OVER 50's+ MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Jul 5th 2012, 4:51 am
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Re: OVER 50's+ MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Work in portland and live out side the city sounds like the best plan of action? That is probably true of most metro areas. Hope the transportation system in portland is far reaching. Cheers, have you spent much time there?
Jul 5th 2012, 9:03 am
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Re: OVER 50's+ MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
A wee update. It is less than two weeks until we move out of our home. Yikes. The last week has been a bit stressful with all of the items on the to-do-list, but I think I am seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. Those who have already made the move will know what I mean
I am looking forward to travelling home. We are going to visit some friends in PEI, then on to Nova Scotia for a couple of days. Then we are taking the train to Windsor to visit and old school friend of mine. After that we are going to NY and will sail from NY to Southampton. We got a really good deal on the price as Cunard were having a sale in honour of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Also, it has been mentioned on another thread that there will be three people from BE sailing on the QM2. Me, Pombat and Britwhore. So we will be having an official BE Conference in the middle of the Atlantic, which I am sure will involve some cocktails.
I hope you will be following our journey on the QM2 webcam. We leave NY on 3 August.
I am looking forward to travelling home. We are going to visit some friends in PEI, then on to Nova Scotia for a couple of days. Then we are taking the train to Windsor to visit and old school friend of mine. After that we are going to NY and will sail from NY to Southampton. We got a really good deal on the price as Cunard were having a sale in honour of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee. Also, it has been mentioned on another thread that there will be three people from BE sailing on the QM2. Me, Pombat and Britwhore. So we will be having an official BE Conference in the middle of the Atlantic, which I am sure will involve some cocktails.
I hope you will be following our journey on the QM2 webcam. We leave NY on 3 August.
). It's great that you'll all be traveling together and those cocktails sound fun!Hang in there through the last few crazy weeks and you'll soon be back here and hopefully enjoying it as much as I am. Looking forward to saying 'welcome home' to all 3 of you
Jul 5th 2012, 12:25 pm
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Re: OVER 50's+ MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
How exciting for you! I remember that feeling so well (of course I do it was only 3 months ago ). It's great that you'll all be traveling together and those cocktails sound fun!
Hang in there through the last few crazy weeks and you'll soon be back here and hopefully enjoying it as much as I am. Looking forward to saying 'welcome home' to all 3 of you
). It's great that you'll all be traveling together and those cocktails sound fun!Hang in there through the last few crazy weeks and you'll soon be back here and hopefully enjoying it as much as I am. Looking forward to saying 'welcome home' to all 3 of you
Jul 5th 2012, 2:23 pm
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Re: OVER 50's+ MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
How exciting for you! I remember that feeling so well (of course I do it was only 3 months ago ). It's great that you'll all be traveling together and those cocktails sound fun!
Hang in there through the last few crazy weeks and you'll soon be back here and hopefully enjoying it as much as I am. Looking forward to saying 'welcome home' to all 3 of you
). It's great that you'll all be traveling together and those cocktails sound fun!Hang in there through the last few crazy weeks and you'll soon be back here and hopefully enjoying it as much as I am. Looking forward to saying 'welcome home' to all 3 of you
Jul 5th 2012, 2:52 pm
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Re: OVER 50's+ MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Fish
Do you think the economy in the portland area is decent at the moment? If I move to that location my girl friend would go with me and she doesn't have much work marketable experience. I wonder if she could get a entry level job paying about $12 per hr working at a hospital,department store or some such place similar? Would that salary amount be usual for portland for entry level work? I think the minimum wage in oregon is suppose to be $8.80 per hour?
Thank you
Do you think the economy in the portland area is decent at the moment? If I move to that location my girl friend would go with me and she doesn't have much work marketable experience. I wonder if she could get a entry level job paying about $12 per hr working at a hospital,department store or some such place similar? Would that salary amount be usual for portland for entry level work? I think the minimum wage in oregon is suppose to be $8.80 per hour?
Thank you
I suppose you better search for jobs online to see what you can find.
Jul 5th 2012, 3:20 pm
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Re: OVER 50's+ MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Oregon sounds like an interesting place.Maybe different from any other place I've known. People say there is a libertarian mentality out west in general and particularly in Oregon and Washington state. That does appeal to me on some level, depending on the issue in question. This economy has been tough on a lot of people. Some states don't make an effort to look out for the residents living there. I imagine that might be true of any state which believe conservatism is the rule of the day.But I'm told that Oregon is politically in the middle, to liberal,again,depending on the region of Oregon.
I get the feeling that you think Oregon is nice, but you are ready to move on? Is that mostly due to economics and heath care or do you truly miss the UK that much?
I agree that $150K = 100K sterling, would help make the transition back home much easier.You are still young and spry you have time to build up cash. At least that is what I tell myself.
