iamthecreaturefromuranus

That's a line I've used before. I'm pretty contented with my lot here, but with the benefit of 20/20 hindsight, I don't think we would have bothered as well.

yanH

Thought I'd settled really well but then went back to the UK for a visit for the first time after 5 years and I'm now desperate to move back and that was almost a year ago. Now got a sense of not belonging anywhere.

chris955

It is almost better not to return to the UK at all in some ways, I went back around a year ago and it totally reinforced our plans to return to live. To some extent I started to believe all doom and gloom, hoodies on every corner stories only to find they weren't true.

Mike-T

It wouldn't bother me if I never went back to UK ever again, BUT, when we do go back, it is always very unsettling.

northernbird

I would echo that too Wendy. I left Lancashire when I was 17 to live in London. Quite honestly that was the hardest move I ever made so when it came to moving overseas for the first time back in 2000 it was easy, although I did suffer a little homesickness when we first moved to Canada.

When we returned to the UK on holiday in 2010 I was very concerned the kids would be unsettled but after a week in the UK they both wanted to come home to Australia. They didn't like being in the UK, there was nothing at all they liked about it. Busy, dirty, smelly and boring is how my eldest described it.

BadgeIsBack

I never really needed to settle in terms of it feeling right. Infact, for me Australia was a feeling of sitting down after 10 years of manic living: I came here partly because I felt burned out. We were lucky that it coincided with a major life change. Getting married, slippers and sprogs.

I had a young family after a year so never had time to think about it!

It's clear you build up networks and contacts and this might not happen overnight.

My advise is to network like crazy whilst you have the energy and the will before if I dare say, the day to day life kicks in.

I feel now we are entering another phase - with older kids we are starting to network more. Nice.

cubeonly

About a year, mind you I've only been here 2 months.

spadgersdad

It Took till my Daughter could join us in Oz (5 years) until I felt settled, as long as you are with your family it doesnt matter where in the world you are.

DanSolihull

What if you go out on your own not knowing anyone???

iamthecreaturefromuranus

You become manic depressive within weeks and go on to top yourself...... or you get on just fine like the thousands of others before you who did the same.

chris955

You went to Doncaster then ?

DanSolihull

Haha good answer

Dorothy

Really? What about those of us who left to get away from family?

Aardvark80

The minute I got out of the Perth airport and felt 27 degrees at 2 in the morning...

Been here nearly a month now and I think it's normal to initially draw comparissons to where you've come from. It's just part of exploring process. I love it here though. I know I'm going to want to stay. But my wife is finding it a bit tougher, she misses her friend's and family.

Will feel a lot more settled when we finally find somewhere to rent...

Dorothy

Where are you staying? If you're NOR check out the meetup section. There are a few of us who do a monthly book group that your wife is more than welcome to attend. We don't actually read books, but we do get together and have a glass of wine and a chat. You can also PM me or Family of 3 for more info.