To go or not to go?
Oct 20th 2004 | 10:58 am
#1
Thread Starter
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 360
From: Berkshire
To go or not to go?
Well, it's crunch time for me. I need to decide whether to move to Adelaide and I need to decide in the next few days.
My family and I already have citizenship after migrating for 4 years to Sydney in the early 90s, so no legal hurdles and have a very good idea of the pluses and minuses.
No house to sell either - sold up 18 months back cos we thought the property bubble was going to go POP. Well, we mis-timed that, but I'm still convinced property is fundamentally overpriced and a correction will occur, both here and in Oz.
My mother and stepfather have bee in Adelaide since the late 80s and will be supportive, I am sure.
As with anyone who has lived in Oz but then returned (or vice versa I suspect), the grass is always greener. I've always been tempted to go back and having young children has made me keener. Went to Adelaide on holiday last Christmas and my wife decided, for the first time really, that she could see herself living there.
I work in IT and was made redundant last year, so I was out of work last Christmas when we went on holiday. This made the decision to go a no brainer. Previously, my big objection to Adelaide has been the lack of any IT jobs, but 10 months ago the IT market here was pants too, so as I say, a no brainer for me.
My wife teaches in an FE College. She could earn similar here or there.
A couple of months after returning from holiday I was offered a temporary job here which will last till Jan. Perfect timing for the start of the Oz academic year. We began to plan for the move.
Then, last month, a permanent job offer came up. It was a good 'un - I couldn't reasonably expect to earn more than is being offered, it's a reasonable commute, seems like a nice bunch of people and its future looks healthy.
I prevaricated for days but eventually decided to turn it down. Here's how my reasoning went.
A. Stay
1. I have a decent job.
2. My wife can work part-time (not full time for quite a few years yet because of lack of family support).
BUT
3. To buy a house now would result in nearly half of my net pay going on the mortgage for the next 25 years (sadly I'm probably at about the peak of my earnings potential, so the mortgage would be a strain for many years). Alternatively, we continue to rent until the property crash occurs, with the probability this will take several years to pan out and, unlikely though I think it is, may not happen.
4. We're in Grammar school catchment which is fine if our kids end up in the upper half of the class and pass the 11+ but who's to say that will occur? Houses near an excellent Comprehensive school 10 miles away are hideously expensive.
B. Go
1. We'd get the all-important family support (this alone would improve our quality of life markedly).
2. My wife would be able to work full time.
3. We could either buy an OK house outright or wait for their bubble to burst and buy a better house.
4. On balance, probably a healthier lifestyle.
5. We've found what look like really good schools for the kids and have places for them. Also, at ages 8 and 5 now is the time for them to settle in with the minimum of fuss.
BUT
6. No chance of me earning anything like I can here by working for someone else; I'd have to start my own business. I quite fancy that, always have. I've also run a small business in my spare time for several years, so am not without experience and who knows, it could be successful. However, the uncertainty of my prospects frightens me to bits and I've no clearly defined business plan, just a bunch of vague possibilities.
7. Arguably fewer employment prospects for my kids.
8. If both my wife and I work full time but I work for considerably less money than here, will our quality of life really be that much better, even with family support?
9. I know this is a cliche but we went to the Natural History museum last weekend. We can drive there in under an hour on a Sunday. The Science Museum is next door, as is the V&A. There really isn't anything to compare with these sorts of places in Adelaide (nor anywhere else in the UK).
10. We can hop on a plane from the UK and get to a whole host of diverse and culturally rich European capital cities within a few hours. I'd miss that but I'm even more aware that I'd be taking away that opportunity from my kids. Yes, I know we could go to S. E. Asia but no disrespect intended, I'd visit Paris over Kuala Lumpur every time.
11. My kids are at a good primary school here where standards are high and the eldest is doing well (unsure about the youngest; she's only 5 after all). If all goes badly and we return from Adelaide after a few years, will they have fallen too far behind?
12. My youngest is very fair. She also hates spiders. Is it right to expose her to Australia's fierce sun, stinging insects and deadly spiders?
If you're still reading this, thanks for your patience!
Anyhow, as I say, I turned down the job and booked the plane tickets.
Now, however, as the time comes to tell the school we're going, etc, my feet are getting cold again. The job I turned down may still be available it turns out and the housing market is showing definite signs of slowing down. I'm having nightmares about scratching a living in the parochial rust belt. I'm also wondering how come I turned down a good job when my plan had been to go to Adelaide only if no decent job turned up here. What, I wonder, made the last resort the first resort?
My family and I already have citizenship after migrating for 4 years to Sydney in the early 90s, so no legal hurdles and have a very good idea of the pluses and minuses.
No house to sell either - sold up 18 months back cos we thought the property bubble was going to go POP. Well, we mis-timed that, but I'm still convinced property is fundamentally overpriced and a correction will occur, both here and in Oz.
My mother and stepfather have bee in Adelaide since the late 80s and will be supportive, I am sure.
