people that talk about about moving to a country they've never been to before

[ladygingina]

My sister is now going on about moving to oz since Scotland didn't vote yes.

I understand it is good for her work, but seriously she's never even been there. Not even for a holiday!

I've lived in quite a few countries, all that's taught me is the grass is often greener and things are pretty good in the UK.

Should I tell her this?

Also, to return to the OP, does your sister really plan on moving or is it just a reaction to the "no" vote? Over the years I have had people mailing me about moving to Scandinavia when the Tories are elected, reelected, tax is increased, etc. Scotland voting no has brought on a whole new set of emails. None of these people has ever actually moved here.

I've moved blind four times, and once having been for a very brief visit and once having visited lots of times. All were/are for shortish term contracts (4 years, 3 years, 5 years, 3 years, 1 year and 5+ years). The only one which was problem (1 year) was the one where i had been on the brief visit.
In between times I moved back to the UK for 2 years, that was the hardest move. I had no one to help me find a flat, childminder, doctor etc.

I've done some long trips in Australia including a lot of time camping, which is fun for meeting the locals.

I wouldn't live there though. Why not?

• climate: didn't find anywhere benign. Big water shortages, unsustainable lifestyles. Plenty of water in the tropics of course but wouldn't want to live there.
• lots of lovely beaches, yes - but I think the people of Sydney and Melbourne seem to spend so much time commuting that they never get there. Traffic was just as bad as at home. Could possibly do it in Adelaide though, and I liked Perth.
• bloody long way from anywhere else.
• don't get me started on the TV, although the radio is good.
• short history. Except for the indigenous population where there are many things that are not right.

Plenty of good things - but problems tend to get on the plane with you.

I moved blind from London to the Caribbean nearly 7 years ago now. I came by myself and knew no one!

I could say that it's easier to do when you're young and single, but the idea of now moving anywhere now with DH, two young kids and two dogs strikes fear into my heart.

I would move to Australia in a heart beat, I have been there before but would have moved blind as well, but far too much like hard work from the Caribbean!

If she's only moving purely because Scotland didn't vote yes, then she'll be in for a challenge. If she's moving so she can experience a slightly different lifestyle, with more opportunities to make use of the "great outdoors" then she might be happy.

All depends on what reasons she's moving and if she truly thinks the grass is greener. Moving blind anywhere is an adventure, but you have to be open to it.

So she loves Scotland so much she's leaving the place!

She will find Australia more market-oriented than the UK in many respects, health for instance, if she's seeking somewhere more 'Scandi-socialist'.

I've done it twice, never regretted it and now live permanently in one of those countries. The grass is often a lot greener than in England.

We forget that, until very recently, most people emigrated blind because travel was far more expensive.

I had taken a brief day trip to Malaysia four years before I decided to move to Kuala Lumpur. It worked fine and I only left because I'd met DH and he was tied to the UK.

Naive and fanciful

Is that polite way of saying it.

Talking bollocks is the other way of saying it

There are a whole bunch of 'whinging Poms' slumming it by renting in Balmain (otherwise affluent Sydney suburb) who have done the same and complain property prices are much more unaffordable than they anticipated. That said, there are a lot who make it work and usually they have done lots of research before coming, even if they haven't visited first. Generally, the northerners seem to do quite well, the southerners who come expecting that everything will be much cheaper/easier in the Antipodes don't.

You can tell her but I dont think she'll listen. Perhaps pointing out the the Australians voted to keep the queen as head of state a few years ago might be more effective. Was it 1999?

Assuming she's a competent adult, I think you should offer your opinion only if you're asked for it.