Hey all

Well, as a Lancashire lass, I'm in a bit of a dither and the delay with my passport is giving me WAY too much time to think about my situation, so I'm hoping there's a sane person out there who can give me some advice..lol

My plan was to return to the UK as soon as I get my new passport, and go live somewhere outside of London, anywhere along one of the London transport zones. My way of thinking was there would probably be more job opportunities, the transport system is great and I'd be close enough to do day trips and see the sights. I know the job situation is tough anywhere and of course being close to London there might be more jobs, but there are also more people applying for them !

But recently a friend asked me why didn't I go back to Lancashire?? I was originally born in Wigan and haven't been back there since 1970, so it's definitely all changed. So silly me was looking at Wigan and all the surrounding area on You Tube and other web sites and I must admit it got me feeling a little nostalgic...LOL

So hence the dilemma ! Do I go back to Lancashire, where the rents are possibly much cheaper than I can expect outside of London, where I could probably rent my own place for the cost of sharing near London? But then what would be the chances of me getting a job??

If I had any hair left I'd pull some more out, but I can't spare any right now, and in a way the passport delay is a good and a bad thing....now I have the time to really sit down and figure out where the heck I want to be.. I just know I want to be home in the UK, but WHERE is the issue...lol

I have Aunts, Uncles and cousins etc etc spread all over Lancashire, and they're the only family I have left now, although I haven't seen any of them since 1970 so I'm all grown up now to them....lol But it would be nice to have family nearby.

Oh heck...a person could go CRAZY thinking about this.. Any advice?? Suggestions???

I think this is where doing an analysis of cost of living vs wages in each area that you like is important. London might give the highest wages but if the cost of living is high, too, you might be at more of an advantage to go somewhere where the gap between cost of living and rents is lower.

Thanks windsong. I guess one of the benefits of London is you can live further out and yet still work in or close to London. I stayed in Winchmore Hill last year, and apart from loving the area (which is where my house share is and hopefully will still be available once I get my passport..LOL) the cost of living was pretty good. But of course that's just one area and often its best not to compare it to the US (cost wise).

At least I have some time to do more research and hopefully not go blind from staying on this computer all day every day for the next few weeks while I'm waiting...LOL

Yes, that's true The key is to find the highest disparity between cost of living and housing costs, I think. PistolPete has always seemed like the expert on this subject. Hopefully, he will continue the topic

You have to go where the work is. Having said that, I would sooner live on the Planet Zog than in London !

LOL... well good job I don't want to live IN London... I love the leafy outer suburbs and when I say 'outer' suburbs I'm talking about an hour outside of the city center. Ultimately I'd love to win the lottery and then buy a house where I can look out my windows and see nothing but rolling hills LOL. But seeing as that isn't going to happy any time soon I don't think I'll have to go where the jobs are...LOL

I think the best thing is figuring out where the jobs are, seeing the rental and cost of living in various areas and then figuring it all out from there. It's hard to know where to start !! But I guess the good part is that once I'm there I can probably know more first hand and then go from there. Move further out, get a car maybe. I don't know, it's just doing my head in....but like others here I'm not the only one wracking their brains...LOL

Personal choice I'd choose Lancashire, but then I have family from there too even if they are all dead now.
I've never felt much pull to London.
But I'd ultimately choose to go where the jobs are if you aren't going back to be with the family and just visit occasionally.

I'd choose Lancashire too if I thought I stood a chance of getting a job..lol. I think deep down the only reason I was thinking of London, was because it's so close to things to see and those sights are easier to get to than spending 4 hours on a train. Oh I just don't know..lol Guess I'll have to research more the job situation in Lancashire

There are plenty of jobs in Lancashire. If there weren't, the entire population of the county would be on the dole ;-)

I'm in Yorkshire (Yorkshire girl through and through) and I can't imagine a scenario that would persuade me to move to London. Of course, it all depends on your tolerance for crowds, traffic, high prices and stress, but just personally speaking, I have zero tolerance for any of that.

Plus up here we have all the scenery

Joking about north-south divide aside, I've found it wonderful to come back 'home' and slip back into my old way of being. I've reconnected with friends I haven't contacted in 30 years (!) and it's like we never lost touch. It's just so easy to know how to "be" when you're where you belong, wherever that is.

Thanks I needed that i watched a video yesterday of someone driving around the area where I lived as a child. Even though I didn't recognize any of it, it still felt familiar if that makes sense?

You're right when you talked about the scenery though I guess I'd have to decide WHERE in Lancashire I'd go...lol.

I think you need to research the job situation more fully before you decide where to live. London certainly has more opportunities, but it depends on your job and how much you can earn.

I'm retired, but believe I made the biggest mistake of my life returning to my home town. It is not the same as my fond memories. London is expensive for accommodation, but there is much to be said for living near and being able to take advantage of what it has to offer. Lancashire might be limited for you after living away.

Write down what you want from life, and then compare the pros and cons of the different locations.

You're right aries.... that was why I originally chose somewhere an hour outside of London...close to the great transport system..affordable rents etc etc. As for my job - well I'm not a specialist in anything. I've been in the medical industry all of my life, from unit secretary taking care of wards in a hospital, medical receptionist, working in a pathology lab doing data entry - that sort of thing. But I just want to work and be happy..and I am not fussy what I do, so long as I can earn enough to pay the rent and the bills.

I think I'm just going to stick to my original plan and head for the North of London and save my trip to Lancashire for visiting family and seeing where I grew up.

It just seems a more feasible idea, and I have to be practical and not make my decision based on wishful thinking.

I would choose the London area, although I was shocked by the high property prices when browsing Rightmove. Good luck WhoFan.