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-   -   Any regrets about moving back to the UK? (https://britishexpats.com/forum/rovers-return-111/any-regrets-about-moving-back-uk-838891/)

LostBrit99 Jul 16th 2014 9:46 pm

Any regrets about moving back to the UK?
 
I have been away for a long time and I am in torment at the moment about my future life decisions.

I wondered if anybody has any regrets about their move back to the Uk now they are there?
Would any of you leave the Uk again?
What was the biggest shock ?

Thank you :)

Sheliaa Jul 17th 2014 8:18 am

re: Any regrets about moving back to the UK?
 
Hi....no but I`m in the same boat as you.Nearly 15 years in Australia,and torn really.Also don`t have any family in U.K,Will be interested to know,what others think.I suppose it boils down to how much you want to be home.After all,home is where the heart is... I do know from some friends there that it is a more difficult place to live since I left.

michali Jul 17th 2014 10:54 am

re: Any regrets about moving back to the UK?
 
We have been back now for nearly two months. The weather has been glorious so it will be interesting to see how we manage the winter! No shocks, we feel quite at home. It takes a while to get established again but everyone is very helpful and efficient. My husband is on a spouse visa so there are some concerns about renewal in two and a half years time but we try not to think about that too much. Our advantage is that we have adult children here and other family which helps a lot.

lgabriel73 Jul 17th 2014 11:19 am

re: Any regrets about moving back to the UK?
 
Ive been back exactly two months today and so far no regrets, in fact my life in the US seems like it was a million years ago. Cant say I have really had anything that I have missed, other than my friends in the US but with modern technology we are still constantly in touch. The glorious weather right now has definitely helped I think. Don't have a job yet as the recruiting process is a lot slower than the US but Im still consulting for my old employer in the US which helps bring a bit of cash in. Hopefully something full time will be along soon so that I can move into my own place. One of the only things I am missing is having my own space (staying with the parents right now), but thats not related to being in the UK, just used to having my own place. In order for a move to the UK to be successful I think you really have to want to be there, if you do then even the negatives are bearable. It also helps to visit before you plan a move and not just as a tourist, get a sense of what life is like in the UK.

CalgaryPete Jul 17th 2014 8:09 pm

re: Any regrets about moving back to the UK?
 

Originally Posted by LostBrit99 (Post 11338560)
I wondered if anybody has any regrets about their move back to the Uk now they are there?
Would any of you leave the Uk again?
What was the biggest shock ?

I have been back in the UK for 4 months after 14 years in Canada. I have had days when I regretted leaving Calgary. We were very settled there but I convinced myself I would be happier in the UK, hiking in the Lake District and visiting family in Devon. I enjoyed the first month back in Devon, but since moving to Lancashire the reality of everyday life with a long drive to work, lower disposable income and worries about house prices have overshadowed the things I looked forward to. I have enjoyed days back in the Lake District and visiting family and friends in the south west, but the enjoyment from those days is quickly replaced during the work week when the other concerns re-surface.

The biggest shocks have been seeing my savings disappear so quickly and realising that moving back to the UK has not answered the question of where to live. I don't know whether to stay in Lancashire, move to the south west to be closer to family or move back to Calgary.

I am hoping that time will tell. I had planned to buy a place when my 6 month tenancy ends, but others on this forum have recommended taking more time to get settled before buying.

I apologise for all this whinging! I am generally cheerful and positive, at least outwardly, but your question deserved honest answers and this is my experience so far. It's entirely possible I will feel completely different in another few months. I hope I do.

Would I leave the UK again? If I still feel the same in 6 months time, I would seriously consider moving back to Calgary. But before doing that, I might try the south west first, to see whether being closer to family makes me feel more settled. One problem is that I have discovered I cannot reliably predict how I will feel after moving, although this may be because I am still in transition.

ElizabethK Jul 17th 2014 9:54 pm

re: Any regrets about moving back to the UK?
 
