Should we or shouldn't we?
#1
Thread Starter
Just Joined
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 4

My wife and I moved to California from Brighton, when we were 20 and 21 respectively, in 1980. We never went back to the UK after that. We have one daughter who is married and has a daughter of her own, now 8 years old. We lived in Southern California for 25 years, and eventually got sick of it, then moved to north west Arizona. We've lived here since 2005. We have recently talked about moving back to England. I'd like to live in Cornwall or Devon, as that's where my family took vacations back in the 70's.......Camping on the beach, hiking, swimming in the sea etc. I have great memories of being in the West Country, I'd just like to know from anyone interested in replying, what an upheaval it was to move back after a long time away, and is it even worth doing. We both feel an "urge" to go back home. It's a weird feeling. It's like something is trying to pull us back. I'm tired of the USA and it's not fun anymore. I look forward to any replies.
#2
Forum Regular



Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 200
From: Scotland











Hi Kevin in Arizona,
Welcome to the forum.
I started a thread called “Leaving Arizona after 32 years†in November 2017. The last post in the thread was 2 days ago. We return to Scotland next month. I wish I knew how to provide a link to the thread. You may find some of the information useful as it documents the steps we have taken for our move. Best wishes!
Welcome to the forum.
I started a thread called “Leaving Arizona after 32 years†in November 2017. The last post in the thread was 2 days ago. We return to Scotland next month. I wish I knew how to provide a link to the thread. You may find some of the information useful as it documents the steps we have taken for our move. Best wishes!
Last edited by Caroline in Arizona; Jun 29th 2018 at 12:31 pm.
#3
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Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 4

Hi Caroline in Arizona !!!! I read the entire thread you started. That's why I named mine similarly. I've never been on one of these forum things before, so I'm unfamiliar with how to get around and how to find stuff quickly. I was particularly touched by this paragraph you wrote :............. " A feeling deep in the core of my being that I need to return to my homeland. An ache that never goes away. However much I try my best to make the most of every day outside of Scotland there is a general sense of unease that I am in the wrong place. A feeling of well-being and comfort that permeates through me when I am in Scotland. I can no longer ignore/fight these feelings and we are returning to Scotland". My wife and I feel exactly the same way about returning to England, even though it's been 38 years. My parents are both gone, Lisa's Mum and one sister live in Auckland, New Zealand, and another still lives in Brighton. We're going to NZ in August. Do you know where Fort Mohave AZ is ? That's where we live now. I hope you keep up on this forum and let us know how you get on in Scotland. We are shooting for a couple of years from now if possible. Our daughter and son-in-law are launching a company with huge potential in Colorado where they live, and we'd like to see how that comes along before we go. I will carefully re-read your thread again. I hope your move back home goes well. Please keep us all posted.
Last edited by Kevin in Arizona; Jun 29th 2018 at 1:41 pm. Reason: spelling
#4
Forum Regular



Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 200
From: Scotland











Yes I know where Fort Mohave is - you are way up north in Arizona!! Have fun in Auckland. I have a brother-in-law and his family and also my niece who live there and they love it. That paragraph is the purest most raw thing that I have ever written. It was literally years before I was capable of putting my homesickness into words and then the words poured out of me. Normally I review and edit everything I write but not that paragraph - never changed a word of it.
I’m thinking that you are both USA citizens after all these years especially as you have a daughter and granddaughter here.
It sounds like you will have enough time to plan your return. Yes it’s definitely worth doing!
I’m thinking that you are both USA citizens after all these years especially as you have a daughter and granddaughter here.
It sounds like you will have enough time to plan your return. Yes it’s definitely worth doing!
#5
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 4

