Originally Posted by robin1234

Makes me want to come and live on the west coast! It is true, English weather is often bleak, but (it seems to me) easier to overcome the cold/damp with warm clothes than trying to do stuff outdoors when it is 90 degrees and humid, or -30F and near-zero humidity -- the types of wether conditions commonly met with by folks away from the west coast and the desert SW.

Originally Posted by robin1234

Makes me want to come and live on the west coast! It is true, English weather is often bleak, but (it seems to me) easier to overcome the cold/damp with warm clothes than trying to do stuff outdoors when it is 90 degrees and humid, or -30F and near-zero humidity -- the types of wether conditions commonly met with by folks away from the west coast and the desert SW.

Originally Posted by Triumphrob

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Yup. That may be a part of why I am tired of the States, the redneck factor, the hypocrisy of the religious zealots, combined with the lack of health care if and when I retire and the heat and humidity is enough to make me wanna leave. Oh not forgoing the fact that I also hate the attitude of most Virginians, (can't speak for the rest of the US) that America is THE ONLY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD and the rest of the world either doesn't exist, or is only there because of America. The narrow mindedness never ceases to amaze me. They think they're the best at everything, their technology is better, their tv is better, their food is better, their cars are better, everything is better...and yet most of them have never ever left Virgniia.
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Originally Posted by Steerpike

I went through a period of frequent returns back to Europe, getting $600 round-trip tix in March/October, and got quite used to the jet-lag (but I quickly switched from London to Rome/Madrid for better weather/food!). it satisfied my yearnings for the old country, and reminded me of why I liked it here so much. I now bring my family over here to visit, quite often. This year, my mum has been out for 5 weeks, my nieces are coming out with their boyfriends, and my bro is probably going to visit too; I pitch in with airfare etc. I consider the missed family gatherings to be a blessing - I have the perfect excuse ... and I've only been home once at Christmas (1989) and it will be my last - I could not believe how cold and damp it was!

I'm no longer that impressed by endless sunshine, but - I do still get a buzz when I wake up and see a blue sky, and can pretty much walk out 300 days of the year without a jacket or fear of rain. The endless gray skies, the constant threat of rain ... the cold winds ... day after day ... that always shocks me when I go back. I just got done talking with two good friends back home; they both tell me how utterly miserable this 'summer' has been in England ...

The future here, taking healthcare into account, is the one big concern for me. I have enough money now to retire at ~50, but if I retire then I have to get private insurance to cover me till 65, and that could be a challenge if there were pre-existing conditions involved (which there aren't for me, but are for my pertner). However, the biggest reason for my happiness here is the general level of optimism and I am optimistic enough myself to believe that something will work out on the healthcare side. I suspect I'll stay sufficiently employed to keep group coverage, or some other solution. (please let's not turn this into a healthcare debate ... tracy ... )

LL - is your partner from the UK? Would she be willing to move back to UK? My partner is Asian and has no desire to leave this area whatsoever so even if I wanted to return, it would be near impossible.

Originally Posted by Lord Lionheart

Everyone is different, sounds like you have a pretty good deal worked out for yourself. My parents have been here twice in 21 years, that probably will not happen any time soon due to health issues. I have 3 sisters, no-one has visited in about 7 years. I used to visit regularly. I had a job where I used to visit the UK once or twice a year.
My wife is Finnish, she has no family here either, they visited once 20 years ago and have not been back although her younger brother visited about 4 years ago. At least I don't have to put up with the MIL as I never see her
I agree about the optimism, sometimes that can be refreshing however if you scratch the surface I have found all the positive attitude to be quite fake and phoney, usually with an ulterior motive attached and a great deal of competitiveness, a 'what's in it for me' approach in general. I find it refreshing to have some piss-taking, self-deprecating conversations when visiting the UK rather than the 'Have a nice day' 'Did you find everything you need' robotic homogony. Again I am generalizing, there is good and bad to most places in the world

Originally Posted by essexnick

I had a job interview last month. They offered me a job paying $19 bucks per hour which is not that great when you have a mortgage. Also, they guy offered me 10 days vacation a year after the first 6 months of probabtion period.

Originally Posted by Kali-forniarrr

I agree, the self-deprecation and banter is a bit more genuine and fun back home. We should have it as an Olympic event in 2012 instead of bloody beach volley ball...or of course, whippets.

A lot of the have-a-nice dayism, sadly results from a desperate fishing for tips. The tip culture here is knobby, its not even merit related - just a decency tax: If some capitalistic scrouge paid their staff decently, there would be less need to feel obliged to subsidize some hapless sod's healthcare.

Originally Posted by Steerpike

This is a tough one ... it's easy to take a cheap shot at 'have a nice day'. Sometimes there is just too much forced friendliness - not just 'tip fishing' but also, corporate pressure on sales associates to present a uniform greeting style.

Some companies put me off with overly lengthy intro's on the phone, such as "It's a beautiful day at the Hampton Inn, where guests are always number one. How may I direct your call? " Now that's total bullshit. Crappy chain dining spots such as "Applebees" and "Olive Garden" also have a 'greeting' formula, and I hate hearing "Hi I'm Cindy and I'm going to be your server tonight".

But overall, I feel that people here are genuine in their friendliness, and are genuinely more upbeat about life, which shows in their basic interaction with others.

More generally, I guess I prefer to be surrounded, on the whole, by cheerful smiling people rather than cynical, negative people, in the same way I prefer to see the sun shining rather than rain, even if I'm inside. It's fun sometimes to hear the cynical banter of the Brits, just like it's fun sometimes to see a big thunderstorm ... but what do you want to hear on a Monday morning, when you are tired and have a hangover ...

Originally Posted by tonrob

Mrs tonrob once worked for a hotel chain - different to the one that you quoted but same bollox telephone-answering mandate. Needless to say, she refused to use it. Ended up getting fired - just not specifically for that. She's the kind who will speak her mind on most subjects and try to do what she sees as right despite what the official rule says - and I don't think employers always appreciate those kinds of qualities in an employee...

Originally Posted by Steerpike

More generally, I guess I prefer to be surrounded, on the whole, by cheerful smiling people rather than cynical, negative people, in the same way I prefer to see the sun shining rather than rain, even if I'm inside. It's fun sometimes to hear the cynical banter of the Brits, just like it's fun sometimes to see a big thunderstorm ... but what do you want to hear on a Monday morning, when you are tired and have a hangover ...

Originally Posted by robin1234

Talking on the relatively superficial level, interacting with folks at the checkout, on the phone, in the street, I find the British generally more helpful and genuinely friendly than Americans. I just don't see this cynicism and negativity that you mention. I think part of it is, they are not forced into the robotic greeting formula, because employees in the UK are maybe a bit more autonomous and less afraid for their jobs than Americans.

An example - you're checking out your groceries in Tesco's or Waitrose. You can have a brief conversation about the weather or whatever, but it is a genuine interaction. Here, I sometimes sense a surliness & resentment under the robotic greetings -- certainly no invitation to exchange a few friendly words.