Going back to Cali....
 

It's official we've become ping pong-ers!!!

Husband and I had a LOOOOOOONG talk that lasted about 3 days and we both want to move back.

We've tried to make it work here but it's just not happening. So we'll stay for Christmas and then move back in the New Year. Sadly we can't take the QM2 in January -they don't sail during the winter months to NYC (something to do with icebergs perhaps?!?!?!) so we'll have to fly with the 4 dogs.....not fun.

Life is weird right?

Another adventure begins.........

Re: Going back to Cali....
 

Well, as a serial ping-ponger, you have my sympathy. I bet your head is spinning. I don't envy you the dog side of things - though you can transport them as excess baggage on the way to the US, right? (So much cheaper than cargo, but in the same place)?

Re: Going back to Cali....
 

Thanks dunroving. Is excess baggage in the same place as cargo? Meaning is it temperature controlled? I know you've done this before. Who did you use to fly back to the US? Air Canada looks OK as we can fly them excess baggage and the two little ones can come into the cabin with us! But I was worried about the area where they keep excess baggage. Any advice?

Re: Going back to Cali....
 

Sorry things haven't worked out for you. Good luck with the return to CA and I hope you and hubby and all 4 pooches settle back there really quickly :fingerscrossed:

Re: Going back to Cali....
 

Yes, it's the same place. It is climate controlled.

Suzy travelled with BA every time (three times). They were excellent.

"Excess baggage" is just a charging classification - it doesn't literally mean they are with the additional bags.

Re: Going back to Cali....
 

Happy landings. I'm leaving so there's some more space ready for you.

Maybe I'll be back...housing market here has gone mad...again

Re: Going back to Cali....
 

I wish you, hubby and pooches all the best in your new journey. Keep us posted and take care.:)

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after a year, why did you decide to ping pong back. Be interested if you'd tell us what didn't work?

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It's a whole long list of things that probably wouldn't mean a lot to other people. Some are very personal so there's no point listing them out.

Re: Going back to Cali....
 

Queen Elizabeth sails ex STON on January 10th for NYC. I'm positive they offer the same deal for pets.

I see $799 each at this point, for the bipeds, that is.

Re: Going back to Cali....
 

Hey Britwhore, Wish you all the best. You tried it for a year. I'm partial to California myself and I want to leave Arizona and it's a potential place I may move to. But obviously jobs will dictate where I end up. Good luck!

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PistolPete2 -thanks but I don't think they have kennels. I think it's only Queen Mary 2.

Fulwood - thanks. Don't know how u deal with the heat in Arizona!!!! Good luck to u too :)

Re: Going back to Cali....
 

So sorry things didn't work out for you back in the UK. All the best to you and your husband for your move back across the Pond (also for the pets):)

Re: Going back to Cali....
 

Sorry it didn't work out over here for you Britwhore. You're taking a good positive frame of mind with you seeing this move as an adventure. All the best to you both and the doggies for a safe trip and happy new home. :starsmile:

Re: Going back to Cali....
 

I'm partial to California too. I have a friend there, and visit her quite often. Good luck and safe travels. :)

Re: Going back to Cali....
 

Congratulations for admitting that things are not working out as well as you hoped. It is the same for me, but at my age of 75, with heart and lung problems and alone, a return to Oz would not be practical now.

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Britwhore, I feel excited for you! I know you said the career prospects for you are better in the US, so I don't blame you one bit for returning. Good luck when you return. Let us know how things turn out!

Re: Going back to Cali....
 

Thanks so much everyone! It's going to be a crazy few months but SO much easier than when we moved out here :) We've finally broken the news to family and they weren't surprised. I think they realized we weren't really fitting in and they could see us getting more and more depressed especially regarding the work situation. They're obviously sad that we won't be "down the road" but know that it makes sense.

The only thing I'm worrying about is flying the dogs. I know Virgin are great but 4 dogs in cargo is expensive! Another choice is American Airlines as excess baggage but I don't know how good they are with dogs. Anyone flown dogs via AA?

Re: Going back to Cali....
 

Thanks so much everyone! It's going to be a crazy few months but SO much easier than when we moved out here :) We've finally broken the news to family and they weren't surprised. I think they realized we weren't really fitting in and they could see us getting more and more depressed especially regarding the work situation. They're obviously sad that we won't be "down the road" but know that it makes sense.

The only thing I'm worrying about is flying the dogs. I know Virgin are great but 4 dogs in cargo is expensive! Another choice is American Airlines as excess baggage but I don't know how good they are with dogs. Anyone flown dogs via AA?

Re: Going back to Cali....
 

britwhore,

I'm sure just making a firm decision must be a relief, its awful when your trying to make a big decision and aren't sure what to do. Good luck with the move and please keep in touch and let us know how it all goes :)

Re: Going back to Cali....
 

britwhore and hubby, glad to hear that you both are able to agree on a new phase in your life.
Best wishes to you both.

