Page 5 | Would you move abroad?

stella139 · 2021-01-31T17:54:23+00:00

If you had the chance, would you move away from the UK? Where to and for what reasons? Just curious :) YABU - yes I would move YANBU - no I like living here

thegcatsmother · 01/02/2021 00:35

Moved back from Brussels about 15 months ago. Very happy to be home.

ResIpsaLoquiturInterAlia · 01/02/2021 00:42

Yes, have been and possibly will be again in the future. For professional, career development and business reasons as well as cultural, family and quality life and work balance reasons. The globe is indeed pre and post pandemic one global joined up village. Australia and New Zealand is looking ever more attractive and that is not simply on pandemic health and safety reasons but based on overall quality of life balance.

theyosherman · 01/02/2021 01:25

@SchrodingersImmigrant

I don't know. Feel like I need a change so absolutely would move. Maybe Canada. I like the idea of Canada. Or Thailand for something totally different. Again. No idea why. Just like the idea😂

We did, back in 2006, packed and moved to Canada. We also liked the idea of it, and had some other reasons to chose this destination, but the reality was different, and Canada was not for us. We are back in the UK now.

OP, it's not really an 'AIBU' or not question. It depends on circumstances and wether you CAN move if you wanted to, to your desired destination. It's such a personal thing.

As someone who moved country twice, it's bloody hard work, but an amazing adventure that grows you as a person. Getting out of your comfort zone in a true sense.

As for the future, I would like to move again, somewhere hot and more relaxed, but we can't for a few good years due to kids and jobs. If this was not an issue, I would be out of here in a jiffy,

So many amazing places on the planet with good lifestyle, weather, food and low costs. But I do still love some aspects of living here too!

Possibly will move to somewhere in the pacific or Caribbean's or some amazing island somewhere. If Hawaii wasn't part of the USA...

Japan sounds good too, also Costa Rica, Greece, parts of Italy,

theyosherman · 01/02/2021 01:30

@Avaganda

I would move in a heartbeat. I'd love to move to Canada but sadly we'd never be accepted.

Promise you, Canada is boring, and expensive to live in a city, while rural Canada is not for the fainted heart..

coulditbeanymorerubbish · 01/02/2021 01:35

I intend to move to Australia in the future and it's why I'm studying. Another 8 years here tops.

The second it comes true and I am at the airport I'll be like 'byeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee'

LizFlowers · 01/02/2021 01:37

No, I like it here.

tulipsaremyfave · 01/02/2021 01:40

I did, I moved from the UK to Canada 14 years ago!

ElCaMum · 01/02/2021 01:48

Done it! Moved to Canada and loving it. Canada gets a mixed rep but it really depends on where you move, why you move and how comfortable you are with being away from family. Covid hasn't made that bit easy as my parents haven't seen my kids in over a year and that was never the plan!
We have nothing particularly against the UK but we're happy we made the move for all sorts of reasons.

480Widdio · 01/02/2021 02:07

We lived in Italy for many years.

Came back to the U.K. and have no wish to live anywhere else now.

Onesailwait · 01/02/2021 02:17

I moved to Canada 10 years ago. I would say if you ever get the opportunity go for it, you may not end up staying but you'll never regret the experience. If you can do it with your company covering expenses even better. I love my life here .....but I'd move home in a heartbeat. I will never regret taking the chance to come here.

eaglejulesk · 01/02/2021 03:17

I never understand why people move abroad permanently, if they have their loved ones, relatives, friends etc here in the UK

I live in one of those far-flung countries that people emigrate to. They come here for all sorts of reasons. Some people want better weather, different opportunities, maybe a better standard of living, an adventure - whatever the reasons thousands have done it, and they just keep coming! "You can love people from afar" one woman - an intrepid traveller - told me.

MaverickDanger · 01/02/2021 03:27

I’ve lived in three other countries outside of the UK.

DH works in a VERY niche industry & we literally need to go to wherever the work is. We’re in the UK fairly long-term (next 8 years) with the option to move within the UK for another 10 years after that.

DH isn’t from the UK so it also doesn’t seem fair for him to live most of his adult life away from home, if we had the option to go back.

