How did you figure out where to go back to?

[DolomitesDonkey]

I've not lived in the UK for 20 years (aside uni - and even then I worked abroad in summer hols). However, we're now planning to go back - for all the usual reasons I suppose - searching familiarity and easier access to things we like (sports/clubs-related).

How do you figure out where you want to go?

I moved around a lot when I was a child and so there's nowhere which feels like "home". My husband is from a city renowned for its "difficulties" and he doesn't want to raise the children there.

We have no interest in the South-East and are not tied down for work.

Our options and preferences are right now as follows:-

1. Wales - mid- or Cardiff-ish? Pros: Welsh Assembly, outdoors stuff, my family Cons: When my mum dies, I think my dad will go to scotland and we have no other ties in Wales
   
2. Loch Lomond/Western Highlands - Free uni tuition, great outdoors Cons: A total pita to get to London for work-related stuff
   
3. Aberdeen: Wild & wonderful - bit too far from anything else?
   
4. Northumberland: Neither of us have lived there but we visit now and then and love the wilderness and the friendliness of Newcastle and have some friends there. However, no family there.
   
   We're not planning to move back until early 2015 but we said by the end of this year we'd like to have figured out where we're going.
   
   How did you make this decisions? Did you regret it? Did you end up moving back and then moving on again? I'd love to hear your stories.

[DolomitesDonkey]

scottswede This weekend I've been treated to an old schoolfriend posting pics of her new house - built to order, on the waterfront with views to die for. And yesterday, another posted pics of an orca pod... it's all so very tempting! Although my husband has just announced he hates the sea. Wtf?

[C4ro]

Oooh, is that an old face (not meant in the rude way!) from NL?...
How the hell are you doing?: been AGES since I've stumbled over you on here. (PM me if I'm right at least).
Austria is awright, nearly 2 years here now but still having days where it's utterly alien and freaks me right out.

[DolomitesDonkey]

Yes it is. :) I ditched my job before they changed the labour laws... How long are you planning on staying?

[meerkate]

DD we moved back to the UK from Oz/NZ a few years ago and settled (for now...we have permanently itchy feet ) in the Marches, the Anglo-Welsh border region not far from Presteigne - it's lovely! Beautiful, green and rolling, near the Brecon Beacons. Come live near me I too am Scottish originally but Inverness, Aberdeen etc WAY too cold for me (bad enough down here), I do see the attraction though. Good luck! Exciting times

[DolomitesDonkey]

meerkate I don't know what to think of the cold, right now where we live has more "definite" seasons - e.g., late-30s in the summer but mid-teens below in the winter. I prefer the cold to the wet and Aberdeenshire does seem to be cold, but dry! e.g., 12 degrees and they're all in t-shirts.

Do you know Pilleth? That's probably my favourite place around your way.

I am umming and aahing about having a house on the beach and my children being taken by orcas. Nobody ever worries about that do they? AIBU to worry about orcas taking my children?

[meerkate]

at your orca fears...not many of them around here so can't really reassure you sorry

Pilleth is just outside Knighton, isn't it - gorgeous part of the world. But no sea - I miss the sea, badly!

My best uni pals live in Pitmedden outside Aberdeen, and Inverness respectively. Both love where they live, get up to all sorts of outdoorsy japes, and wouldn't move anywhere else.

Ooh it's difficult, isn't it...but lucky to have the choice

[DolomitesDonkey]

Yes, quite a treck over to Aber for some coast for you! Although I saw a couple of weeks ago that the mountain road from Rhayader to Aber is in the Michelen "top 20 drives of the world" or something. I always love going wild pony spotting up there - Keep your eyes on the road, keep your hands on the wheel...

Well we're off to Newcastle at the end of the month for a quick look-see, then off to mid-Wales end of the year.

Too much bloody choice and too much time to make it. If only it were a choice between Fort William and Easterhouse!

[scottswede]

I know a lot of people think it's fantastic that I have my choice of anywhere in the UK to live but it's not so fab. We actually have the choice of some European countries too but have decided on the Uk now. Narrowing it down to north of the border. I totally agree with DolomitesDonkey; too much choice and too much time........