WHY?
 

Why do some people with great well paid jobs , a great house in a nice area and plenty of friends and family want to immigrate to OZ? are most of these people doomed to return to the UK becasue OZ can't make up for what they have left behind.

Re: WHY?
 

Because everyone is different for some life can become too comfortable, everyone has they're reason for moving, and sometimes these ppl with great jobs and lots of friends etc find that they have a transfer or a chance at a job in a new country and having had lots of friends some find it easy to make friends and so almost replicate they're life here, some do, some don't.

Sometimes people just want the experience of living in a different country, but it's for them to try, I sit back and watch and see they're story unfold.

Everyone is different and while everyone is entitled to they're opinion I think it unfair to judge why ppl want a change of appears to be a currently perfect life, experience tells me that it may appear perfect but appearances can be deceiving !

Re: WHY?
 

To try something new, you only get one life and love the outdoor/weather why not give it a whirl. We are giving up well paid jobs, nice house, area etc but are of the opinion we are not going to compare the two countries but to experience a different lifestyle and if it not for us well we will return. Nothing ventured nothing gained.

Re: WHY?
 

For their children, even though they have a really good life they feel their children may not in the future.

For the weather as they like outdoor life all year round.

The thing is, I believe we who are born in Uk will always be torn a bit and feel sentimental etc , however our children know who they are and its been worth it.

Re: WHY?
 

Why not?

:thumbup:

Re: WHY?
 

whats happened to the spirit of adventure
for me at close to 45 it seemed like there was no great adventures left,
for some good job ,great house,well paid was the pinnacle of of life
we had all that but I want something more
nearly 3 years in have not regretted anything the wife and kids love it too

starting to wonder where lifes next big adventure will come from though
any ideas?

Re: WHY?
 

The grass is greener and the tv tells us Australia is paradise.

Re: WHY?
 

But only a fool would truly believe that there is a yellow brick road, life is what you make it no matter where you live, or go and what you do.
Sometimes people have to learn that the hard way?
Even accepting that things may not be rosy life can be just as difficult moving to another part of the country you currently live in.

Re: WHY?
 

Death?

Re: WHY?
 

Probably.

However, fewer people than you might think have a life with all of those attributes . . .

Re: WHY?
 

WOW never thought of that I was hoping for something a little less permanent
I will try that one day though

Re: WHY?
 

You know what?. I think I'll join you. :)

Re: WHY?
 

We were in that position so why did we do it?

We came to Oz in 97 to visit an old friend who lives on Freshwater beach in Sydney and yes it was an oh wow want some of this! Fell in love with the Aussie lifestyle and the relaxed attitude to life and yes Oz was just a generally brighter place to the UK which we always found so grey and miserable overall.

We have had lots of friends live overseas usually through the husbands job and we've been lucky enough to be able to visit some of them. Therefore we always thought we'd love to live overseas and try out something different.

So began our long journey to Oz and finally we got a visa then there was the dilemma of do we don't we ? We had just moved to Brighton and really loved living there (despite the 3 hour round trip to work each day) and we were doing pretty well, had great holidays, boootiful sporty car etc. Fortunately no kids so didn't have to consider that factor into our plans.

We could have quite easily stayed....our wedding photography business was just starting to do well and it does seem a pretty crazy thing to do! My Mum thought we were totally mad (but then Mum's do..) but it was one of those well if we don't will we regret it, will I look back when I'm 80 odd and wonder what if.

So here we are three years later and there are times I think what the hell have we done! It's not been easy giving up all we whilst we try and build up our photography business here but finally some opportunities have come our way, we are slowy getting more bookings and referrals which are all important in Oz.

It's been hard but we didn't exactly do things the easy way and there are things I would do differently with that wonderful thing of hindsight!

I think overall the hardest thing about giving up everything we had in the UK is that between deciding we'd like to live here and when we finally got here is that everything has gone up so much....housing, both buying and renting, food etc. You could have a nice life here on little money when we first came over - I remember filling the trolley in Coles and it came to $50 or something but now I buy a few bits and it's $50!