As with anyone who has lived in Oz but then returned (or vice versa I suspect), the grass is always greener. I've always been tempted to go back and having young children has made me keener. Went to Adelaide on holiday last Christmas and my wife decided, for the first time really, that she could see herself living there.
I work in IT and was made redundant last year, so I was out of work last Christmas when we went on holiday. This made the decision to go a no brainer. Previously, my big objection to Adelaide has been the lack of any IT jobs, but 10 months ago the IT market here was pants too, so as I say, a no brainer for me.
My wife teaches in an FE College. She could earn similar here or there.
A couple of months after returning from holiday I was offered a temporary job here which will last till Jan. Perfect timing for the start of the Oz academic year. We began to plan for the move.
Then, last month, a permanent job offer came up. It was a good 'un - I couldn't reasonably expect to earn more than is being offered, it's a reasonable commute, seems like a nice bunch of people and its future looks healthy.
I prevaricated for days but eventually decided to turn it down. Here's how my reasoning went.
A. Stay
1. I have a decent job.
2. My wife can work part-time (not full time for quite a few years yet because of lack of family support).
BUT
3. To buy a house now would result in nearly half of my net pay going on the mortgage for the next 25 years (sadly I'm probably at about the peak of my earnings potential, so the mortgage would be a strain for many years). Alternatively, we continue to rent until the property crash occurs, with the probability this will take several years to pan out and, unlikely though I think it is, may not happen.
4. We're in Grammar school catchment which is fine if our kids end up in the upper half of the class and pass the 11+ but who's to say that will occur? Houses near an excellent Comprehensive school 10 miles away are hideously expensive.
B. Go
1. We'd get the all-important family support (this alone would improve our quality of life markedly).
2. My wife would be able to work full time.
3. We could either buy an OK house outright or wait for their bubble to burst and buy a better house.
4. On balance, probably a healthier lifestyle.
5. We've found what look like really good schools for the kids and have places for them. Also, at ages 8 and 5 now is the time for them to settle in with the minimum of fuss.
BUT
6. No chance of me earning anything like I can here by working for someone else; I'd have to start my own business. I quite fancy that, always have. I've also run a small business in my spare time for several years, so am not without experience and who knows, it could be successful. However, the uncertainty of my prospects frightens me to bits and I've no clearly defined business plan, just a bunch of vague possibilities.
7. Arguably fewer employment prospects for my kids.
8. If both my wife and I work full time but I work for considerably less money than here, will our quality of life really be that much better, even with family support?
9. I know this is a cliche but we went to the Natural History museum last weekend. We can drive there in under an hour on a Sunday. The Science Museum is next door, as is the V&A. There really isn't anything to compare with these sorts of places in Adelaide (nor anywhere else in the UK).
10. We can hop on a plane from the UK and get to a whole host of diverse and culturally rich European capital cities within a few hours. I'd miss that but I'm even more aware that I'd be taking away that opportunity from my kids. Yes, I know we could go to S. E. Asia but no disrespect intended, I'd visit Paris over Kuala Lumpur every time.
11. My kids are at a good primary school here where standards are high and the eldest is doing well (unsure about the youngest; she's only 5 after all). If all goes badly and we return from Adelaide after a few years, will they have fallen too far behind?
12. My youngest is very fair. She also hates spiders. Is it right to expose her to Australia's fierce sun, stinging insects and deadly spiders?
If you're still reading this, thanks for your patience!
Anyhow, as I say, I turned down the job and booked the plane tickets.
Now, however, as the time comes to tell the school we're going, etc, my feet are getting cold again. The job I turned down may still be available it turns out and the housing market is showing definite signs of slowing down. I'm having nightmares about scratching a living in the parochial rust belt. I'm also wondering how come I turned down a good job when my plan had been to go to Adelaide only if no decent job turned up here. What, I wonder, made the last resort the first resort?
Oct 20th 2004 | 11:03 am
#2
Gary / Terri
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 96
From: Castle Hill Sydney
Re: To go or not to go?
[QUOTE=sackofspuds]
welcome to Australia decision made!!!
welcome to Australia decision made!!!
Oct 20th 2004 | 11:11 am
#3
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 119
From: Visa Granted. Melbourne Jan 2005
Re: To go or not to go?
Originally Posted by sackofspuds
Well, it's crunch time for me. I need to decide whether to move to Adelaide and I need to decide in the next few days.
My family and I already have citizenship after migrating for 4 years to Sydney in the early 90s, so no legal hurdles and have a very good idea of the pluses and minuses.
No house to sell either - sold up 18 months back cos we thought the property bubble was going to go POP. Well, we mis-timed that, but I'm still convinced property is fundamentally overpriced and a correction will occur, both here and in Oz.
My mother and stepfather have bee in Adelaide since the late 80s and will be supportive, I am sure.