This coming Sunday (20th July) I will have been back in UK for exactly a year, having lived in Pennsylvania for 17 years.
The first month or two were like a whirlwind, getting used to our new home, finding me a suitable car, being constantly thrilled with shopping in Sainsbury's et al, catching up with old friends and generally just loving the fact that we were home. It was summer and the weather was great.

Then, as autumn set in and the days became shorter the reality hit and if I'm honest I began to wonder if we'd done the right thing by moving back as the novelty of it all was wearing off.

Once the jolly-ness of Christmas passed and the dreary winter months of dark, damp miserable days dragged on I really started to miss the crisp, cold sunny, wintry days of NE USA and did get quite depressed about it.

However, this past May, I had 2 American friends come to visit for a week, and during that time we took them around the area doing all kinds of touristy things and it wasn't until then, when we were really looking at our surroundings and taking the time to see the beauty of where we lived, that it became clear to both my husband and I we had absolutely 100% made the right decision to return to UK.

Since that 'epiphany' I can say, hand on heart that I love it here and would not consider moving back permanently to USA.

I do hope though, that at some point in time we get to go back for a holiday to the US, because we do have a special place in our hearts for the country in which we resided for such a long time.

bigglesworth Jul 18th 2014 8:54 am

re: Any regrets about moving back to the UK?
 
I think we nomads/ gypsies or whatever just have itchy feet. I have lived in seven different countries and have never stayed in any house longer than five years. Now retired but can feel the itch beginning again.
Almost by definition migrants are people who are naturally dissatisfied (not in a bad way, just want more) so settling down may not be easy.

LostBrit99 Jul 18th 2014 4:40 pm

re: Any regrets about moving back to the UK?
 
Its so scary to make such a big move AGAIN when funds are getting limited and children are near college age. Its also tough being gypsies at heart. I love the Uk or do I love the memories of the Uk? Thats what I dont know. But I dont have the funds for us to do a trip back to check it out. I have been gone 14 yrs and my children dont really know it either but they remember the trips back when we lived in Europe and they loved those but again, those were trips to Devon to stay with family and it was Christmas and so it was fun times. We havent been back to the UK now for eight years, too far and no family now. My parents died while we were out here and so I have nobody really. I have great friends in the Uk, spread about but where they live is very expensive. I worry about security in the Uk. We live in the Caribbean and we leave windows open, car doors open, my teens can go to the mall or hang with friends in the street with no problems of gangs, hoodies or stabbings. I also worry about healthcare. We have a very high standard of healthcare here, all very inexpensive, I have the cell phone numbers of my cardio and gastro in my phone. No having to wait to see a GP. There are many benefits here but there are some things that have gone bad for me and I am a divorced mum with two teens, one that wants to go to university too. I have always been so independant and strong but as I have got older and the death of my parents and lack of funds being overseas all seems so much. I dont know what is the best anymore. I am so confused. As I get older I find I cant bear the heat so much, its nearly always 35C and very humid and I never have any energy. I dont have work now and the wages are terribly low. I am sorry to whinge.

London1947 Jul 18th 2014 5:28 pm

re: Any regrets about moving back to the UK?
 

Originally Posted by LostBrit99 (Post 11338560)
I have been away for a long time and I am in torment at the moment about my future life decisions.

I wondered if anybody has any regrets about their move back to the Uk now they are there?
Would any of you leave the Uk again?
What was the biggest shock ?

Thank you :)

Lived 30 years in the US now back in the UK 2 years. It's a move that I regret for many, many reasons to many to post on here otherwise one is seen as whinging. However the latest was I took my wife to hospital for a check up. I kid you not the part of the hospital we went to was like going into a third world hospital. If you want to know more let me know.

Regards
John

michali Jul 18th 2014 5:44 pm

re: Any regrets about moving back to the UK?
 