Mansfield Nottingham is an ideal location to much of the country.
Maybe lady luck will smile on us both
I get the feeling that you think Oregon is nice, but you are ready to move on? Is that mostly due to economics and heath care or do you truly miss the UK that much?
I agree that $150K = 100K sterling, would help make the transition back home much easier.You are still young and spry you have time to build up cash. At least that is what I tell myself.
Mansfield Nottingham is an ideal location to much of the country.
Maybe lady luck will smile on us both
many of there opinions differ to the younger student crowd.
Im ready to move on because I never wanted to live in America in the first place, I came here as a teenager, I had little choice, then followed my parents from Wyoming to Oregon thinking I might like it better as it was more like the UK, I do like it better for some things but income isnt one of them, there is no England in America, just places that slightly resemble it,
I was ready to emigrate back to the UK in 2000 then my mother got sick, since then both of my parents have passed away and Ive been trying to get away but the Greedy people that runs the financial side of this country/world have screwed us and made things very difficult for me and many others, 4 years ago I could have left with enough money to buy a home for cash, but circumstances have changed, Ive lost savings as Ive lived off them due to the bad economy and the rest was value in my home, its dropped about $80.000, so now Im stuck...
The Healthcare system and chances of losing everything is why I want out of America, many people even with Health Insurance are one serious illness from medical bankruptcy...
Ive been away from the UK for 36 years, I could stick it out if the system here was better, but at my age Im ready to move on, I cant risk it any longer, I dont see any good changes happening here.
Dont let my negative thoughts put you off, Oregon is a very nice place, we all have different wants and needs, Im sure there are many Brits who would put me off from returning to the UK, you have to follow your gut feeling.
Jul 5th 2012, 3:44 pm
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Re: OVER 50's+ MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Id agree Oregon is liberal, it doesnt take much to stir up a protest march in Portland, there are many diverse opinions and lots of older folks in this area,
many of there opinions differ to the younger student crowd.
Im ready to move on because I never wanted to live in America in the first place, I came here as a teenager, I had little choice, then followed my parents from Wyoming to Oregon thinking I might like it better as it was more like the UK, I do like it better for some things but income isnt one of them, there is no England in America, just places that slightly resemble it,
I was ready to emigrate back to the UK in 2000 then my mother got sick, since then both of my parents have passed away and Ive been trying to get away but the Greedy people that runs the financial side of this country/world have screwed us and made things very difficult for me and many others, 4 years ago I could have left with enough money to buy a home for cash, but circumstances have changed, Ive lost savings as Ive lived off them due to the bad economy and the rest was value in my home, its dropped about $80.000, so now Im stuck...
The Healthcare system and chances of losing everything is why I want out of America, many people even with Health Insurance are one serious illness from medical bankruptcy...
Ive been away from the UK for 36 years, I could stick it out if the system here was better, but at my age Im ready to move on, I cant risk it any longer, I dont see any good changes happening here.
Dont let my negative thoughts put you off, Oregon is a very nice place, we all have different wants and needs, Im sure there are many Brits who would put me off from returning to the UK, you have to follow your gut feeling.
many of there opinions differ to the younger student crowd.
Im ready to move on because I never wanted to live in America in the first place, I came here as a teenager, I had little choice, then followed my parents from Wyoming to Oregon thinking I might like it better as it was more like the UK, I do like it better for some things but income isnt one of them, there is no England in America, just places that slightly resemble it,
I was ready to emigrate back to the UK in 2000 then my mother got sick, since then both of my parents have passed away and Ive been trying to get away but the Greedy people that runs the financial side of this country/world have screwed us and made things very difficult for me and many others, 4 years ago I could have left with enough money to buy a home for cash, but circumstances have changed, Ive lost savings as Ive lived off them due to the bad economy and the rest was value in my home, its dropped about $80.000, so now Im stuck...
The Healthcare system and chances of losing everything is why I want out of America, many people even with Health Insurance are one serious illness from medical bankruptcy...
Ive been away from the UK for 36 years, I could stick it out if the system here was better, but at my age Im ready to move on, I cant risk it any longer, I dont see any good changes happening here.
Dont let my negative thoughts put you off, Oregon is a very nice place, we all have different wants and needs, Im sure there are many Brits who would put me off from returning to the UK, you have to follow your gut feeling.