MountainPeakGeek · 01/02/2021 03:43

We moved to Canada 15 years ago with our young children and we don't regret it for a second. It's definitely harder now than it was when we were able to go back and visit our UK families and friends on a regular (annual) basis, but moving here has been a great experience. We enjoy our trips back to the UK, but it very much feels like we're "visiting" and that this is our home now.

citychick · 01/02/2021 03:46

We moved to Hong Kong quite a few years ago.
It cost a fortune to emigrate. Financially and emotionally.
Personally I wouldn't do it again although I do love HK.
You need huge financial backing. Often private schooling is the only available option. It's expensive. And they're much more likely to push you out if your DC can't keep up.
It can be very cliquey. It's not always easy to make friends. You need to have an agenda quite honestly. It's competitive in sports and friendships are often made in the sports clubs that expats join. So if you don't have a club to go to, or a pool by your apartment or somewhere to meet like minded people life here can be pretty isolated.

If I had to do it again I'd make sure if researched the entire lifestyle that I wanted and if I couldn't get it, I wouldn't bother.

DramaAlpaca · 01/02/2021 03:58

I would, and did. Still here over 20 years later. No regrets whatsoever.

BritWifeinUSA · 01/02/2021 04:10

I did. I fell in love with a man who happens to be from another country (the US) so one of us had to move if we were to stay together. Do I moved here 5 years ago and now have US citizenship. Of course I get homesick and miss my mum but this is home now. I can’t see me ever leaving the US.

Cordial11 · 01/02/2021 04:27

We moved to Aus.

As a young couple we have had great opportunities. Just purchased land to build . We earn well and even renting have lots to spare and save. Our weekends are really fun filled and I now can't imagine raising kids anywhere else.

It is difficult without family , that is the only downside for me personally . But I'd be miserable back home and think I look back with rose tinted glasses when I'm home sick imagining scenarios that are unrealistic.

We are happy

SarahBellam · 01/02/2021 04:28

I’d love to, but my kids are well settled in good schools and compete at a high level in a team sport so I’d be reluctant to move them and have to start again. I’d love to take early retirement to the Galway coast in Ireland and live a simpler life.

Mummyoflittledragon · 01/02/2021 04:36

@MaverickDanger

I’ve lived in three other countries outside of the UK.

DH works in a VERY niche industry & we literally need to go to wherever the work is. We’re in the UK fairly long-term (next 8 years) with the option to move within the UK for another 10 years after that.

DH isn’t from the UK so it also doesn’t seem fair for him to live most of his adult life away from home, if we had the option to go back.

Same here with the dh being foreign and having lived in 3 other (European) countries. I’d definitely move again. But with my ailing health and a tweet child, who refuses to speak French, it’s too difficult. I wouldn’t be well enough to help. We could go to somewhere with international schools perhaps and put dd in one there. We are all dual citizens now so not marred by Brexit. But with the pandemic, the risks are higher as there are more senior managers scrabbling for work.

DamnUserName21 · 01/02/2021 04:52

I have done and would again. 10 years in the US pre-kids before returning to the UK due to DH work (military).

For those folks who have many options to move abroad due to your jobs, I'd love to know what you do. @lioncitygirl

AnitaHotdog · 01/02/2021 05:10

Moved for job prospects during the credit crunch in 2008 and have stayed (ME). Wouldn't rule out moving back to the UK or elsewhere, but happy to stay put for a while longer. Financially it's set us up for life.

Kobanidaughters · 01/02/2021 05:32

We did in 2012, I was brought up living abroad (2 different countries before we came back to the U.K. when I was 8, but moved around within the U.K. until we settled in London when I was 13) so when DH had the opportunity to go to the US I really pushed for it - I wanted my DC to experience living abroad.

Our thoughts were 3-4yrs, I’d initially hoped we’d be going somewhere more exotic. We’ve been here 10years now and I’ve been desperate to return to the U.K. for the last 2-3. If we don’t go soon I think it will be too late to be fair on DC1 who is about to turn 12 and then I guess that would be us stuck here forever.

Covid and brexit have made me feel like the U.K. is going everything possible to keep us away and DH isn’t keen to move back but I really want to be closer to my family and DC to have some of an upbringing in the country where they’re from.

Having said this I reckon DH and I would be off like a shot somewhere else on an adventure as soon as the nest is empty - but I would never categorically say I’m moving anywhere (home or abroad) forever

everybodysang · 01/02/2021 05:43

Yes, if it was possible financially we would leave in a heartbeat.

SexyGiraffe · 01/02/2021 05:51

Yes, moved to Spain five years ago with DH and DD. It's been wonderful but may have to come back soon for family reasons. Not thrilled about what has happened to the UK in the meantime but we'll make it work.

Thehop · 01/02/2021 06:09

We’re trying to! We want a better lifestyle. Outdoors more, healthier life and less crime for our children.