Are you afraid? Brexit.

[Puddelchen]

I feel very uneasy about what the future holds for us after Brexit but am I just overreacting? Can it really be so terrible? Why is no one around me talking about this in real life, you would think it would be a hot topic.

I'm afraid of no deal. No deal is concentrated, distilled, purest shit.

Yes Im dreading the immediate chaos and for the long term I'm not looking forward to living in a poorer country with my choices (where to go, what to eat etc) restricted, my savings devalued, mine and my children's employment prospects diminished etc

Yes it is funny indeed the way no one IRL is talking about it (as in neighbours, friends, colleagues). I have noticed this too- it doesn’t come up unless I bring it up.

it will be catastrophic. not forever, but certainly long enough to cause real suffering to some. to some, this is a fair enough trade off; I wish I could be so laissez faire.

I know what you mean, the implications of leaving are unprecedented. I've been saying off the cuff comments for a while now to family and friends, like I'm going to start buying seeds and not wanting new baby to have formula if possible in case it's hard to get after brexit. They tend to laugh then look at me like I'm a raving looney.

I am quite scared, yes

Yes, when I mention the potential problems I feel I am not being taken seriously.

My colleagues do talk about it because we’re having to do contingency planning. But we never talk about personal impact because is too intangible and simultaneously horrific to contemplate.
Friends don’t talk about it because - same reason I think. I suspect my friends are either freaking out or prepping or hiding their heads in the sand depending on personality type and I think there’s almost a point now where there’s nothing more - other than hand-wringing- to say

I rate it as crappy not terrifying. I guess it depends how vulnerable you are.

I brought it up in conversation last week and stated how no one knows what will happen when we face brexit at the end of March. Friend then started talking about all the GDPR stuff that came out last year and how that was annoying/ inconvenient, like it was actually comparable.

Yes. Involved in contingency planning for work and a no deal brexit has scary consequences.

I'm personally not too vulnerable I think, mortgage paid off and got a pension and some savings, but I know others who are vulnerable already.

Guess I feel there’s no point talking or agonising about something i effectively have no control over . Will do my best to weather the shitstorm that comes whatever that might be .

Bengalcat, I think that is the scary part, being out of our control .

How do you all plan to weather the storm?

Really scared if it’s no deal. Burying head in the sand.

I've mentioned some concerns to others, only to be met with yeah but Y2K and the millennium bug, blah blah. Then I go from worried to wanting to bash my head against a brick wall.

I'm a Remainer. Not particularly scared from a personal standpoint. I have friends who are immensely worried for various reasons, however (for example, one's an importer, one's married to an EU national who must apply to stay despite having been here fo ages). I think it was the wrong decision but I can only hope that the UK weathers the storm.

‘ how do I plan to weather the storm ‘ - NFI cross that bridge when I come to it

I was listening to a logistic bloke on the radio earlier and he was pretty clear that if there's no deal we won't see the worst case scenario that we're being presented with. It'll be worse. A lot worse.

Thankfully I'm already out. But I worry about those left behind.

Nope. No point worrying about things you cannot change.

I'm worried. I'm a carer for a disabled child living solely on benefits. I don't have any savings. A reduction in benefits/massive increase in prices is going to have a big impact. I'm also possibly going to be moved into UC this year. If that coincides with brexit then it could be a perfect storm.

I think I'm a bit in denial and that might be the same for a lot of people. I follow the news and am not ignoring it but I think there's a part of me that doesn't believe it will happen. Also it's hard to read the predictions and translate that into.real life and not something that you'll watch on the tv happening to someone else.

I don't think it helps that I live in Cornwall and we are rarely affected by heavy snow and things so I have a feeling of it won't happen here which is not true because the experts predict we will be worst and first hit by food shortages.

I think I'll start to worry more if we get to mid Feb without the withdrawal agreement being agreed or movement in parliament to extend A50 and hold a PV.

Yes I'm worried. Because I left the UK 10 years ago and now, whether I like it or not, it's having a huge impact on my immediate future in the country I live in.

I have a DP from another European country and we live in a country with Schengen agreements.

This means our decisions on a future together are completely in the air. Unlikely he can come and live with me, if I have to return to the UK, will his country allow me, upon becoming a non EU citizen to live there, and will this country on Schengen agreements change the rules for me and my DS who only knows this country to live here???

Nobody can tell us anything at present.

If I buy a UK property - he can't retire there with me I imagine and vice versa. So that's another life plan out of the window for now.

I am seriously planning this year to increase my language lessons to try and become native fluent, and be able due to this to change my Nationality if needed. Totally against my wishes but in my situation it might be the best way.

But if I do, I do that knowing that my life in the UK is probably done.

Decisions that I never thought I'd have to make.

Our Diplomatic service has made roadshows but really they are as in the dark as we are at present.

I am anxious. When I talk to remainders there is nothing that can be discussed rationally
When I talk to leave friends they won’t entertain the idea that it is going to be a mess for at least a few years

I’m worried. I’ve just been made redundant so need to find a new job.

But at least the four of us are mostly healthy (except Dh’s asthma). We generally have quite well stocked cupboards anyway. But I’m upping my stores, all stuff we will use anyway.

IamFrauBlucher
I would love to say 'don't panic, I am in a similar boat to you and certainly very concerned.
The UK gov website has 'technical notes' about what to do in respect to staying in other countries of the EU. They are a bit light on detail but they give contact details.
Get yourself onto the EU website, or the immigration section on whichever country's website where you are and most have at least provisional information although the forms that might be necessary may not have been produced yet. Unless you are a criminal there is no suggestion that UK citizens will have to leave the EU but you will need to sort paperwork out, for which I think, will be possible for around a year even if there is 'no deal' and IIRC 2021 or beyond it the WA is passed and the UK enters a transition period. Transferring between countries will be possible, but more paperwork and hassle rather than a 'right' that we enjoy at the moment. I see you have been out of the UK for 10 years, in which case you need to get the paperwork for permanent residence which at this stage should be 'automatic'.