Feeling I missed the chance to live abroad after marriage

[Whatsnextt]

Prior to meeting my wife I’d always wanted to live and work abroad and it was always the plan. Just before we met an opportunity presented itself that I was thinking about then we met and I put it on hold but mentioned it to my now wife and she said maybe in the future, she’s well travelled and for me even if I didn’t end up moving abroad I’d at least be going on holidays and seeing the world. Once settled my wife has said she’s got no intention of moving abroad and actually hates going on holidays and would much rather stay at home.
I don’t regret anything as we wouldn’t of had our children etc but I do feel like I’ve missed out and was a little bit misguided by wife.
With my wife not wanting to go on holidays abroad I’ve said that’s fine and offered to take the kids myself so they don’t miss out and they want to go abroad but not without my wife which is fair enough.

Not Sure what age your kids are but my wife and I often go on holidays abroad without each other. We of course do our family holidays but we both value time away with friends etc.

The key is to make sure you have it all planned out with the kids. Maybe suggest this as a shame to miss out.

My husband likes some travel depending on where. But there have been times he hasn't been able, nor cared to join me at certain times. So I've gone with a girl friend or my grown daughter.

When your wife and kids don't want to join you, take a friend or go solo. If you don't have anyone to join but prefer a group, you can join up with tours either as a whole package, or find various tours upon arrival. I have a relative who, a year ago, went to Japan and hiked to various monasteries with a special package deal.

Some places also have local people-to-people experiences where you go to a person's home and they fix their local fare for you. My aunt and uncle enjoyed doing that, but I don't recall which country.

You can't go back to a time where you had total freedom to make big lifetime decisions like living abroad when you're now accountable to a family's different wishes. But you briefly traveling on your own is not a major decision that will negatively affect them, so go for it.

You’re a grown up who made your own decisions not a lap dog who follows her like a puppy. Tell her you made it clear travel was one of your goals so you’ll go without her if she won’t come. When your kids are older they’ll likely come with you alone if you’re footing the bill.