Anyone moved to Aus and regretted it?
Nov 27th 2007, 6:39 pm
#31
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Sep 2007
Location: Canberra
Posts: 8,378
Re: Anyone moved to Aus and regretted it?
I have found that the friendships I have made here are much more transient than the ones I had established in UK. Canberra is a fairly itinerant place and people have come and gone and there really isnt the impetus to keep in contact after a few years. I dont think of myself as having many friends here but I do have a social network which is reasonably supportive. I dont "do" social very well and so we dont go to other people's places for dinner and that sort of stuff.
Personally yes I do regret coming here - not for what I have had but what it is turning in to. It was fine when the kids were little and my parents were able to spend 6 months of every year here. Now they are too old and frail to do that and we seem to be stuck here. Well, to be honest, I am stuck, DH is an Aussie so he is quite happy here. I hate it and as time goes on I hate it more and more. He refuses to move and so one of us has to be unhappy - guess it gets to be me.
Our kids are ambivalent about what Aus offered them. One (who was born here) tried it overseas and came back vowing never to leave again. The other, who was born in UK has emigrated back again - by accident really - and though he thinks of himself as an Aussie he is committed to at least another 5 years on top of the 5 years he has already been there. He isnt really bothered about coming back except for the weather.
I think this is such a personal thing - if you had asked me 15 years ago I would probably have said I was quite happy but at that time I would have had in the back of my mind that I would go home at some stage. The older I get, the harder it becomes.
Personally yes I do regret coming here - not for what I have had but what it is turning in to. It was fine when the kids were little and my parents were able to spend 6 months of every year here. Now they are too old and frail to do that and we seem to be stuck here. Well, to be honest, I am stuck, DH is an Aussie so he is quite happy here. I hate it and as time goes on I hate it more and more. He refuses to move and so one of us has to be unhappy - guess it gets to be me.
Our kids are ambivalent about what Aus offered them. One (who was born here) tried it overseas and came back vowing never to leave again. The other, who was born in UK has emigrated back again - by accident really - and though he thinks of himself as an Aussie he is committed to at least another 5 years on top of the 5 years he has already been there. He isnt really bothered about coming back except for the weather.
I think this is such a personal thing - if you had asked me 15 years ago I would probably have said I was quite happy but at that time I would have had in the back of my mind that I would go home at some stage. The older I get, the harder it becomes.
Nov 28th 2007, 12:36 am
#32
Ping-ponger
Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Dreich Alba
Posts: 12,023
Re: Anyone moved to Aus and regretted it?
My DH told me last night that he feels that the last three years in oz have been a complete waste of time and he regrets coming here very much. However on the other hand he says that the lifestyle is better here, bigger houses, better weather etc. Only problem is we don't have a good social network of friends. I have found it relatively easy to meet new people as I'm a mum! but my OH has really struggled, partly due to his old job which involved working very very long hours plus he didn't join any clubs or put himself in a situation where he could meet new people. Our neighbours in the apartment we rent are contstantly changing so we haven't really met any new friends that way. So, he's very lonely, bored and had enough of Melbourne!
Nov 28th 2007, 9:51 am
#33
BE Forum Addict
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2007
Location: England
Posts: 4,232
Re: Anyone moved to Aus and regretted it?
I have found that the friendships I have made here are much more transient than the ones I had established in UK. Canberra is a fairly itinerant place and people have come and gone and there really isnt the impetus to keep in contact after a few years. I dont think of myself as having many friends here but I do have a social network which is reasonably supportive. I dont "do" social very well and so we dont go to other people's places for dinner and that sort of stuff.
Personally yes I do regret coming here - not for what I have had but what it is turning in to. It was fine when the kids were little and my parents were able to spend 6 months of every year here. Now they are too old and frail to do that and we seem to be stuck here. Well, to be honest, I am stuck, DH is an Aussie so he is quite happy here. I hate it and as time goes on I hate it more and more. He refuses to move and so one of us has to be unhappy - guess it gets to be me.
Our kids are ambivalent about what Aus offered them. One (who was born here) tried it overseas and came back vowing never to leave again. The other, who was born in UK has emigrated back again - by accident really - and though he thinks of himself as an Aussie he is committed to at least another 5 years on top of the 5 years he has already been there. He isnt really bothered about coming back except for the weather.
I think this is such a personal thing - if you had asked me 15 years ago I would probably have said I was quite happy but at that time I would have had in the back of my mind that I would go home at some stage. The older I get, the harder it becomes.
Personally yes I do regret coming here - not for what I have had but what it is turning in to. It was fine when the kids were little and my parents were able to spend 6 months of every year here. Now they are too old and frail to do that and we seem to be stuck here. Well, to be honest, I am stuck, DH is an Aussie so he is quite happy here. I hate it and as time goes on I hate it more and more. He refuses to move and so one of us has to be unhappy - guess it gets to be me.
Our kids are ambivalent about what Aus offered them. One (who was born here) tried it overseas and came back vowing never to leave again. The other, who was born in UK has emigrated back again - by accident really - and though he thinks of himself as an Aussie he is committed to at least another 5 years on top of the 5 years he has already been there. He isnt really bothered about coming back except for the weather.
I think this is such a personal thing - if you had asked me 15 years ago I would probably have said I was quite happy but at that time I would have had in the back of my mind that I would go home at some stage. The older I get, the harder it becomes.
Good luck and take care......
Jackie in Perth
Nov 28th 2007, 11:32 am
#34
Enjoying the good life!
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Bayside, Brisbane
Posts: 886
Re: Anyone moved to Aus and regretted it?
My DH told me last night that he feels that the last three years in oz have been a complete waste of time and he regrets coming here very much. However on the other hand he says that the lifestyle is better here, bigger houses, better weather etc. Only problem is we don't have a good social network of friends. I have found it relatively easy to meet new people as I'm a mum! but my OH has really struggled, partly due to his old job which involved working very very long hours plus he didn't join any clubs or put himself in a situation where he could meet new people. Our neighbours in the apartment we rent are contstantly changing so we haven't really met any new friends that way. So, he's very lonely, bored and had enough of Melbourne!
Dec 21st 2007, 9:41 am
#35
Has left the building
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,079
Re: Anyone moved to Aus and regretted it?
My DH told me last night that he feels that the last three years in oz have been a complete waste of time and he regrets coming here very much. However on the other hand he says that the lifestyle is better here, bigger houses, better weather etc. Only problem is we don't have a good social network of friends. I have found it relatively easy to meet new people as I'm a mum! but my OH has really struggled, partly due to his old job which involved working very very long hours plus he didn't join any clubs or put himself in a situation where he could meet new people. Our neighbours in the apartment we rent are contstantly changing so we haven't really met any new friends that way. So, he's very lonely, bored and had enough of Melbourne!
