Hi everyone

After so much thought and research, today we've decided to stay put in the UK afterall .



Wow ! - For the last god knows how long ? , i've been pretty much constantly researching BC, and I have files and books full with info .

We were never intending to emigrate, partner has been offered a choice of 2 jobs in Vancouver and we thought it may have been a good opportunity to experience a change, just for a couple of years or so.
I also thought that the children would appreciate the experience, but after many, many, many... lol long talks about our life here in the UK, I believe we'll be better off staying put and taking a couple of holidays to Canada instead. I also feel that we may even see more of the Country that way (being on hols) rather than living there in those two years.

I just wanted to say what a great informative site this is and thank you all for your help, you've been brilliant !

Your time hasn't been wasted on my questions, because I feel that every reply to me has been valuable. I honestly feel that if I hadn't found this site, we would still be going through with the temporary move. After much thought and having read replies, threads and info here, I truly believe we've made the right decision and I wouldn't have done this without you.
It's still a nice thought to escape the rat race for awhile, but I think that by staying here it should benefit us more.

Hope it's still ok to stick around for alittle bit to learn more about some destinations to visit for a family holiday ? (or is that abit cheeky) lol .

I would like to hang around the Europe/Italy Forum to gain some quality info for when we can make that dream move after the kiddies have finished high school... Yay !! Only,.. 12 yrs minimum to wait lol.

Well, I hope that those who are getting ready for your big move, enjoy Canada and that everything works out well for you and your families, good luck .

Thanks again and take it easy everyone.
Keep smiling x

The important thing to get from this site is the answers to help you make the best decision for you and yours...sounds like you've done that. It feels like quite a "weight off" doesn't it when a final decision is made.

Hope it all works out great for you.

Kind regards,

Eamonn & Janet.

Lol.. yep, just abit ! I can now breathe and relax, instead of stressing over those little niggling things.

It's been brill to learn so much about Canada, no time's been wasted.

I'm now going to concentrate in starting my Italian Language course,.. maybe fluent by the time we actually get to go !

Shame, but good luck Katie

You don't really "escape the rat race" here it's just a lot different and the good things in life here tend to make it all so much more bearable.

R.

Well put.

Thanks for keeping things real Rich

Luckily I have realised how much I still love the UK for those reasons I've already mentioned in my previous posts. We're lucky enough to live in a great area too, S/E - I'm biased sorry, but I like it here,.. has alot to offer.

We've cancelled the trip to Canada in Oct, but will plan a holiday when we're in a better financial situation - No need to rush now !

We've decided that we can now buy our new little Siamese Kitty,.. yay ! Sooo cute, can't wait. Our 1yr old kitty Anouska can have alittle friend now. (OK - Just one of those little things I get excited about ).

Have also decided to buy a Motorhome and travel to those European Countries i've been longing to go to.

Take care all, and wishing you the best. x

I would stick around BE, you are still helpful even though you have decided not to go.

Have fun in the motorhome you are going to buy.

Aww that's nice, thanks Cassie.

I'd love to as i've said before, this Site has been brilliant and so full with info, I wish I found it earlier.

This post made me laugh- because after a lot of research and thought I too decided to stay in the UK. Mainly for the pull of extended family. But we also decided that if we were to remain in the UK we needed to make certain changes to our lifestyle (something must have been wrong for us to consider emigrating in the first place) and one of these ideas was 'yeah lets get a motorhome and get away every weekend and make the most of the kids at the age they are now (5 & 8)'.

So we went and researched motor homes........and then I found myself being sucked back to thoughts of Nova Scotia and everything we think it can offer us and the entire adventure of it all.

And I guess because I had my wobbler and my husband was very supportive to see me happy wherever that might be- I've found its now me full-steam ahead and pro-emigrating again.

So Katie76 I guess all I'm saying is- you might change your mind again yet!!!

I thought this was an interesting post. I definitely think that anayone would be a complete fool not to explore the possibility of emigrating and do some research. After all you only live once and just because you are born somewhere it doesnt mean thats where you have to live. Its just chance where you are born whereas where you choose to live with your family should be a concious decision. So everyone should explore the possibility and find out what sort of life other places have to offer.

