sile

Can you tell me a bit more about the differences?

Bob

Just different way of life.

Partly because of the work environment, generally different jobs etc and a lot stems from that probably.

Things do tend to be a lot more hectic down south compared to the north, you do tend to find people more brisk about things in London than up north etc, etc.

Worlds apart within miles of each other, probably only with a mocking of the French and Germans as a common denominator

sile

I believe I would have a better quality of life in the UK. And no, I don't need adventure, just change, for the better.

Ethelred_the_Unready

I agree with maybe 65% of this.

As far as the English language goes, our education system isn't too great either and many people don't speak proper English back home and often use regional slang.

More civil people? Hard to say. Chavs certainly aren't civil, but when it comes to things like driver courtesy, holding doors open and general manners, Britain wins hands down.

Gardens...we are a nation of gardeners, but you may not find so much pride in surroundings on council estates. For the most part though, I find British suburbs to be much greener.

More beautiful towns...some are, but we have many more grotty, run down towns and cities. I haven't been back to the UK in nearly a decade, but you should Google Street View places like Wolverhampton, Kettering, Watford, Stoke-On-Trent and you'll get the picture.

Anyway, if you are serious, 1) go to the Home Office website to determine visa eligibility, 2) go on holiday to Britain but explore outside London and 3) talk to American expats living over there to get an American perspective. I could be considered somewhat biased and it's been nearly a decade since I lived there. I've been told that it's changed since then in several ways.

Ethelred_the_Unready

Quality of life is generally relative. Man Americans associate that only with financial prosperity. I believe that it's a combination of many factors. From your perspective, you would really have to spend some time in the UK to determine whether or not your QOL would be enhanced or diminished.

Sally Redux

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Fitz88

Why would she google run down towns when she works from home? Being able to determine where she lives without worrying about traffic/commuting means she can pick the cream of the crop in where she lives.

Assuming she has some money behind her too means she could get beautiful victorian cottage in Buckinghamshire/Hertfordshire if she still wants access to London and if she decides to go up north or to the south west her money will only take her further.

Ethelred_the_Unready

I meant to give her a better idea of how British towns & cities are in general...to give her a broader idea. Not all look like London, Oxford and Warwick

If she has money, it won't be an issue. That's the variable though that I haven't figured out from her posts.

Sally Redux

The good thing about run-down towns is they are never too far from somewhere better. My kids were so amazed last summer when a short drive took us to so many different places. Also I have noticed a tremendous amount of regeneration going on over there.

sile

I think it would be helpful or interesting (or not ) for me to elaborate on some of the things that bother me about living here, and reasons I want to leave.

Firstly, I live in a very nice neighborhood, tree- lined streets, nice little downtown area, a quiet suburban town that is considered safe. But in the last year a small neighborhood bank inside the grocery store a few blocks away was held up at gunpoint and robbed, the little pizza place a few blocks down was also held up at gunpoint and people having some sort of dispute were shooting at each other a few blocks from there. It's shocking to me and yet, because of the way things are here, people just take it in stride. On the news today they said a suburban school is on lockdown for some reason. Violence is all too common in the US. Look at what happened to one of our congressmen last year, shot in the head whilst talking to people outside a grocery store.
Now the weather: our winters are freezing cold, and I mean really cold as in, you can hardly breathe, you can't stay outside and walk lest you fall on the ice or drive any distance without carrying an emergency kit in case your car breaks down and you have n o heat, then in Springtime, now, the tornadoes begin. It's terrifying to hear sirens go off and be told to seek shelter immediately in your basement. We are in a place called "tornado alley" and there have been many that have hit near me. Then summer arrives with high heat and humidity, making it unbearable to go outside because again, you can barely breathe. It's like being in a sauna, but worse. Then there are the mosquitoes. They have gotten an early start here this year. You have to spray insect repellant on to protect yourself from being bitten and contracting West Nile Virus. You have to give your dog pills and sprays to keep them protected as well, because mosquitoes carry heart worm disease and that can kill your dog. And when you go in and out of the house you have to do it really fast lest you let any of them into the house. If they get in you are up all night trying to find and swat them.
Then there are the coyotes. I can't let me dog be out in the yard alone. They are so bold now that they aren't even afraid of humans. So if you happen to be out walking your dog they can come up and try to grab it and you are instructed not to turn and run because they will chase after you.
And then, the all-important health care issues. The fact that every person does not have health coverage is outrageous. I couldn't get it for years, now I can but pay over $400 a a month plus a $2000 deductible and 20% co-pay. And doctor's visits are ridiculously high.

So, there you have it, or some of it.

Sally Redux

Something which is said a lot on here but which is excellent advice, go for the pull of the new place and not the push of the old. If you just go because of perceived shortcomings where you are (however valid some of them may be), you could be in for a shock if the new place doesn't measure up to your dream.

Gun crime is not anything like the US level but it can happen over there.

sile

I hear you...but it's a combination of the two. I have mentioned many things that draw me to it.

Sally Redux

Just trying to give you some food for thought.

nun

Sile, if you get your Irish citizenship there will be no problems in you moving to the UK and working. If you just have US Citizenship it would have been a difficult thing to do. In fact the Irish passport opens up all of the EU to you and if you are considering the UK why not take a look at Eire too. If you are self employed and have some dollar savings you can probably pick up a good deal on real estate in Dublin.

sile

I have thought quite a bit about Ireland, and in fact, that was my original idea for years. But the economy is so bad there, I don't know that it's the best choice. Both places appeal to me, truth be told. My grandparents came from Ireland and I grew up with the idea that that was the loveliest place on earth.

Aarrggghhh, it's such a hard decision. It would be easy if I had someone I was going with or to. I have almost too many options.