the family, and I'm happy with our education situation, so decided against it in the end. I feel as if the UK has gone downhill since then, and part of me regrets not taking the leap, but at the same time we're settled in our home and schools and life is working out pretty well for us.

I don't feel our lives are particularly affected by the weather so that wouldn't be a big factor in the decision. The rain is annoying but then we just opt for indoor activities, and wrap up well when we have to travel in the rain.

I lived in the Middle East for a short time and then HK for 14 years - not a citizen as no Chinese ancestry but have permanent right to remain. We moved back to uk a few years ago. I hope my kids live abroad for at least some of their adult lives as I think it does give you a different perspective e and make you realise that most places have their pluses and minuses. We all miss Asia but I prefer the English education system and we wanted to spend more time with our parents while they’re still around.

Yes, I am leaving when my family responsibilities end here.

Do you mind if I ask, do you mean elderly parents or dependent kids? If kids, do you worry they’ll stay at home much longer and you won’t ever get to leave?

I want to spend Jan - March overseas once we no longer need to work

I'm thinking about it more and more now I have young kids - really hate the way this country (UK) is going.

My partner has a New Zealand passport, kids can get one too.

I'd be off but wouldn't move so far away from my mum, she's 78. We don't live near each other, or see each-other often but still, I'd feel awful and know she'd hate it.

Yes, we thought about it a lot. We had a plan to move as volunteers to a less developed country and work in our respective fields (education/medicine) with a charity. We even got so far as visiting 2 different projects in Latin America but ....

I got sick. I have for the last 12 years had a neurological condition that caused me to lose my ability to walk properly, have any sensation in my lower legs and arms, and numb face and tongue. I have no sense of balance and can't do anything in the dark or with my eyes closed. I suffer extreme fatigue and a lot of pain especially in my feet and legs.

The only treatment costs £8000 every 4 weeks in the uk. No insurance company will ever pay that out. So we're stuck here, where we don't really want to be!

So instead we found an anti poverty project running out of a church in one of our cities most deprived areas where I can at least do admin and dh's job allows us to sponsor project workers. And we moved to that area! It's not Guatemala, but it is where we can be right now.

We go here often, this is just not true. It can get hot, very hot and humid and some days yes it's bad but I have no clue who these people are who spend 23 hours a day inside in air con for most of the year 🤣

No. My oldest brother emigrated to Australia in the 80s. I have to watch him break my DM's heart every time he visits and leaves again.

Yes. If I was offered a VISA to Oz I would take it without a second thought.

Also, to answer the original question, I emigrated to Australia a good few years ago, my sister is in the process of trying to get over here to us with her family as she has loved it when she visited, it's a beautiful country and I am so glad we moved and have no regrets. I've been back to the UK 3 times since I've been here, I miss various things and people but I would never move back x

Yes. We thought semi-seriously about moving to the Netherlands but the increasingly powerful far-right put me off.

What?

@LaPalmaLlama Elderly parent with a life limiting illness. It does give me mixed feelings though as I know my parent has to die to enable me to go. I try to be pragmatic about it.

If I had adult children though, once they were educated and in work, then I would be off. They need to be independent and if you've done your job as a parent, then you staying just so they can live in your house, does them no favours.

Yes we found it frustrating you couldn't cool off in the sea for fear of beimg eaten alive!

Yes!!! I'm currently planning to move and work in the UAE for a few years as soon as my daughter finishes her GCSEs (planning for her to do A-levels at an international school over there) and then moving to Germany (where my parents live). We both have German citizenship though and I speak German (my daughter needs to learn it).

I can see how the last months in the UK must have really got under the skin of so many - even my most stoic of brothers felt it - but climate all over has become so unreliable so moving elsewhere might not work. Wild horses couldn't drag me to Queensland, for instance.

We didn't move to Melbourne for the weather and always thought it a daft reason but having said that, once you're here, you get used to it. BUT, we've had three rather poor summers in a row. so it just goes to show. But the current autumn is amazing!!!

It's the clear skies that lift the spirits, just like the crispy autumn and winter days that livened up a London winter.

I'd go like a shot if I had the financial means. I don't think DP would though, we both have elderly parents who need help. I'm not close to my mum, but would probably feel guilty if I left.

I lived in Australia for a year and it bored the pants off me weatherwise and feels like you're so far away from the rest of the world. New Zealand was even worse although extremely beautiful. Australia is not going to fare well with the climate crisis I suspect as it's showing already with terrible floods and fires. UK can be gloomy but it's home and where all the best people are (your family and friends). I've travelled a lot but always want to come home.

No, I made it clear when I married DH that is didn't want to live abroad. I love travelling though.

Other countries are available, you know. Though Brits find the concept of functioning in other languages so alien that I guess it’s pretty restrictive.

We made the move to Australia last year after mulling it over for quite a few years. Brexit, the general decline of the UK including the state of the nhs and education (were considering private for both) just made us think it was time to go. We love it here and the DC are thriving.

Personally, I think a move to the other side of the world is selfish, especially if elderly parents are involved..and knowing people that have moved there agrees with that theory. Not popular opinion, but imo nothing is more important in life than family. Taking grandkids away from grandparents, separating cousins who see each other twice in a childhood....all for some sun and sea?!

I moved to Western Australia in 2013, my only regret is that I didn't do it sooner. The climate here is Mediterranean and pretty much perfect, I also wouldn't move to Queensland! Call me selfish if you like, my family are happy for me and visit as often as they can. My mum thinks we have made a lucky escape and has told me we would be mad to come back, not that we ever will.