Just wondering where in the Caribbean you live! No crime, inexpensive, good health care? Wow! We came back from there Bahamas where unfortunately the crime rate is on the rise. We certainly would not leave our doors open! Access to healthcare is good if you have health insurance and, yes, it was nice to be able to contact a specialist quickly. That was definitely a plus. But health insurance was very expensive. We only came back really though ( I loved it there!) to be nearer our children as we are senior citizens and I have no regrets so far. I can understand your dilemma. It is always hard to make such a huge decision. You asked about shocks on returning. My only shock, now I think about it, has been seeing how many people, young people, still smoke here! How do your children feel about the move? Apart from one wanting to go to university.

LostBrit99 Jul 18th 2014 6:38 pm

re: Any regrets about moving back to the UK?
 
We are in the Mexican Riviera, between Tulum and Playa del Carmen, Caribbean side, very beautiful and peaceful.

LostBrit99 Jul 18th 2014 6:55 pm

re: Any regrets about moving back to the UK?
 

Originally Posted by London1947 (Post 11340687)
Lived 30 years in the US now back in the UK 2 years. It's a move that I regret for many, many reasons to many to post on here otherwise one is seen as whinging. However the latest was I took my wife to hospital for a check up. I kid you not the part of the hospital we went to was like going into a third world hospital. If you want to know more let me know.

Regards
John

Hi John, I can only imagine. My friend came out to visit us from the Uk and she had been waiting months for blood tests to be done, as it happened while she was out here I fell ill. I rang my gastro at 9am and by noon the same day I had seen my gastro and had an ultrasound in a top class clinic. It cost 35 pounds. My friend was stunned at the availability of healthcare here and how clean it was. You have so many choices here for doctors and tests, all different prices, some free. It depends on what you want to pay. Many of the chemists here now have free GPs working in them, no appointment needed. Some farmacies have laboratories in them where you can go and request any blood test you want or have an EKG. You dont need a letter from your doctor.
Medically we are spoilt here and that is a VERY big worry for me about coming back to the Uk and safety for my kids.
I have been ill the last few years and part of staying here I think was the healthcare.

LostBrit99 Jul 18th 2014 6:58 pm

re: Any regrets about moving back to the UK?
 

Originally Posted by michali (Post 11340729)
Just wondering where in the Caribbean you live! No crime, inexpensive, good health care? Wow! We came back from there Bahamas where unfortunately the crime rate is on the rise. We certainly would not leave our doors open! Access to healthcare is good if you have health insurance and, yes, it was nice to be able to contact a specialist quickly. That was definitely a plus. But health insurance was very expensive. We only came back really though ( I loved it there!) to be nearer our children as we are senior citizens and I have no regrets so far. I can understand your dilemma. It is always hard to make such a huge decision. You asked about shocks on returning. My only shock, now I think about it, has been seeing how many people, young people, still smoke here! How do your children feel about the move? Apart from one wanting to go to university.

One teen wants to stay here and the other one doesnt mind although I think she would prefer to go to University in English and not Spanish even though she is totally bilingual. I think it would be a huge shock for all of us the change though. But there is something pulling me.......?????

Bud the Wiser Jul 19th 2014 1:35 am

re: Any regrets about moving back to the UK?
 
I would guess most replies to the OP's question would be, at best interesting, or would simply re-affirm preconceived concerns, for the OP, about a return to the UK.

I know I'll have regrets about moving back from the US, and I know I'll have concerns about moving back to the UK. The bigger question is whether the positives outweigh the negatives.

Time will tell.

Perth Jul 19th 2014 12:10 pm

re: Any regrets about moving back to the UK?
 

Originally Posted by LostBrit99 (Post 11340611)
I am a divorced mum with two teens, one that wants to go to university too.

Not sure how old your teen is who wants to go to university. Bear in mind that you have to have been resident in the UK for 3 years before qualifying for local fees - otherwise you will have to pay international fees. Just something else to think about...


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