Originally Posted by xizzles

Thank you all for your views. They ARE valued - and THANK YOU Dorothy: it's good to have someone slap me in the face (figuratively, thank you) and say "money isn't everything" - that's what I've been trying to convince myself, but honestly, without much success... Heck, at least I'm honest about it.

Sally, sorry about the confusion, but yeah, essentially, a rough estimation is that I'll suffer/experience/accept (choose your favourite euphemism there) a nearly 90% reduction in income - it's quite mind boggling, and I'm certainly not yanking your chain.

Not2old: The visa isn't much of an issue, as I happen to be lucky enough to tick the right boxes - and as long as I'm willing to tough it out in the sticks for a couple of years, my skill-set qualifies as one belonging to an acute shortage thus in critical demand.

At the end of the day, I feel as much as I stand to gain from what can be a possible life changing experience and earth shaking move Down Under, I have to be honest and admit that I fear I have just as much to lose from the life I've made for myself at the moment.... I'll just whine like a little spoilt brat and ask why can't I have my cake and eat it too!?

Originally Posted by brissybee

You should move to Australia. It's always sunny and the beaches are beautiful. It's sunny and warm and the sea is great. Even if you live in Alice Springs or Canberra, the beaches are beautiful. And the sun, oh, the sun. It's warm and you don't need a jumper and you can wear sandals except of course when you go to the beach, then you just wear flip flops. Oh, it's beautiful. Always warm, never cold and big blue oceans of sea. Golden sandy beaches, warm breezes and waves and sea and ocean and beaches and sun and sunshine and warm weather and warm winters and a much, much better quality of life because of all the beaches and the sunshine. Ask anyone. The beaches are beautiful and it's always sunny. Oranges and sunshine anyone?

Originally Posted by chris955

Did you tell them about the beaches? Oh and the sunshine, Australia is so awesome it actually has its own sun specially made for Australian conditions.

Originally Posted by Bermudashorts

And dolphins. Don't forget the dolphins.

Originally Posted by brissybee

And koalas. They're little and fluffy and cute.

Originally Posted by chris955

But taste horrible.

Originally Posted by xizzles

Thank you all for your views. They ARE valued - and THANK YOU Dorothy: it's good to have someone slap me in the face (figuratively, thank you) and say "money isn't everything" - that's what I've been trying to convince myself, but honestly, without much success... Heck, at least I'm honest about it.

At the end of the day, I feel as much as I stand to gain from what can be a possible life changing experience and earth shaking move Down Under, I have to be honest and admit I fear I have just as much to lose from the lifeI've made for myself at the moment.... I'll just whine like a little spoilt brat and ask why can't I have my cake and eat it too!?