As with anyone who has lived in Oz but then returned (or vice versa I suspect), the grass is always greener. I've always been tempted to go back and having young children has made me keener. Went to Adelaide on holiday last Christmas and my wife decided, for the first time really, that she could see herself living there.
I work in IT and was made redundant last year, so I was out of work last Christmas when we went on holiday. This made the decision to go a no brainer. Previously, my big objection to Adelaide has been the lack of any IT jobs, but 10 months ago the IT market here was pants too, so as I say, a no brainer for me.
My wife teaches in an FE College. She could earn similar here or there.
A couple of months after returning from holiday I was offered a temporary job here which will last till Jan. Perfect timing for the start of the Oz academic year. We began to plan for the move.
Then, last month, a permanent job offer came up. It was a good 'un - I couldn't reasonably expect to earn more than is being offered, it's a reasonable commute, seems like a nice bunch of people and its future looks healthy.
I prevaricated for days but eventually decided to turn it down. Here's how my reasoning went.
A. Stay
1. I have a decent job.
2. My wife can work part-time (not full time for quite a few years yet because of lack of family support).
BUT
3. To buy a house now would result in nearly half of my net pay going on the mortgage for the next 25 years (sadly I'm probably at about the peak of my earnings potential, so the mortgage would be a strain for many years). Alternatively, we continue to rent until the property crash occurs, with the probability this will take several years to pan out and, unlikely though I think it is, may not happen.
4. We're in Grammar school catchment which is fine if our kids end up in the upper half of the class and pass the 11+ but who's to say that will occur? Houses near an excellent Comprehensive school 10 miles away are hideously expensive.
B. Go
1. We'd get the all-important family support (this alone would improve our quality of life markedly).
2. My wife would be able to work full time.
3. We could either buy an OK house outright or wait for their bubble to burst and buy a better house.
4. On balance, probably a healthier lifestyle.
5. We've found what look like really good schools for the kids and have places for them. Also, at ages 8 and 5 now is the time for them to settle in with the minimum of fuss.
BUT
6. No chance of me earning anything like I can here by working for someone else; I'd have to start my own business. I quite fancy that, always have. I've also run a small business in my spare time for several years, so am not without experience and who knows, it could be successful. However, the uncertainty of my prospects frightens me to bits and I've no clearly defined business plan, just a bunch of vague possibilities.
7. Arguably fewer employment prospects for my kids.
8. If both my wife and I work full time but I work for considerably less money than here, will our quality of life really be that much better, even with family support?
9. I know this is a cliche but we went to the Natural History museum last weekend. We can drive there in under an hour on a Sunday. The Science Museum is next door, as is the V&A. There really isn't anything to compare with these sorts of places in Adelaide (nor anywhere else in the UK).
10. We can hop on a plane from the UK and get to a whole host of diverse and culturally rich European capital cities within a few hours. I'd miss that but I'm even more aware that I'd be taking away that opportunity from my kids. Yes, I know we could go to S. E. Asia but no disrespect intended, I'd visit Paris over Kuala Lumpur every time.
11. My kids are at a good primary school here where standards are high and the eldest is doing well (unsure about the youngest; she's only 5 after all). If all goes badly and we return from Adelaide after a few years, will they have fallen too far behind?
12. My youngest is very fair. She also hates spiders. Is it right to expose her to Australia's fierce sun, stinging insects and deadly spiders?
If you're still reading this, thanks for your patience!
Anyhow, as I say, I turned down the job and booked the plane tickets.
Now, however, as the time comes to tell the school we're going, etc, my feet are getting cold again. The job I turned down may still be available it turns out and the housing market is showing definite signs of slowing down. I'm having nightmares about scratching a living in the parochial rust belt. I'm also wondering how come I turned down a good job when my plan had been to go to Adelaide only if no decent job turned up here. What, I wonder, made the last resort the first resort?
My family and I already have citizenship after migrating for 4 years to Sydney in the early 90s, so no legal hurdles and have a very good idea of the pluses and minuses.
No house to sell either - sold up 18 months back cos we thought the property bubble was going to go POP. Well, we mis-timed that, but I'm still convinced property is fundamentally overpriced and a correction will occur, both here and in Oz.
My mother and stepfather have bee in Adelaide since the late 80s and will be supportive, I am sure.
As with anyone who has lived in Oz but then returned (or vice versa I suspect), the grass is always greener. I've always been tempted to go back and having young children has made me keener. Went to Adelaide on holiday last Christmas and my wife decided, for the first time really, that she could see herself living there.
I work in IT and was made redundant last year, so I was out of work last Christmas when we went on holiday. This made the decision to go a no brainer. Previously, my big objection to Adelaide has been the lack of any IT jobs, but 10 months ago the IT market here was pants too, so as I say, a no brainer for me.
My wife teaches in an FE College. She could earn similar here or there.
A couple of months after returning from holiday I was offered a temporary job here which will last till Jan. Perfect timing for the start of the Oz academic year. We began to plan for the move.
