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Living overseas

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Original poster

Living in a warm climate - how important is the weather to your quality of life?

64 replies

realhousewife23 · 22/06/2017 23:48

We're living abroad at the moment in a place with warm summers and mild winters. In the next few months we have to make the decision whether we want to stay longer term or return to the UK. One of the things we keep coming back to is the weather, specifically how the nicer climate really does enhance our quality of life, it's just so nice being able to enjoy outdoor living and it definitely makes me feel better. It's hard to imagine going back to UK weather where 20 degrees is considered a heatwave!! On the other hand however, it's just weather and one aspect of life and we'd probably get used to the UK again. I guess my question is, how much importance do you (or would you) place on a nice climate in determining whether to stay or return to the UK, given the impact it has on your overall quality of life?

OP posts:
LadyCassandra · 26/06/2017 06:50

We're the same as others here. Moved to Australia and totally denied it was for the weather, but now we've been here 7 years it's hard to imagine how we could love the life we do with 2 boys without the sunshine. We don't have huge amounts of money but don't need it because you can do so much outdoor things that cost nothing.
My friends always tell me never to take the kids home for Christmas because they are "outdoor reared" and everyone at home will think they are badly behaved when they are stuck indoors!

MardAsSnails · 26/06/2017 06:51

For me, it's the predictability I love. I get laughed at when I visit the UK because I dress for the weather at the point of getting dressed with no recollection that it will go downhill suddenly or will turn glorious within a matter of hours.

I love being able to plan something and not have to think of contingency plans in case of bad weather

I love not having to walk the dog in the rain (bar a few days a year)

It's made me forget the perils of wearing a white top on the rare day it rains though. And I never have a brolly in the car.

GoneDownhill · 26/06/2017 07:03

It's personal preference isn't it?

Ive lived in various countries including ones cited as having fantastic weather but I had no problems returning to the U.K. Ok I missed playing tennis outdoors year round but there are other lovely things about the U.K.

I love being outside and as long as you dress appropriately then you can still get out and about on most days in the U.K. - cycling, gardening and walking or whatever.

I think that of all the places I've lived overseas the 'weather' ive missed the most is from when we lived in a country where it was snowy over the winter.i lived skiing and outdoor skating especially on sunny winter days.

The only places I have got 'cabin fever'are super hot countries where you can't get out if there is a heat wave

Cantseethewoods · 26/06/2017 10:31

Living in HK. Summers are hot but humid and it's totally unpredictable. We just had 2 weeks of the most goddamn relentless rain - I actually thought I was going to get trenchfoot. One of the few things I liked about Dubai was being able to plan a bbq with close to 100% certainty that it wouldnt rain.

For me, not bothered about heat (20 degrees and dry is pretty perfect for me) and I'm actually fine with cold, but I'd love to go somewhere where the rain is predictable.

spinningirl10 · 26/06/2017 11:36

We have recently moved back to the UK from the Canary Islands. I also spent a couple of years in mainland Spain. We moved back because of my sons schooling, he was struggling and I couldn't get him moved to a better school. He loves being back and loves his new school.
I don't like being back in the UK, I miss the weather, the outdoor lifestyle, the people and my job, even though I was working a 6 day week for not much money I miss it!
My son is just 11 so one day when he has finished his education and is settled in his career we will move abroad again.

coconutwater1 · 27/06/2017 06:43

Why does everyone think the UK is always grey, bleak and drizzly rain?? Certainly not where Im from/live in the UK, when I go back I enjoy whatever the weather is and still sit out even with hat scarfs and heavy coats. It really does get my goat in the UK when people moan and gripe about the weather, to hot/cold/windy/rain/not enough rain/snow/lack of snow........

I love the fact that the UK has seasons and the time difference though the year of light nights and mornings and I really dont mind the dark winter months, or the cold, frost, snow (when we get it). I just get on with it and be thankful for each day.

As Im sitting here in high humidity at around 35dgs cloudy and its monsoon season, but also enjoying this as well. Again just accept it for what it is and get on with it. Will be off for some R&R soon and the weather will be different again , I love it.

But it has been very hot, 45dgs and was stuck indoors as it was just too hot to go out, but found plenty to do with the A/C on.

I just adapt and thankfully not had any major problems with weather and how its affected me or my mood no matter where I have lived. But can understand how it does affect others.

RodeoDriveBaby · 27/06/2017 06:48

It's hard to imagine going back to UK weather where 20 degrees is considered a heatwave!

It's not. Hmm

It was 34c here (London) the other week. That was a heatwave. 20c no - it's 22c at the moment.

RodeoDriveBaby · 27/06/2017 06:49

And like coconut I don't understand why people whinge about UK weather so much. The last few years we've had some really long stretches of warm sunny weather.

And you can still go outside when it's cold!! Nothing like a lovely walk on a British beach in winter.

coconutwater1 · 27/06/2017 06:52

Rodeo your making me jealous!

Pickerel · 27/06/2017 06:54

I love the UK weather as I like variety and I don't mind unpredictability! My best friend has emigrated to Australia and admits that the weather was a big factor. I just don't understand why you'd move thousands of miles away from friends and family just for the weather, but it's her choice obviously!

