Did you/would you move abroad despite good reasons to stay?

[PinkBubblesGoApe]

DH may possibly be offered relocation to his company's US office. We currently live in Brazil (Dh and I are English but were both brought up here).

Main reasons for considering a few years abroad include breaking out of the very cosy but blinkered life we have here and offering DCs (6 and 4) broader horizons, plus a desire to try something new while we can (DCs still young and our parents not getting any younger - in a few years it might get difficult).

Here, DCs have both sets of grandparents living 5 mins away, lots of cousins and a really nice, sheltered lifestyle. The benefits of moving would all be in our eyes and not theirs.

Would like to hear from those who did this (i.e. break out of their 'comfort zone') or are contemplating this, as at this point we are simply 'gathering data' for future decisions.

In your situation I think it would depend on what improvements I expected from life in the US. Do you feel attracted to the place his head office is located?

I think if it is just for a few years with the option of returning to a place you know you like, there is more to be gained than lost from trying the experience.

ZZZen, I think we would most likely return home at some point. Move would be from largest city in South America to largest city in North America so no illusions about big city life, but def lots to offer us as a family, I think.

I see well if your dh would be earning a lot enabling you to save, that would be a consideration. Otherwise the US is of course a huge place with many different landscapes and might be quite interesting to be based there and travel about for a couple of years. AFAIK though Americans only get 2 weeks a year paid leave which would limit the travel side of things considerably.

Difficult but nice to have the option