Then, last month, a permanent job offer came up. It was a good 'un - I couldn't reasonably expect to earn more than is being offered, it's a reasonable commute, seems like a nice bunch of people and its future looks healthy.
I prevaricated for days but eventually decided to turn it down. Here's how my reasoning went.
A. Stay
1. I have a decent job.
2. My wife can work part-time (not full time for quite a few years yet because of lack of family support).
BUT
3. To buy a house now would result in nearly half of my net pay going on the mortgage for the next 25 years (sadly I'm probably at about the peak of my earnings potential, so the mortgage would be a strain for many years). Alternatively, we continue to rent until the property crash occurs, with the probability this will take several years to pan out and, unlikely though I think it is, may not happen.
4. We're in Grammar school catchment which is fine if our kids end up in the upper half of the class and pass the 11+ but who's to say that will occur? Houses near an excellent Comprehensive school 10 miles away are hideously expensive.
B. Go
1. We'd get the all-important family support (this alone would improve our quality of life markedly).
2. My wife would be able to work full time.
3. We could either buy an OK house outright or wait for their bubble to burst and buy a better house.
4. On balance, probably a healthier lifestyle.
5. We've found what look like really good schools for the kids and have places for them. Also, at ages 8 and 5 now is the time for them to settle in with the minimum of fuss.
BUT
6. No chance of me earning anything like I can here by working for someone else; I'd have to start my own business. I quite fancy that, always have. I've also run a small business in my spare time for several years, so am not without experience and who knows, it could be successful. However, the uncertainty of my prospects frightens me to bits and I've no clearly defined business plan, just a bunch of vague possibilities.
7. Arguably fewer employment prospects for my kids.
8. If both my wife and I work full time but I work for considerably less money than here, will our quality of life really be that much better, even with family support?
9. I know this is a cliche but we went to the Natural History museum last weekend. We can drive there in under an hour on a Sunday. The Science Museum is next door, as is the V&A. There really isn't anything to compare with these sorts of places in Adelaide (nor anywhere else in the UK).
10. We can hop on a plane from the UK and get to a whole host of diverse and culturally rich European capital cities within a few hours. I'd miss that but I'm even more aware that I'd be taking away that opportunity from my kids. Yes, I know we could go to S. E. Asia but no disrespect intended, I'd visit Paris over Kuala Lumpur every time.
11. My kids are at a good primary school here where standards are high and the eldest is doing well (unsure about the youngest; she's only 5 after all). If all goes badly and we return from Adelaide after a few years, will they have fallen too far behind?
12. My youngest is very fair. She also hates spiders. Is it right to expose her to Australia's fierce sun, stinging insects and deadly spiders?
If you're still reading this, thanks for your patience!
Anyhow, as I say, I turned down the job and booked the plane tickets.
Now, however, as the time comes to tell the school we're going, etc, my feet are getting cold again. The job I turned down may still be available it turns out and the housing market is showing definite signs of slowing down. I'm having nightmares about scratching a living in the parochial rust belt. I'm also wondering how come I turned down a good job when my plan had been to go to Adelaide only if no decent job turned up here. What, I wonder, made the last resort the first resort?
Go for it, you have nothing to lose and if you don't like it etc, you can come back and rent again etc
Oct 20th 2004 | 11:21 am
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: To go or not to go?
Originally Posted by sackofspuds
Well, it's crunch time for me. I need to decide whether to move to Adelaide and I need to decide in the next few days.
My family and I already have citizenship after migrating for 4 years to Sydney in the early 90s, so no legal hurdles and have a very good idea of the pluses and minuses.
No house to sell either - sold up 18 months back cos we thought the property bubble was going to go POP. Well, we mis-timed that, but I'm still convinced property is fundamentally overpriced and a correction will occur, both here and in Oz.
My mother and stepfather have bee in Adelaide since the late 80s and will be supportive, I am sure.
As with anyone who has lived in Oz but then returned (or vice versa I suspect), the grass is always greener. I've always been tempted to go back and having young children has made me keener. Went to Adelaide on holiday last Christmas and my wife decided, for the first time really, that she could see herself living there.
I work in IT and was made redundant last year, so I was out of work last Christmas when we went on holiday. This made the decision to go a no brainer. Previously, my big objection to Adelaide has been the lack of any IT jobs, but 10 months ago the IT market here was pants too, so as I say, a no brainer for me.
My wife teaches in an FE College. She could earn similar here or there.
A couple of months after returning from holiday I was offered a temporary job here which will last till Jan. Perfect timing for the start of the Oz academic year. We began to plan for the move.
Then, last month, a permanent job offer came up. It was a good 'un - I couldn't reasonably expect to earn more than is being offered, it's a reasonable commute, seems like a nice bunch of people and its future looks healthy.
I prevaricated for days but eventually decided to turn it down. Here's how my reasoning went.
