Re: Thinking of moving back
 

That would be fantastic Denise!!! Haven't been to Blackpool for YEARS!!! I can easily get the train up there any weekend. Wow not long to go now, but do be prepared for the first coupld of weeks to be pretty tough going emotionally.........

Re: Thinking of moving back
 

You are certainly not alone!! I remarried almost 9 years ago to an American and a year into it I started feeling terribly homesick. This after being here since 1988!! I got here when I was 24 and at the time it was an adventure and I loved it. When I left England unemployment was so high and racism was rife which prompted me to jump on the opportunity to leave there. Once I got here I started noticing the subtle cultural differences. Some were bearable and others weren't but I vowed to never be 'like them'. I found it disgusting how money driven this nation was. It sickened me to see how it was acceptable for people without money to be left to die without medical care. I've always had good jobs and great health insurance but I felt for those that didn't.

Anyway, long story short, after getting married this 2nd time i tried persuading husband to move to the uk with me but he wanted no parts of it so I completely put the idea out of my mind and just got on with life here. As luck would have it the marriage is failing and guess what I'm about to do? YEP I'm going the hell home! I've quit the job, packed my ish and I'm outta here august 12th (passports willing). Im not even sticking around for the divorce, i told him to mail me the paperwork for signature. LOL!!
Yes I'm scared after being here for 23 years but I'm also happy to be going back to a more structured lifestyle which is what i've missed the most. I'm the type of person that doesn't want more, I don't want to be rich, I don't want a big house or fancy car (anymore), I'm fine living a simple basic life. Heck, I'd be quite happy with 4 tv stations again! My plan is to work to live and not live to work.

Don't give up on your desire to return home. It may not happen right away but you'll get back home eventually.

Re: Thinking of moving back
 

So how do you feel about these two negatives now, are they low on your priority list with the passage of time and your career development or has the UK got over racism? Unemployment is as bad as it's been in recent years. These have been concerns for me and my family.

It depends upon where you live in the UK as to how money-driven/superficial you will find the folks are. The commuter-world South-East seems more and more like the US in many ways and the heathen Brits even say "Oh my God!":confused: as though they had one.

You must have been back many times to check things out though!

Re: Thinking of moving back
 

Over the years I've observed the racism isn't as bad as when I left (unless it's focus is now directed towards another race, dunno). As far as unemployment goes, before I left I was young and had little to no experience and 2 little children therefore was having a difficult time securing a proper job although I did manage to score some pretty decent temp jobs in London. Today, I figure with 23 more years of experience under my belt and additional education I should stand a better chance. If not, then that's the chance I'm willing to take at this point. To be honest, so long as I can cover my bills and put food on our table I'd be happy working in a shop. I'm about through with trying to scramble up the corporate ladder.

Re: Thinking of moving back
 

I do know what you mean. When I reached my late-forties I decided that shifting down a gear or two was not a bad idea at all in spite of not really having everything squared away with my kids' futures by then.

I worked in Bermuda from 1976 and there were opportunities to get into senior management pretty early on. Having done twenty years of that coupled with daily/weekly/monthly deadlines I too was pretty much through with it.

Very good luck to you then!

Re: Thinking of moving back
 

I agree with so many of the recent posts, not going to quote them all. I'm very glad we found this site. Since we did, we're noticing that there are a lot of unhappy Brits locally too.

The work/money/life balance thing is another reason for us moving back too. We won't be able to afford to buy a house like we can here, but we will have so much more. We won't have to hunt out food that hasn't been genetically modified in some way, or been treated with hormones. My husband won't be working 50+ hours on a regular week, and he will actually be able to take part in his children growing up. Many things are so much more important than the money.

Re: Thinking of moving back
 

AMEN!!

Re: Thinking of moving back
 

Goodness yes, amen to being done with the rat race. Same story for me but over a much shorter timeframe. Im 33 and am about 90% done with my profession. It still pays well enough in the right location and lifestyle doesnt have to suck but man, I cant say how pleased I was the day I realised my true calling. My mrs even agrees that, yep... less money but a less stressed husband would be great!

Its a relief to even have the end in sight, you know, that day where you can leave your job and say enough of the rat race. Sure you swap it for other stresses etc but, ill take it!

Good luck with whichever path you take!

Re: Thinking of moving back
 

Couldn't agree more!

I'm possibly one of the younger members of the "giving up the rat race" crowd at 26, but I had a baby boy last year and I'm afraid when I look back on his first year all I can remember is being stressed/depressed and over-worked. Everything was such a scramble and while my other half and I both had decent jobs, the ludicrous rent and crazy child care prices meant that we were always on the brink of overdrawing our bank account.

I know some things will be bad in the UK too, but I'm just looking forward to having a less....complicated life and spending some time actually being a Mum.