That is the big issue that ruins life here for me. I miss the UK but I can live here. There are many things I like about the US and would miss but the health care issue is the spectre at the feast.

Another concern...especially if you are alone...is care homes. It seems to be usual here for elderley people to be put into homes...especially if they are living on their own and cannot care for themselves. Retirement homes cost a fortune in the US...what happens if you can't afford one?

As far as we are concerned growing old in the US is very scary...you're OK as long as you have your health and plenty of $$$'s.

This sounds ohh so familiar............

I've been back in UK for 7 weeks now. I gave up EVERYTHING to go to Aus. House, career, long term relationship, I had a rather large workshop in the garage which took 15 or more years to amass, all gone.

I went to Aus 3 times on holiday prior to emigrating, when I emigrated my long term partner decided she would stay here.....a wise choice in hindsight! I went anyway.....bad choice.

Do I regret going?....yes, every day. Am I glad I came back? OH YES. Absolutely no regrets on that one at all.

I was lucky in so far as I got back to work within two weeks of returning (I couldn't get a job in Aus no matter what I tried) but it's only a 3 month contract and I need to be in a permanent position before I can get a mortgage, even with a 80k deposit. I've got an interview coming up for a full time position so hopefully things will start moving soon, but I've been in limbo all year living with family in Aus and here after I returned and I yearn for my own space back. Fed up being a lodger with family!. I left home at 18 and have been self sufficient ever since, turned 40 last week. Worked hard all my life, was in a fairly secure financial position before going to Aus, but back to square one now.

Aus is great for a holiday, but I couldn't live there permanently, noooo way. I do see the UK in a completely different light though since returning, a kind of nice light. It's ohh so true though, you don't realise what you've got till it's gone. I tell you all one thing. If I ever do get my life back and get into a similar position to what I was in before I emigrated, there's no way I'd give it up again.....no way.

You're all probably bored by now so I'll button my lip! nuff said.

Good luck to all, what ever position you're in, and whatever you're up to.

Just write it off to experience and have no regrets. It's been said many times on here...sometimes you have to lose something to appreciate it. So you have and now you do...so make the most of it and all the very best.

How true! Nice to hear your thoughts, and great to hear you are happy to be back, and completely honest about it!!!!! I also came here on holiday twice before moving for good, and I agree, its no were near the same as living here..... and when I get back in December this year... i am hoping to feel the same way as you. Good on you for giving it a go!

Jobart, just wanted to say well done for giving it a try.

And i am pleased you are back where you should be.Well done and good luck.

Hiya mate,

Its good to hear that you're enjoying life back in the UK again and things seems to be coming together for you slowly but surely. Its all experience and at least you have a different outlook on the UK now.

I'm also enjoying being back home although I'm still living with my partners folks at the minute and we haven't managed to secure jobs yet, although I've had quite a few interviews so I'm pretty sure that something will crop up soon.

I do still miss the australian houses, cleanliness, quieter roads, weather, beaches etc and I do still have moments where I question my decision to return, but those moments are few and far between and I know that we are happier here with friends, family and our old lives back. I think everyone wants the best of both worlds (I know I do!) but unfortunately its not possible.

We went to Cyprus a few days after returning to the UK and it was fantastic. Its great to know that we can hop on a plane a couple of times a year and travel to many different countries and cultures within a few hours and you can get your fix of sun and sand etc.

I also look on the UK in a different light now and I see a lot more positives than I did before I left for Oz so I will never regret migrating there (apart from the money we've lost!). We've been for walks over the West Penine Moors to Rivington Pike (see the UK pics thread) and the scenery was amazing, something that you take for granted when you live in the UK. I also plan to go to York very soon as I've not been for years and its a lovely place.

We've even had some decent weather in the UK this week, but so we should as it is August now!! lol. Plus the football season starts in 10 days and I cant wait to be sat on the JJB watching my beloved Wigan Athletic again! Typical bloke! lol.

Plus we've been able to spend time with family and friends and particularly my partners neice and nephew who are only 3 and 1, seeing them on the webcam just isn't the same.