A. Stay
1. I have a decent job.
2. My wife can work part-time (not full time for quite a few years yet because of lack of family support).
BUT
3. To buy a house now would result in nearly half of my net pay going on the mortgage for the next 25 years (sadly I'm probably at about the peak of my earnings potential, so the mortgage would be a strain for many years). Alternatively, we continue to rent until the property crash occurs, with the probability this will take several years to pan out and, unlikely though I think it is, may not happen.
4. We're in Grammar school catchment which is fine if our kids end up in the upper half of the class and pass the 11+ but who's to say that will occur? Houses near an excellent Comprehensive school 10 miles away are hideously expensive.
B. Go
1. We'd get the all-important family support (this alone would improve our quality of life markedly).
2. My wife would be able to work full time.
3. We could either buy an OK house outright or wait for their bubble to burst and buy a better house.
4. On balance, probably a healthier lifestyle.
5. We've found what look like really good schools for the kids and have places for them. Also, at ages 8 and 5 now is the time for them to settle in with the minimum of fuss.
BUT
6. No chance of me earning anything like I can here by working for someone else; I'd have to start my own business. I quite fancy that, always have. I've also run a small business in my spare time for several years, so am not without experience and who knows, it could be successful. However, the uncertainty of my prospects frightens me to bits and I've no clearly defined business plan, just a bunch of vague possibilities.
7. Arguably fewer employment prospects for my kids.
8. If both my wife and I work full time but I work for considerably less money than here, will our quality of life really be that much better, even with family support?
9. I know this is a cliche but we went to the Natural History museum last weekend. We can drive there in under an hour on a Sunday. The Science Museum is next door, as is the V&A. There really isn't anything to compare with these sorts of places in Adelaide (nor anywhere else in the UK).
10. We can hop on a plane from the UK and get to a whole host of diverse and culturally rich European capital cities within a few hours. I'd miss that but I'm even more aware that I'd be taking away that opportunity from my kids. Yes, I know we could go to S. E. Asia but no disrespect intended, I'd visit Paris over Kuala Lumpur every time.
11. My kids are at a good primary school here where standards are high and the eldest is doing well (unsure about the youngest; she's only 5 after all). If all goes badly and we return from Adelaide after a few years, will they have fallen too far behind?
12. My youngest is very fair. She also hates spiders. Is it right to expose her to Australia's fierce sun, stinging insects and deadly spiders?
If you're still reading this, thanks for your patience!
Anyhow, as I say, I turned down the job and booked the plane tickets.
Now, however, as the time comes to tell the school we're going, etc, my feet are getting cold again. The job I turned down may still be available it turns out and the housing market is showing definite signs of slowing down. I'm having nightmares about scratching a living in the parochial rust belt. I'm also wondering how come I turned down a good job when my plan had been to go to Adelaide only if no decent job turned up here. What, I wonder, made the last resort the first resort?
My family and I already have citizenship after migrating for 4 years to Sydney in the early 90s, so no legal hurdles and have a very good idea of the pluses and minuses.
No house to sell either - sold up 18 months back cos we thought the property bubble was going to go POP. Well, we mis-timed that, but I'm still convinced property is fundamentally overpriced and a correction will occur, both here and in Oz.
My mother and stepfather have bee in Adelaide since the late 80s and will be supportive, I am sure.
As with anyone who has lived in Oz but then returned (or vice versa I suspect), the grass is always greener. I've always been tempted to go back and having young children has made me keener. Went to Adelaide on holiday last Christmas and my wife decided, for the first time really, that she could see herself living there.
I work in IT and was made redundant last year, so I was out of work last Christmas when we went on holiday. This made the decision to go a no brainer. Previously, my big objection to Adelaide has been the lack of any IT jobs, but 10 months ago the IT market here was pants too, so as I say, a no brainer for me.
My wife teaches in an FE College. She could earn similar here or there.
A couple of months after returning from holiday I was offered a temporary job here which will last till Jan. Perfect timing for the start of the Oz academic year. We began to plan for the move.
Then, last month, a permanent job offer came up. It was a good 'un - I couldn't reasonably expect to earn more than is being offered, it's a reasonable commute, seems like a nice bunch of people and its future looks healthy.
I prevaricated for days but eventually decided to turn it down. Here's how my reasoning went.
A. Stay
1. I have a decent job.
2. My wife can work part-time (not full time for quite a few years yet because of lack of family support).
BUT
3. To buy a house now would result in nearly half of my net pay going on the mortgage for the next 25 years (sadly I'm probably at about the peak of my earnings potential, so the mortgage would be a strain for many years). Alternatively, we continue to rent until the property crash occurs, with the probability this will take several years to pan out and, unlikely though I think it is, may not happen.
4. We're in Grammar school catchment which is fine if our kids end up in the upper half of the class and pass the 11+ but who's to say that will occur? Houses near an excellent Comprehensive school 10 miles away are hideously expensive.