Loopytiles · 27/06/2017 07:03

I really like UK seasons. When I lived abroad I really missed the green colours here!

We do outdoors stuff and swim all year round.

A key issue IMO is housing costs: nice to be indoors if you have a nice, large place to be, not so much if it's cramped.

Glastokitty · 27/06/2017 08:10

Well for those curious about why people emigrate, I dont think many of us do it just for the weather, although it certainly massively improved the quality of our lives. We emigrate for numerous reasons, usually to do with better opportunities and better quality of life. Some people prefer cold weather some don't, horses for courses. And as for not being entirled to whinge about the Uk weather, I lived in the Uk and Ireland for most of my life,and bar a.few nice summers, the weather was pretty rubbish. The summer before we left there was no.summer at all,I had the fire on in July! I used to get SAD every year, I don't any more,thats good enough for me.😊

RodeoDriveBaby · 27/06/2017 08:17

I'm just baffled by people assuming you can't do anything outdoors in England. We hike, ghyll scramble and surf. All outdoors Confused

beachdream · 27/06/2017 08:21

I lived in Asia for 2 years and now I'm back I really miss decent heat and outdoor weather. Where we were was a bit too hot and unchanging but it beats U.K. Weather. I think you'll miss it xx

BigYellowJumper · 27/06/2017 10:18

rodeo I guess for many it's the unpredictability of it. We are quite outdoorsy and here in Korea, we can plan pretty easily to go hiking or cycling and know that we won't get rained on. In the UK, it can change quickly. I know for some people getting wet isn't a big deal but I hate being outside when it's chucking it down. Not my thing.

echt · 27/06/2017 11:30

Living in Australia, I can see why the outdoors is so get-atable, but am as mystified as Rodeo as to why the default setting for the UK, is that the outdoors and its activities don't really exist. Bizarre.

BigYellowJumper makes a good point about predictability, though. While Melbourne can have four seasons in one day, they are pretty accurately forecast.

Glastokitty · 27/06/2017 13:37

Is anyone saying outdoors activities don't exist in the UK? I still swam, walked, picnicked and the rest in the UK, but it was despite the weather most of the time.Yes you can walk in the rain with your trusty goretex etc, but most people most prefer to go outside when there are blue skies and sunshine.

farfarawayfromhome · 27/06/2017 13:42

i live in a hot sunny country and it has improved my life beyond all belief. i used to live in manchester - the year i emigrated ten years ago it rained for 28 days in a row in january. utterly miserable.

Loopytiles · 27/06/2017 13:47

Lower risk of skin cancer in UK Grin

Takk · 28/06/2017 11:33

I live in the subarctic where 15° is considered something of a heat wave, so when we visit the UK now it usually seems very warm! I can't really handle temperatures much over 20° anymore, although I never was one for heat. It just makes me sweaty and unhappy. Fine for a week's holiday where you don't have to do much but I don't think I could live like that.

There are upsides and downsides. I think the weather and geography here is simultaneously one of the biggest positives (cool summers with endless daylight, northern lights in the autumn/winter, proper snow) and one of the biggest downsides (winter lasts literally about 6 months, you barely see the sun at all for about 3 months, storms storms storms).

I like to visit the UK in the winter to get a bit of daylight (though I find a grey Christmas at 10° with no snow a bit depressing) but I do much prefer our Icelandic summers. Sure it rains quite often but a cool, clear night under the midnight sun in Iceland is really unbeatable in my opinion. The sense of freedom from everlasting daylight is amazing and I feel able to be more active (hiking, cycling) in lower temperatures.

On the whole, though, the weather's not really up there on the list of reasons for why we live here and it's also not something that would inspire me to move away.

Almondmilk · 28/06/2017 17:30

I think too much snow kills the snow. Living up North and finding it ridiculous to have to wear a beanie from October to May!

imip · 28/06/2017 17:40

I'm Australian, from Melbourne, and have lived in London for the past 15 years. Dh (also from oz) and I are probably here for the rest of our lives, we have 4 dd in primary school and they all seem pretty settled.

I have to admit the weather here does get me down, dh too, and some winters we don't know whether we could handle it as we get older (I'm now 46). Coming from Melbourne, we are used to variability in weather (somewhat of an understatement Grin) and I supposed that's helped us somewhat. Snow is great compensation though - unfortunately we live in London!

Someone wanted to know why people emigrate? To have a different life experience. I find Australians inward-looking at times and it's great to have a broader view of the world. In either country we have a relatively good quality of life, but the weather is an ever-present reminder of what we are missing st home.

RodeoDriveBaby · 28/06/2017 18:41

some winters we don't know whether we could handle it as we get older

It barely dropped below 10c all winter last year in London Confused

I know this because I loathe mild winters. I love it when it's 5c or less.

imip · 28/06/2017 18:56

Winters in Melbourne last 3 months. Winters in the UK feel like they last for 8!

RodeoDriveBaby · 28/06/2017 19:00

Really? I feel like we only get cold spells January and February. Sept-Dec are so mild. Christmas Day was 14c last year!!