So all in all we're verry happy to be back, but I do look fondly back to Australia and I can fully understand why lots of people settle there.

Stu

Great post Stu.

I think that you really some up the reasons and difficulties in going home. I have the thing that I would be giving up a really well paid job if I went home. There are less oportunities in my field in the UK everyday and so that is my biggest concern about going home.

Hi,

We've been back for 3mths now after 2yrs in Perth. So glad we're here, don't miss anything about Perth at all except my sister in law and family and my friend Sue. Sometimes I drive down the road and think "thank God I'm not there". Weird really because when we first arrived there I loved it. It really is true about not realising what is here until you try living somewhere else. It just feels like we never left. We were luckier than some as we made a bit of money on our house in Perth and have been able to buy a house here (which we move into on Saturday!) and we couldn't have afforded to buy it before we moved to Australia. We also had a baby while we were over there, so all in all we feel like we've done pretty well. I am glad we went as although it was hard work moving and trying to settle in and then moving back, at least we gave it a good go and it just wasn't for us. I know 2 couples who moved to Perth in the last year and both have just bought houses there and I know it's awful but I can't help feeling sorry for them! Hopefully they won't be like us, but I really think you need to be there for more than a year, even 2 before you have a really good outlook on what your life there will be like.

Oh well, glad we're here, I really do think that the opportunities are far better here for the children and we are enjoying seeing our friends and going out and doing NORMAL things! Mind you, it was my little boy's 4th birthday on Tuesday and we had a party in my Mum's garden and had, wait for it ....... a barby

Jo

I know, when you start thinking about the negative possibilities in life you can scare yourself sh*tless. I hear what you say about treatment for major illness, the same thing applies to lost wages for long-term illness, lost wages due to disability, long-term care, etc.

Much of this (except health care costs) also applies in the UK, though. If I had a long-term illness or disability, I'd be destitute, lose my house, the works, too. I know there is insurance for much of that, but I'm so broke I can't afford it! Again, at least in the States I had enough spare cash each month to be able to afford some of these types of insurance.

Like you said, it's sad that you have to think that being old and ill in the US is not a feasible proposition.

Wouldn't the social services step in, in the UK?
Or am I being naive?

Hi Stu,

Great to hear from you again buddy.

I know excactly what you mean getting out and about to see things and visit places. I've been all over since I got back! went to Wakefield last weekend to Caphouse Colliery museum. Great day if you're ever up that way, and it's free! Brought back many memories as I grew up in a mining town in the north east and my dad worked for the local colliery workshops.

Hope your job is sorted soon. Once you get that out the way everything else, house etc will just fall into place.

The new footy season, that ought to put a BIG seal of approval on your decision to return...LOL.... got your season ticket yet???

Know what you mean about living with the folks, it's kinda hard isnt it, as kind as they are, you still need your own space. I'm flitting between my old mum's and my sisters at the moment. Her husband's a BIG Sunderland fan.....just thought I'd squeeze that in ....LOL

Anyway buddy, don't want to steal the thread, keep us updated on your progress, looking forward to seeing photo's of your new house in blighty when you get sorted and post em!!

Cheers mate.

I had thought that social services step in only in terms of someone being unable to take care of themselves - the government won't take over your mortgage payments, for instance, if you are disabled and unable to work. A friend's mother-in-law became unable to take care of herself a while back (she was in her 90's) and they put her in a care home that cost a heck of a lot. I'm not sure whether a free care home facility was unavailable or whether they just wanted to be able to pick and choose where she stayed. Basically, her savings were being steadily whittled away (luckily, she had some savings).

The impression I get is that while some government services are fine (emergency health care, for example), many are not (and I didn't read that in the Daily Mail). And I'm pretty sure that if you became unable to work through illness, accident, disability, you could lose your house through not being able to make mortgage payments.

glad all is going well for you Jo - was wondering when you moved into your new house, good luck with that and am pleased to hear life is good for you

Kath

Hi Kath,

Hurry up and sell that bloody house! I did reply to your texts, you did get them didn't you?

Jo