British Expats - Would you do it all again?

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Re: Would you do it all again?

No way,Not to Australia these days but glad came when i did in the mid 90s.
On reflection would have been better to have stayed a few years and returned to work Europe.

Would certainly leave UK though,if still there and move to Europe and/or possibly Asia.
One reason being with the years spent in Australia along with time spent working in Western Europe,would have easily been able to retire early, on a very decent pension in a few more years and taken up other pursuits.
Now looks more the case will be self funded as will never have enough in super for a comfortable retirement.

Re: Would you do it all again?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ukecadet (Post 9337245)

Not trying to be funny but are you referring to England or Australia?

Both, actually. I should have emigrated to the UK at least 2 years earlier than I did, and I should have returned at least 2 years earlier than I did.

Re: Would you do it all again?

If I wanted to stay married - I probably would have to :)

Mx

Re: Would you do it all again?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pollyana (Post 9336805)

As Barbra Streisand says, if you could do it all again......would you? Emigrate that is........

Yes, but can't say for sure I'll stay forever.

Re: Would you do it all again?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jen1977ni (Post 9337337)

Definitely yes, the right decision, just wish I'd done it 5 years ago, then again I'd not have met my OH so it's been the right time for us both. :thumbsup:

Since moving here I have never felt so free in all of my life - free from the politics of a very messed up country, from a family situation which was incredibly unhealthy for all involved, and from a work situation that was, in the end, going to drive me insane, LITERALLY! :blink: And no, before anyone jumps in, I didn't move to Australia to run away from all of these things, I made a huge amount of sacrifice too, some of the things I gave up I'll never ever forget. :unsure: However, I feel I'm in a much better place emotionally, geographically and financially, than I have been for a long time.

God Bless Australia :wub:

Goodonya

Re: Would you do it all again?

Quote:

Originally Posted by pproehann (Post 9336943)

Yes to the country and the job and lifestyle for me and the son but no to the rest. Had I been aware of all factors before i emmigrated I'd have stayed at home with supportive family and friends. Personally, I find a lot of the people you meet here or just not of the calibre of the ones you left behind. But, as i'd gave up a good job in UK that I can't return to and sold a house I would never get back at the price I paid for it, I'm stuck here making the most of it so just as well it's a nice country with plenty of things to do.

Once you walk out on your past life its gone... there and then.

If I could rewind to the point, 5 years ago, when my company asked me if I would fancy the move to Australia, with hindsight I would probably answer "no"; rather than the "yes" I said first time round.
Having said that, the question of if I would I go back to the UK again now, is a difficult one to answer. On balance, at this precise moment, I probably wouldn't, but I would hate to think that I'd never return to live there again one day.

Re: Would you do it all again?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ozzieeagle (Post 9336869)

Poll, this should be a Poll.

OK, there ya go, one poll, from Poll, just for you,

love
Poll :D

Re: Would you do it all again?

Dragged from London to Ireland age 9 NO!

Escaped at age 18, hell yes :thumbsup:

To Oz? Will (hopefully) let you know ;)

Re: Would you do it all again?

Same time, same place, same circumstances then yes. And Poll, I think you would too because circumstances at the time for you, made it the right move. It's what's happened since that has made it 'wrong' move but you won't even know that for sure until you die because you have no idea what will happen in the future and you'll never know what would have happened if you'd stayed. You play the cards as they're dealt, you can do no more than that.

Re: Would you do it all again?

Quote:

Originally Posted by PAP01 (Post 9337066)

No , lost to much

It aint lost Paul,just waiting for you somewhere;)

Re: Would you do it all again?

There's a typo in the Poll.

"WOuld you do it all again? (emigrate that is)" ;)

Re: Would you do it all again?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alfresco (Post 9337785)

There's a typo in the Poll.

"WOuld you do it all again? (emigrate that is)" ;)

Someone's a bit ahead of himself.

Re: Would you do it all again?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alfresco (Post 9337785)

There's a typo in the Poll.

"WOuld you do it all again? (emigrate that is)" ;)

Oh for goodness sake i can't please anyone today can i :rolleyes: there's a reason why i don't pick on other people's spelling and punctuation its cos i know my own is krap. get someone else to fix it, I'm off to stick my head in a bucket.

Re: Would you do it all again?

Quote:

Originally Posted by moneypenny20 (Post 9337790)

Someone's a bit ahead of himself.

Sorry.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pollyana (Post 9337794)

Sorry. Was just teasing.

Re: Would you do it all again?

Quote:

Originally Posted by moneypenny20 (Post 9337723)

Same time, same place, same circumstances then yes. And Poll, I think you would too because circumstances at the time for you, made it the right move.

A good point, all things being equal. Taking the circumstances viewpoint: things that make those things not equal, and probably spell disaster economically were we to do it now:

1. fx rate
2. House prices in UK and Melbourne
Cost of living thus not subsidized.

Things I have since cottoned on to:
1. A move to any place other than Melbourne might have bored us eventually. I still giggle when I realize just what is on tap and so easily.

A lot of people are saying 'if only earlier!' Well we came 7 years ago and so we did that. What worked for us:

1. We were childless and not married. We were at a natural decision-point and crossroads. I've often suspected that this was crucial and plays a major part.
2. We were still younger than most migrants. We were in good health physically, especially my wife. We had no 'mother-in-law' strife.
3. We were equipped mentally and physically.
4. We were both veterans of 'living away': my wife especially having left to au -pair at 17!
5. Moving from London to Melbourne set us up to pull it off. We like Melbourne - the best of both worlds.
6. We chose to live on our own terms. Edge of city, semi-rural. We might have lived 60-90mins from London:and ended up further from a major city.
7. We did not replicate our UK lives in Australia: apart from transport skills and experiences and ourselves.
8. The move coincided with a step up in career. No loss of 'time-accrued'
9. Our skill sets are transportable - neither of us required any retraining or accreditation.

Things that could have been better:

1. We did not have as much cash as some. We drive old cars and bought the cheapest house in the best road. That worked too as we did not overstretch.