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I'm happy for you that you've come to a decision...must be a huge weight off your shoulders. May I ask if you have jobs waiting for you back in Cali?

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WOW Britwhore, can't believe you're going back :lol: Time has flown since last summer, I remember you arriving.
Good luck with the future in Cali. :thumbsup:

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So sorry things didn't work out and I hope everything goes smoothly and works out for you in California.

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Thanks so much everyone :)

Re: Going back to Cali....
 

Bet your glad the decision has been made and now you can plan your new adventure. I like to read both points of view from returnees and if the US has better prospects for you that's the place to be. Best of luck and thanks for updating.

Re: Going back to Cali....
 

All the very best on your return, hope it all goes well for you !!

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Good Luck Britwhore, we have just the same back to NZ as we did not fit in either and also had a lot of personal issues which grew worse after we had told the family needless to say the last 2 weeks were very stressful.

We have now been back 8 weeks and feel like we have never been away, our dog coped with quarantine the first time ever he has had to do tis and is happy to be back with us,

Once we made the decision it was a huge relief and within 6 weeks I had secured a good job in NZ we are now about to move into our own place with our stuff having arrived which we can not wait as we never unpacked much in the UK so somethings we have not seen for 12 months (xmas come early)

Re: Going back to Cali....
 

Welcome back janeyk. That was quick. Are you in Auckland ?

Re: Going back to Cali....
 

I came 'home' June 2012. I returned for 3 mos. when my daughter a mother of three girls, was diagnosed with breast cancer. She is doing well now. I am retired & currently live in Hay-on-Wye. The countryside is out of this world. Spoiled for choice of dog walks. My family over here, bro. S-I-law only live 20 miles away although my niece lives/works in London & my nephew is in the Army, currently stationed in the UK. At this time last year he returned from 4 mos., with the Army, in Canada. They are sending him back for another 18 mos. He would like to eventually settle there. I am very happy about that. I hope eventually, his sister will follow him. I too will be returning to Canada, eventually. What is happening in the UK courtesy of the EU (or, as some refer to it, the EUSSR) re the freedom of movement is heartbreaking.We are in the countdown now - Dec.31st midnight - England's borders will be a free for all. For those of you who rely on the BBC for news from 'home' as I did before I came back, I suggest you swallow your pride & read the Express if you REALLY want to know what is going on. Come over for a visit, if you can. The England I grew up in no longer exists.
If Cameron gets in in 2015 I'll eat my hat. He knows it too & is throwing out promises left, right & centre. Now the 11th hour is approaching, even the BBC is having to report on some of the issues. However, you will not get the whole picture from them.

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You seem to be in a nice part of the country. I'm interested (and concerned) about how the EU freedom of movement impacts you and your part of the World? I can't see the benefits of adding mass populations to an already crowded country and I'm genuinely interested how things are affected on a day to day basis? Not the country, generally, but you (people where you are) ... how are they directly affected?

Re: Going back to Cali....
 

What a beautiful part of the world, not a million miles from us. As you say wonderful countryside.
Its an odd thing I find when people say the England I grew up in no longer exists, the Australia I grew up in longer exists either as the world moves on. Perhaps some areas have real problems with these migrants, we dont see it here to be fair, the best fish and chip shop around is run by Poles and wonderful people they are. Of course there are some that are the opposite and take the piss out of the benefit system etc but they are the minority.

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Hi brissybee - Fortunately, because this is a small very rural area, we are not impacted. There are no jobs here to bring in immigrants. It is a sheep farming area. I am retired. Also, here, there isn't the pressure on the Drs' offices, unlike in the urban districts.

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I was in Hay-o-w recently. I bet you don't actually live in the town but close by.

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Australia is a huge country. Here, there are now towns where you will hardly hear English spoken. The last group of E.Europeans who came, legally, turned out to be a million & a half instead of the few thousand the gov't had said they expected to come. That doesn't include the 200,000 Roma gypsies here. This time around the gov't refuses to give an estimate.

Re: Going back to Cali....
 

I havent actually been anywhere you hardly hear an English voice but I have no doubt they exist, much like places in Brisbane or Sydney or Melbourne. If you go to Sunnybank in Queensland almost every face is Oriental, that didnt bother me either. Both countries are built on migrants.

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When our two Sons arrived in the UK they were surprised at the lack of migrants as they were VERY use to living among people of all nations in Perth, it did not bother them as such but more amazed them after people telling them in Aus "you will hardly here an English accent when you go back. If anyone is leaving here and going to any of the Commonwealth countries to escape migrants then their in for a bit of a shock.

Re: Going back to Cali....
 

It seems extremely white and 'English' when I go back, too.

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Yes its a classic comment, where do they think all the people with English accents have gone? :lol: Only a tiny % leave the country, maybe they are huddled in their tiny cold houses out of the rain and snow :)