If you've emigrated, have you considered that it's not always easy to return?

[Wiresring]

Either permanently or for a visit?

Money, of course will protect you in many circumstances and mean that funds are available if you needed to return because of e.g. divorce or family illness, but we've seen circumstances in recent years which mean it's not necessarily as easy as it seems.

A friend emigrated to Australia and is genuinely living the dream, but I don't think she'll ever fully recover from not being able to return when her Dad was dying or from missing her funeral during Covid.

Another friend, a single man, took a temporary job in Amsterham just before Covid hit and was stuck for months, working from home, in his room in a City that was basically closed, but unable to return because of travel restrictions.

And an extreme, a friend living in the ME with her H, finally got everything in place to leave, but now doesn't know when she might be able to get a flight.

I'm not a risk taker, so probably not in the market to emigrate anyway, but especially the Holland "it's only an hour away" one makes me shudder.

I agree- so many places are not as stable and safe as the UK. No money in the world could tempt me to move to the ME, Hong Kong or wherever else. The UK is one of the safest countries in the world with a temperate climate and I’m near family too…I can’t imagine choosing to give that up. If the shit hits the fan, I’d rather be here. It’s quite shocking that people are stuck in Oz now.

I emigrated 8 years ago and now married to a local it means that I likely won’t be a me to move back ever because of immigration rules. It also means that if I die first he’ll own a house he can never live in. This does make me sad honestly and I do get homesick every few months but it passes and honestly life is better here.

I don't understand why the OP's friend was stuck in Amsterdam. There were flights on and off throughout that period. I know because I live in Portugal and my son made several visits to me during Covid from the UK.

This. I’m from NZ and live in the UK. I think every young person in NZ should be given a one way ticket out to travel and then work their way back.
I too, feel I don’t belong in either place, even after nearly 40 years, although having DC here makes me feel more like it’s home.

Nicely put.

Your parents are an inspiration! I moved country at 35 and I’m loving it so far. I would love to live in a few other places, perhaps after DP and I get married and I can get citizenship (so that I have the same citizenship of any future children). Ideally somewhere in Asia, somewhere in Latin America and somewhere in mainland Europe (currently in N. America). That would be such a great achievement. ☺️

I love my family in the UK. My mother is currently very unwell and my father has a depression. However my children have had a wonderful outdoorsy independent childhood where we are. They are now dual nationals. They have had experiences - school, leisure and outlook on the world - that they could never have in the Uk. They have a second language and can work anywhere in Europe.
We live somewhere with a functioning health system, clean punctual safe public transport that all sections of society use, easy access to green spaces.
I have no regrets.
Yes it’s tiring going back to care for my parents but that’s short term compared to the 10 plus years we have lived here.

I left Uk 18 years ago - husband and I might return when it comes time to retire, or if our kids decide to settle there eventually.
I was in UK for 2 months last year and although I love coming back to visit, don’t have any particular desire to be there permanently.
That being said, despite the distance, I am very close to my family so tend to try and squeeze in a short visit as often as possible.