Another hard thing is giving all that up in your middle years I find, especially when we stayed for a couple of months in a friend of a friends spare room - I thought what the hell are we doing here! You do this in your 20's not your 40's!

I guess the thing I miss most is travelling. We've been to Sydney a few times since we've been here and that's it! At the moment we are having to make the trip back to the UK each year - fortunately it's for weddings so it helps to pay for it and the folks get to see us (we have non-travelling parents which is a pain!) but I could think of nicer places to go!

So that's why we did it....

Re: WHY?
 

Does someone else's reason for emigrating affect your life? No? Then why do you care?

We did it because we could. Yes, we had a lovely house, good jobs, lots of family, some friends; all in all a very nice life. Here we have a house we built, great jobs that we love, no family but it's their choice not to keep in touch, great friends; all in all a really good life. We will not be returning anywhere anytime soon. Nothing I left behind could make up for the life I have built for myself here.

Re: WHY?
 

For a change. Something different.

Some will, some won't.

Those that move, and yet expect everything to stay the same, will be the ones who may well return to the UK.

Those who are wanting the change, who desire something different, with new challenges, are the ones who may well stay, at least until the next relocation adventure comes along.

Re: WHY?
 

We did just that. We lived in a beautiful village just outside York, kids went to a great school, OH had a damn fine job. He was so good at it (lol) that he was offered a job out here, which he took. Nothing ventured, nothing gained etc.

Other Half is now on approximately double that of his wages in the UK (depending on exchange rate), we have a beautiful house on about 1/3 acre in the fantabulous Blue Mountains and have just as wonderful a life as we did in the UK.

Why on earth would we want to return back to the UK?

Re: WHY?
 

I had all of the above (apart from family) in the UK and still emigrated. I have it even better here.

Re: WHY?
 

We did it too, were very comfortable, good friends, great family. Just wanted adventure though, my wife and I were both born, brought up, and worked and lived in the same town for nigh on 40 years.

That was 2 years ago, next year we go to Malaysia, South Africa, Botswana, Bosnia, and India, I got the adventure I wanted at last:)

Re: WHY?
 

You need to get that coach driver a better map mate. I'm sure he should have turned left at Albuquerque. :)

Re: WHY?
 

Are you a third world aid worker or something?

Re: WHY?
 

My wife's globe-trotting 75 year old Aunt is staying with us at the moment (just back from some hiking in the high country in NZ) and the subject of why some people get on okay and some hate it came up. She said that some people were just always looking for something better and it didn't really matter where they ended up, they'd soon be looking for the next 'better'.

Re: WHY?
 

Because it is ! :thumbsup::thumbup:

Re: WHY?
 

Why not?:D

Re: WHY?
 

There is no way that grass is greener in Australia than the UK. It's brown for half the year. :p

Re: WHY?
 

We are not doomed to return - although I don't think we are! We did it because we could. I gave up my own house, car, career to follow my new husband here as he got a job offer and I thought "nothing ventured, nothing gained".

We are both very outgoing and so haven't found it difficult to make friends. Our true friends from the UK come and visit and as for family we pay for them to come - which for them is a double :thumbsup: as they get to see us and have a great holiday too. A win/win situation.

Re: WHY?
 

Not sure the Tasmanians would agree with you .... in fact, many Queenslanders won't agree with that either. :thumbup:

Re: WHY?
 

[QUOTE=Petals;8187421]For their children, even though they have a really good life they feel their children may not in the future.

QUOTE]

Spot on. That's why we did it. Everyone has a different story though.

Re: WHY?
 

There seem to be a fair few on my London Board. I'd say a large proportion of the well heeled Surryites and other Home Counties migrants, that are something in the City need not apply.