B. Go
1. We'd get the all-important family support (this alone would improve our quality of life markedly).
2. My wife would be able to work full time.
3. We could either buy an OK house outright or wait for their bubble to burst and buy a better house.
4. On balance, probably a healthier lifestyle.
5. We've found what look like really good schools for the kids and have places for them. Also, at ages 8 and 5 now is the time for them to settle in with the minimum of fuss.
BUT
6. No chance of me earning anything like I can here by working for someone else; I'd have to start my own business. I quite fancy that, always have. I've also run a small business in my spare time for several years, so am not without experience and who knows, it could be successful. However, the uncertainty of my prospects frightens me to bits and I've no clearly defined business plan, just a bunch of vague possibilities.
7. Arguably fewer employment prospects for my kids.
8. If both my wife and I work full time but I work for considerably less money than here, will our quality of life really be that much better, even with family support?
9. I know this is a cliche but we went to the Natural History museum last weekend. We can drive there in under an hour on a Sunday. The Science Museum is next door, as is the V&A. There really isn't anything to compare with these sorts of places in Adelaide (nor anywhere else in the UK).
10. We can hop on a plane from the UK and get to a whole host of diverse and culturally rich European capital cities within a few hours. I'd miss that but I'm even more aware that I'd be taking away that opportunity from my kids. Yes, I know we could go to S. E. Asia but no disrespect intended, I'd visit Paris over Kuala Lumpur every time.
11. My kids are at a good primary school here where standards are high and the eldest is doing well (unsure about the youngest; she's only 5 after all). If all goes badly and we return from Adelaide after a few years, will they have fallen too far behind?
12. My youngest is very fair. She also hates spiders. Is it right to expose her to Australia's fierce sun, stinging insects and deadly spiders?
If you're still reading this, thanks for your patience!
Anyhow, as I say, I turned down the job and booked the plane tickets.
Now, however, as the time comes to tell the school we're going, etc, my feet are getting cold again. The job I turned down may still be available it turns out and the housing market is showing definite signs of slowing down. I'm having nightmares about scratching a living in the parochial rust belt. I'm also wondering how come I turned down a good job when my plan had been to go to Adelaide only if no decent job turned up here. What, I wonder, made the last resort the first resort?
Just wear a hat or put on sun screen if you are going to spend alot of time out doors on a hot day, the warm weather gives you a chance to enjoy the beach or a swimming pool unlike the UK. If you look at the statistics the UK actally has a higher rate of skin cancer Then Australia.
REgarding spiders and stinging insects you are worrying about absolutely nothing. l have lived in Australia for 31 years and have never been bitten by a spider but have been bitten or stung by a European honey Bee twice. No one has died of a spider bite in Australia since the 1950's .
Oct 20th 2004 | 11:27 am
#5
Thread Starter
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 360
From: Berkshire
Re: To go or not to go?
Originally Posted by aussie73
Regarding spiders and stinging insects you are worrying about absolutely nothing.
Oct 20th 2004 | 11:29 am
#6
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Re: To go or not to go?
Originally Posted by anypan
Go for it, you have nothing to lose and if you don't like it etc, you can come back and rent again etc
Oct 20th 2004 | 11:31 am
#7
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From: The Place To Be
Re: To go or not to go?
Originally Posted by sackofspuds
Well, it's crunch time for me. I need to decide whether to move to Adelaide and I need to decide in the next few days.
...
...
I know you have family etc there, but there's a lot more IT work in Melbourne, and you would be near enough to Adelaide to see the family often.
Also, we have a great selection of museums, galleries etc here (I used to live in Kensington so know what you mean about missing the V&A etc). There's quite a buzz about the place, & there seems to be a different festival on every month.
BTW I am not saying Melb is necessarily *better* than Adelaide, just that it is worth looking into when you get over here, as it might have more of the things you, as a family, are looking for.
Good luck with the move.
Anya.
Oct 20th 2004 | 11:32 am
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Re: To go or not to go?
Originally Posted by sackofspuds
Well, it's crunch time for me. I need to decide whether to move to Adelaide and I need to decide in the next few days.
My family and I already have citizenship after migrating for 4 years to Sydney in the early 90s, so no legal hurdles and have a very good idea of the pluses and minuses.
No house to sell either - sold up 18 months back cos we thought the property bubble was going to go POP. Well, we mis-timed that, but I'm still convinced property is fundamentally overpriced and a correction will occur, both here and in Oz.
My mother and stepfather have bee in Adelaide since the late 80s and will be supportive, I am sure.
As with anyone who has lived in Oz but then returned (or vice versa I suspect), the grass is always greener. I've always been tempted to go back and having young children has made me keener. Went to Adelaide on holiday last Christmas and my wife decided, for the first time really, that she could see herself living there.
I work in IT and was made redundant last year, so I was out of work last Christmas when we went on holiday. This made the decision to go a no brainer. Previously, my big objection to Adelaide has been the lack of any IT jobs, but 10 months ago the IT market here was pants too, so as I say, a no brainer for me.