But, that doesnt mean you have to go - it depends on what you discover the new life place would be like compared to your current one. I think a lot of people get caught up in the process and once the idea has hatched they almost have to go through with it even if it isnt the best decision.

Hi ,
When anyone talks about moving countries you always get different feed back .. its usually from people who are envious or trying to do the same . Your current situation sways all of us from month to month and year to year as to it being the right choice .England is at times the comfort zone , but as said earlier you only live once so dont wake up like lots of people and regret not trying and missing that life changing chance....
most people if honest would move to another country , we are the brave ones and are not the if only people ..
You need to stay positive and proud of our selves for making life changes .. I dont have rose tinted glasses on and am well aware how difficult the path ahead is . Both my sister and brother have done the move and have never regretted it . only wish I had done it sooner . cheers to all of us on this path.

very wise.............

Agree with NSPaul I had to an extent felt a bit overwhelmed almost obliged to 'go' after all the research- so it was very worthwhile having a couple of months time out.

Accepting we were staying in the UK- it did allow us to evaluate our lives and what we wanted to get out of them and what the focus should be. The argument to stay in the UK is still strong kids settled in their UK schools, they are part of a community, with grandparents/aunts & uncles on the doorstep and without even having left I do have an appreciation for all of this now.


However, I still kept feeling drawn to the whole emigration idea. I know what this life in this country has to offer me and I could visualise my life/routine for the next X amount of years and do you know what? It was pretty dull......Cue ideas such as a Motorhome.......

Then there were a couple of things which made me think- there might be another way of life as NSPaul said why do we feel we need to stay around where we were brought up? So two old friends (very similar backgrounds to me) both emigrated to America and I caught up with them and asked how they had felt about the decisions they had made.

The first was a real homebird and used to say she would carry her mother in her pocket all day long if she could they were REALLY close. She said realistically the first 5 years were pretty tough and she always had in her mind that she would come back one day (she had met and married an American). However, she has now had her 2 children there and she has an incredible life for them all that she feels she could not match in her hometown of Sunderland! (some politician recently said give up on places like Sunderland fullstop!!) Her parents visit 4 times a year and they had just returned from a holiday with them in the Caymen Islands. She also said that if anything happened to her husband she still doesn't think she would return to the UK.

The second friend went to America about 14 years ago and was recently due to return to the UK 'for good'. Her mother had a stroke last year and she felt it was time to come back home. She is back this week but only visiting since meeting someone only recently deciding it is the 'real thing' and she plans to marry on her return to the US!

I was feeling reluctant to leave the UK for family only- but I know they can visit and on such occasions I will hopefully get more quality time than ever before. And still experience living in a new country and pursue some of my own dreams (land and horses) and share this with my daughters whilst they still want to 'knock around' with their mother!

I think it might be quite common in emigration for one spouse to be more enthusiastic than the other- and you start to question yourself if your enthusiasm is less. I think you both have to want it to make it work and I needed this time out to recognise that I do! So, telling my husband 'yes lets go for it' was a good feeling.

We also on our second proper emigration-planning session having decided three years ago to stay put, mainly as there was too much else happening at home that would have made moving a nightmare. Decided to resurrect our plans late last year, and having briefly put it on hold following me getting made redundant, are back planning. I think we've got a more rational approach to it this time though and are not in a mad rush to emigrate - as a result our plans are looking different to how they looked first time around and I beleive will make our move more successful - so don't be surprised if you're back here in a year or so!

Whilst I'm pretty happy and settled here now I think there's a lot to be said for that statement. Moving overseas isnt the only way to fix your life if you arent happy with it. Moving house, moving areas within the UK, changing careers or just changing your routine and recreational activities can sometimes make quite a bit difference.

I remember when we were planning to move all I could think about was getting out. I had been unhappy with my work, really unhappy with neighbour troubles, I felt mortgaged to the hilt, child hated his school etc. But thinking back now I probably could have fixed a few of those things without moving to Canada - we could have downsized house etc but I guess now we're here and all the hard-work and hassle is over I'm glad we made the move.