Yes we now have dual citizenship, as does our daughter and granddaughter. We used to live in Desert Hills between 2005 and 2008, which is up near Cave Creek / Carefree. We had to turn our house back to the bank due to the recession, which hit our company very hard. Well we moved up here and started again, and things have worked out well. It might be my imagination, but it seems to get hotter and hotter, earlier and earlier each year, and this year we've had no rain to speak of. I wouldn't mind a good old downpour once in a while, but other than monsoon, we barely get any at all. There wasn't a great deal of monsoon rain last year either. I really don't mind the heat, but it gets a bit old come late September.
As I was looking through the thread you created, I laughed a few times at other peoples posts as we could easily relate to them. One that we both found interesting was the Canadian guy, who doesn't watch Canadian TV any more, but streams British TV online. We've been doing that for a long while as well !!! Even with the time difference there are some good shows on. British TV has come a long way since BBC, BBC2 and ITV were the only options.
If things go better than expected, we can see ourselves returning earlier, but I think 2 years is more than enough time to see what happens. What are your thoughts on this whole Brexit thing? I think that if they play their cards right, it could be beneficial to the UK. They could end up like Norway or Switzerland, which have the best of both worlds. I think people my age, 58 and over, would mostly have voted to leave, and youngsters to remain. I hope it turns out well.
As I was looking through the thread you created, I laughed a few times at other peoples posts as we could easily relate to them. One that we both found interesting was the Canadian guy, who doesn't watch Canadian TV any more, but streams British TV online. We've been doing that for a long while as well !!! Even with the time difference there are some good shows on. British TV has come a long way since BBC, BBC2 and ITV were the only options.
If things go better than expected, we can see ourselves returning earlier, but I think 2 years is more than enough time to see what happens. What are your thoughts on this whole Brexit thing? I think that if they play their cards right, it could be beneficial to the UK. They could end up like Norway or Switzerland, which have the best of both worlds. I think people my age, 58 and over, would mostly have voted to leave, and youngsters to remain. I hope it turns out well.
#6
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Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 20

Hi Kevin....we are on the verge of returning to uk. We leave the 17 July ,after being in Canada for 10 years.
the homesickness has never left me, and each day I have died a little more inside.Coming here was the biggest mistake of my life, but now I have the chance to go and I am GOING!?
the homesickness has never left me, and each day I have died a little more inside.Coming here was the biggest mistake of my life, but now I have the chance to go and I am GOING!?
#7
Forum Regular



Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 242
From: stoke











Hi pquick,
We are moving back to the UK after 12 years in Canada also on July 17 from YYC to LGW and moving to Stoke for now. I know what you mean about dying a little bit each year you are here it drains you bit by bit. The winters just kill you and since been here I have had health issue which i put down to the weather.
wisshing you all the best.
which part of Canada are you from??
QUOTE=pquick;12524866]
We are moving back to the UK after 12 years in Canada also on July 17 from YYC to LGW and moving to Stoke for now. I know what you mean about dying a little bit each year you are here it drains you bit by bit. The winters just kill you and since been here I have had health issue which i put down to the weather.
wisshing you all the best.
which part of Canada are you from??
QUOTE=pquick;12524866]
Hi Kevin....we are on the verge of returning to uk. We leave the 17 July ,after being in Canada for 10 years.
the homesickness has never left me, and each day I have died a little more inside.Coming here was the biggest mistake of my life, but now I have the chance to go and I am GOING!?
[/QUOTE]
the homesickness has never left me, and each day I have died a little more inside.Coming here was the biggest mistake of my life, but now I have the chance to go and I am GOING!?
#8
Just Joined

Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 20

Hi Firefox.
we are leaving Toronto for Manchester!!.We have been “livingâ€. If that is the word for it in Hamilton the past 10 years!
we will return to Teesdale......a little place called Barnard Castle.....havent got a house yet, but have rented a caravan while we look.....cant believe it is happening, but so glad that it IS...
No I dont believe that UK is the country we left,but Canada has not been the life we expected to have either
good luck with your life on your return
we are leaving Toronto for Manchester!!.We have been “livingâ€. If that is the word for it in Hamilton the past 10 years!
we will return to Teesdale......a little place called Barnard Castle.....havent got a house yet, but have rented a caravan while we look.....cant believe it is happening, but so glad that it IS...
No I dont believe that UK is the country we left,but Canada has not been the life we expected to have either
good luck with your life on your return