My wife teaches in an FE College. She could earn similar here or there.
A couple of months after returning from holiday I was offered a temporary job here which will last till Jan. Perfect timing for the start of the Oz academic year. We began to plan for the move.
Then, last month, a permanent job offer came up. It was a good 'un - I couldn't reasonably expect to earn more than is being offered, it's a reasonable commute, seems like a nice bunch of people and its future looks healthy.
I prevaricated for days but eventually decided to turn it down. Here's how my reasoning went.
A. Stay
1. I have a decent job.
2. My wife can work part-time (not full time for quite a few years yet because of lack of family support).
BUT
3. To buy a house now would result in nearly half of my net pay going on the mortgage for the next 25 years (sadly I'm probably at about the peak of my earnings potential, so the mortgage would be a strain for many years). Alternatively, we continue to rent until the property crash occurs, with the probability this will take several years to pan out and, unlikely though I think it is, may not happen.
4. We're in Grammar school catchment which is fine if our kids end up in the upper half of the class and pass the 11+ but who's to say that will occur? Houses near an excellent Comprehensive school 10 miles away are hideously expensive.
B. Go
1. We'd get the all-important family support (this alone would improve our quality of life markedly).
2. My wife would be able to work full time.
3. We could either buy an OK house outright or wait for their bubble to burst and buy a better house.
4. On balance, probably a healthier lifestyle.
5. We've found what look like really good schools for the kids and have places for them. Also, at ages 8 and 5 now is the time for them to settle in with the minimum of fuss.
BUT
6. No chance of me earning anything like I can here by working for someone else; I'd have to start my own business. I quite fancy that, always have. I've also run a small business in my spare time for several years, so am not without experience and who knows, it could be successful. However, the uncertainty of my prospects frightens me to bits and I've no clearly defined business plan, just a bunch of vague possibilities.
7. Arguably fewer employment prospects for my kids.
8. If both my wife and I work full time but I work for considerably less money than here, will our quality of life really be that much better, even with family support?
9. I know this is a cliche but we went to the Natural History museum last weekend. We can drive there in under an hour on a Sunday. The Science Museum is next door, as is the V&A. There really isn't anything to compare with these sorts of places in Adelaide (nor anywhere else in the UK).
10. We can hop on a plane from the UK and get to a whole host of diverse and culturally rich European capital cities within a few hours. I'd miss that but I'm even more aware that I'd be taking away that opportunity from my kids. Yes, I know we could go to S. E. Asia but no disrespect intended, I'd visit Paris over Kuala Lumpur every time.
11. My kids are at a good primary school here where standards are high and the eldest is doing well (unsure about the youngest; she's only 5 after all). If all goes badly and we return from Adelaide after a few years, will they have fallen too far behind?
12. My youngest is very fair. She also hates spiders. Is it right to expose her to Australia's fierce sun, stinging insects and deadly spiders?
If you're still reading this, thanks for your patience!
Anyhow, as I say, I turned down the job and booked the plane tickets.
Now, however, as the time comes to tell the school we're going, etc, my feet are getting cold again. The job I turned down may still be available it turns out and the housing market is showing definite signs of slowing down. I'm having nightmares about scratching a living in the parochial rust belt. I'm also wondering how come I turned down a good job when my plan had been to go to Adelaide only if no decent job turned up here. What, I wonder, made the last resort the first resort?
My family and I already have citizenship after migrating for 4 years to Sydney in the early 90s, so no legal hurdles and have a very good idea of the pluses and minuses.
No house to sell either - sold up 18 months back cos we thought the property bubble was going to go POP. Well, we mis-timed that, but I'm still convinced property is fundamentally overpriced and a correction will occur, both here and in Oz.
My mother and stepfather have bee in Adelaide since the late 80s and will be supportive, I am sure.
As with anyone who has lived in Oz but then returned (or vice versa I suspect), the grass is always greener. I've always been tempted to go back and having young children has made me keener. Went to Adelaide on holiday last Christmas and my wife decided, for the first time really, that she could see herself living there.
I work in IT and was made redundant last year, so I was out of work last Christmas when we went on holiday. This made the decision to go a no brainer. Previously, my big objection to Adelaide has been the lack of any IT jobs, but 10 months ago the IT market here was pants too, so as I say, a no brainer for me.
My wife teaches in an FE College. She could earn similar here or there.
A couple of months after returning from holiday I was offered a temporary job here which will last till Jan. Perfect timing for the start of the Oz academic year. We began to plan for the move.
Then, last month, a permanent job offer came up. It was a good 'un - I couldn't reasonably expect to earn more than is being offered, it's a reasonable commute, seems like a nice bunch of people and its future looks healthy.
I prevaricated for days but eventually decided to turn it down. Here's how my reasoning went.