In fact it was via My London board and meeting someone off of it who had migrated here with his Aussie Wife, circa 6-7 years back that woke me up to the fact that a fair proportion of people from the UK who liked Aus... still preferred life back in the UK and according to him the far wider diversity and choice. It actually took me aback at the time and was pre my days on this board. Most of them are well established and have plenty of choice and spending power.

Re: WHY?
 

Tassie I will give you... but how can you tell what colour it is in QLD when its underwater? :)

Re: WHY?
 

Not had a flood here since, well at least since I arrived in 2002... :D

Re: WHY?
 

Vast areas of Tassie are already turning that pleasant shade of brown, and that's after the wettest Winter on record for some places here! The great wilderness of the Southwest of Tas remains green but the southeast and the midlands in particular are brown for much of the year.

Sam

Re: WHY?
 

It does sound like that doesn't it, no, I work on the railway for a firm based in Italy, sweet:)

Re: WHY?
 

absolutely right, gotta get to a point where you're satisfied with your lot in life or happiness/contentment whatever you wanna call it will always be out of reach

and i think I'm getting my threads mixed up

Re: WHY?
 

From the posts here most people who had it good in the UK say their lives are even better in OZ.

Re: WHY?
 

Not always - majoprity maybe, but certainly not everyone.

Re: WHY?
 

I think having a nice house and a nice car... are well a bit boring... we worked our b***ocks off in the Uk for 20 years and achieved a fantastic lifestyle, fabulous house in the best area etc etc but it was very hollow. I think as long as you have a reasonable roof over your head, (ie one which doesn't leak) and enough money to live on, anything else is what the advertisers tell us we want. We gave up a life which many people would aspire to, because once we achieved it, we realised it was a trick with smoke and mirrors. Life is for taking chances and having fun - so long as you can support yourselves that is. If Australia doesn't work out, what the hell, we can go somewhere else or back to the UK, I have feeling we won't be going anywhere though... :thumbsup:

Re: WHY?
 

That is so true Quoll.

Re: WHY?
 

I think for some working to live isn't enough.
My husband (here in the UK) lives to work to pay for everything, when he had a really good job here about 6 years ago it was very different he worked and we lived, good holidays, money wasn't an issue and he had plenty of days off. Now yes we are incredibly lucky that he has a well paid job but what sort of life is it when on average you work 6 days a week, and juggle having a life outside the home too with spending time with the kids and me?
He's constantly exhausted and unhappy because of it.
He was very happy last year working alternate 3 - 4 twelve hour shifts a week, no night shifts, no evenings at work unless its overtime, at least 3 days off a week and more money.

We don't have the happy wonderful life that some ppl have when they leave here, i'm close to my dad and get on ok with my mum and her husband, but we don't see much of Mr JenJen's family (and probably will never see them again when we emigrate back to Oz) we have some ok friends, I don't think I have any that I will cry over when we leave.
I think the things I will will be the familiarity (I missed that last time) we've lived in a 15 mile radius nearly all our lives up til last year), I will miss my dad and just being able to ring him up and chat, but luckily for me PP has promised me her number when we move - think she might change it after a week LOL.

I do think for some of those that find it hard when they initially move over to Oz you tend to look back at the UK and remember things with rose coloured glasses I even missed my in-laws and my relationship with them has never been good, they've made me miserable for years.
I think it will be very hard until we settle in sort furniture and get kids in school etc

Sometimes I think it's easier for those that are happy here and have this 'picture perfect' life to say hey lets try something new, I yearned for the life back here that I wanted but in reality i'll never have that so we'll be better off out there where we start a fresh.

We are blessed that hubby has a really understanding employer out in Sydney who still considers Mr JenJen an employee as though he never left, they are very supportive and understanding.

Re: WHY?
 

I just needed a change like Obama ;)

Re: WHY?
 

I've never worked my bollocks off for anything, just cruised basically and I've done okay - I earn a very good income and have a nice house with no mortgage.

I love it here.