A. Stay
1. I have a decent job.
2. My wife can work part-time (not full time for quite a few years yet because of lack of family support).
BUT
3. To buy a house now would result in nearly half of my net pay going on the mortgage for the next 25 years (sadly I'm probably at about the peak of my earnings potential, so the mortgage would be a strain for many years). Alternatively, we continue to rent until the property crash occurs, with the probability this will take several years to pan out and, unlikely though I think it is, may not happen.
4. We're in Grammar school catchment which is fine if our kids end up in the upper half of the class and pass the 11+ but who's to say that will occur? Houses near an excellent Comprehensive school 10 miles away are hideously expensive.
B. Go
1. We'd get the all-important family support (this alone would improve our quality of life markedly).
2. My wife would be able to work full time.
3. We could either buy an OK house outright or wait for their bubble to burst and buy a better house.
4. On balance, probably a healthier lifestyle.
5. We've found what look like really good schools for the kids and have places for them. Also, at ages 8 and 5 now is the time for them to settle in with the minimum of fuss.
BUT
6. No chance of me earning anything like I can here by working for someone else; I'd have to start my own business. I quite fancy that, always have. I've also run a small business in my spare time for several years, so am not without experience and who knows, it could be successful. However, the uncertainty of my prospects frightens me to bits and I've no clearly defined business plan, just a bunch of vague possibilities.
7. Arguably fewer employment prospects for my kids.
8. If both my wife and I work full time but I work for considerably less money than here, will our quality of life really be that much better, even with family support?
9. I know this is a cliche but we went to the Natural History museum last weekend. We can drive there in under an hour on a Sunday. The Science Museum is next door, as is the V&A. There really isn't anything to compare with these sorts of places in Adelaide (nor anywhere else in the UK).
10. We can hop on a plane from the UK and get to a whole host of diverse and culturally rich European capital cities within a few hours. I'd miss that but I'm even more aware that I'd be taking away that opportunity from my kids. Yes, I know we could go to S. E. Asia but no disrespect intended, I'd visit Paris over Kuala Lumpur every time.
11. My kids are at a good primary school here where standards are high and the eldest is doing well (unsure about the youngest; she's only 5 after all). If all goes badly and we return from Adelaide after a few years, will they have fallen too far behind?
12. My youngest is very fair. She also hates spiders. Is it right to expose her to Australia's fierce sun, stinging insects and deadly spiders?
If you're still reading this, thanks for your patience!
Anyhow, as I say, I turned down the job and booked the plane tickets.
Now, however, as the time comes to tell the school we're going, etc, my feet are getting cold again. The job I turned down may still be available it turns out and the housing market is showing definite signs of slowing down. I'm having nightmares about scratching a living in the parochial rust belt. I'm also wondering how come I turned down a good job when my plan had been to go to Adelaide only if no decent job turned up here. What, I wonder, made the last resort the first resort?
Yes you won't be earning as much, but you won't be spending as much either. I was paying £900 pm rent in the UK, now I'm paying $1100pm and the list goes on..As for things to do and places to visit, what better place than the great outdoors and getting close to nature? There's a lot of it here!
Oct 20th 2004 | 11:46 am
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Re: To go or not to go?
Originally Posted by anya4oz
As you have citizenship and can live where you like, why restrict yourselves to Adelaide?
I know you have family etc there, but there's a lot more IT work in Melbourne, and you would be near enough to Adelaide to see the family often.
Also, we have a great selection of museums, galleries etc here (I used to live in Kensington so know what you mean about missing the V&A etc).
I know you have family etc there, but there's a lot more IT work in Melbourne, and you would be near enough to Adelaide to see the family often.
Also, we have a great selection of museums, galleries etc here (I used to live in Kensington so know what you mean about missing the V&A etc).
I take your point and I'm glad you see where I'm coming from. Yes, IT job-wise Adelaide is very poor compared to the other Australian state capitals, let alone London. The thing is, the family support really is crucial in terms of deciding to go at all. I think Oz has some definite advantages over the UK but if I didn't have family there I wouldn't go back.
Oct 20th 2004 | 11:51 am
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From: Berkshire
Re: To go or not to go?
Originally Posted by Beccalass
As for things to do and places to visit, what better place than the great outdoors and getting close to nature? There's a lot of it here!
Oct 20th 2004 | 11:54 am
#12
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Re: To go or not to go?
Originally Posted by aussie73
Oct 20th 2004 | 9:29 pm
#13
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From: Gold Coast - just like Felixstowe
Re: To go or not to go?
Stay and you'll end up thinking 'what if' for the rest of your life.
Go and you won't think 'what if' for the rest of your life.
You are allowed to go back if it doesn't work out.
Paul.
Go and you won't think 'what if' for the rest of your life.
You are allowed to go back if it doesn't work out.
Paul.
Oct 20th 2004 | 11:16 pm
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From: Berkshire
Re: To go or not to go?
Originally Posted by diddy
Stay and you'll end up thinking 'what if' for the rest of your life. You are allowed to go back if it doesn't work out.