Jul 5th 2012, 7:51 pm
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Re: OVER 50's+ MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Have just joined; reading with interest. Have lived in the US since 1977 - now widowed/retired/no children or relatives here. I have a cousin left of family in the UK. It would be financial suicide to return to the UK unless I had a couple of million. I am also irritated by political bible thumping in the USA and the bizarre attitude to any positive change in the healthcare system. When I worked in the medical prof. my colleagues had me branded as a "socialist" - hence must also be an atheist ! However, one has to accept the culture of the country one has chosen in which to live, even if the Americans continue to shoot themselves in the foot every time they vote against any form of social progress. On the other hand I think I would resent the layabouts in England living off benefits and the tolerance one is expected to display to "multi-culturism." I worked in Wimpole St in London for an MD who had a chauffer driven Rolls and also in the NHS; my mother ended her days in a nursing home, and whereas she still had money in the bank, the standard of care was comparatively no better than here. Growing old is unpleasant anywhere. I have come to accept the good with the bad here and know the England I left in 1977 is no longer there - one cannot live off memories of cream teas and Marmite. Good luck to those who return, inasmuch as there is two-way traffic !!
Jul 5th 2012, 9:57 pm
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Re: OVER 50's+ MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Have just joined; reading with interest. Have lived in the US since 1977 - now widowed/retired/no children or relatives here. I have a cousin left of family in the UK. It would be financial suicide to return to the UK unless I had a couple of million. I am also irritated by political bible thumping in the USA and the bizarre attitude to any positive change in the healthcare system. When I worked in the medical prof. my colleagues had me branded as a "socialist" - hence must also be an atheist ! However, one has to accept the culture of the country one has chosen in which to live, even if the Americans continue to shoot themselves in the foot every time they vote against any form of social progress. On the other hand I think I would resent the layabouts in England living off benefits and the tolerance one is expected to display to "multi-culturism." I worked in Wimpole St in London for an MD who had a chauffer driven Rolls and also in the NHS; my mother ended her days in a nursing home, and whereas she still had money in the bank, the standard of care was comparatively no better than here. Growing old is unpleasant anywhere. I have come to accept the good with the bad here and know the England I left in 1977 is no longer there - one cannot live off memories of cream teas and Marmite. Good luck to those who return, inasmuch as there is two-way traffic !!
Welcome to the group.
"Life is wonderful as long as you don't take it seriously"
Jul 6th 2012, 12:28 am
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Re: OVER 50's+ MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Absolutely ... I am female, 66 y.o. living on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Va. I was born in Lahore, British India, and my family in 1947 ended up in Bedford, Beds. However, my mother ended her days living in Beverley, Yorks. I was brought up in the most "Colonial" of atmospheres ! My parents divorced and my father (ex- British Indian Army) moved to first (then) Kenya to join the fight against the Mau Mau and thereafter to (then) Rhodesia - he finally sought refuge in South Africa but died prior abolition of apartheid. I lived my childhood in the shadow of "Colonialism,' in being a product of many generations that included a history of landowners in Ireland ("Black and Tans" era), Assam, Burma, etc. Sorry to bore you !! We are supposed to not rest on our laurels !! I would return to England in a flash, even in this day and age, if I could live in the outer regions of Yorks/Cumbria, but I experienced the degeneration of finances and resources, notwithstanding the availability of "social services," fall back in England. I lived in London in the seventies and I would not wish that on anyone. Nowadays London is owned by the Arabs. I have come to realize there is not a country in this world in which one is safe from finally succumbing to some form of deprivation if one is unable to maintain an acceptance of being where you choose to be. I miss England in many respects, but it is not the England I would choose to live in. The USA is a country that was built on religious fervor and greed/violence. I agree with Oscar Wide's quote in that "America went from decadance to violence without a period of civilization." I would get the hell out of here if I could afford it !!
Jul 6th 2012, 1:15 am
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Re: OVER 50's+ MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Actually, Wilde said that America went from barbarism to decadence without an intervening period of civilisation.
London is not "owned by the Arabs".
London is not "owned by the Arabs".
Jul 6th 2012, 3:27 am
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Re: OVER 50's+ MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Absolutely ... I am female, 66 y.o. living on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Va. I was born in Lahore, British India, and my family in 1947 ended up in Bedford, Beds. However, my mother ended her days living in Beverley, Yorks. I was brought up in the most "Colonial" of atmospheres ! My parents divorced and my father (ex- British Indian Army) moved to first (then) Kenya to join the fight against the Mau Mau and thereafter to (then) Rhodesia - he finally sought refuge in South Africa but died prior abolition of apartheid. I lived my childhood in the shadow of "Colonialism,' in being a product of many generations that included a history of landowners in Ireland ("Black and Tans" era), Assam, Burma, etc. Sorry to bore you !! We are supposed to not rest on our laurels !! I would return to England in a flash, even in this day and age, if I could live in the outer regions of Yorks/Cumbria, but I experienced the degeneration of finances and resources, notwithstanding the availability of "social services," fall back in England. I lived in London in the seventies and I would not wish that on anyone. Nowadays London is owned by the Arabs. I have come to realize there is not a country in this world in which one is safe from finally succumbing to some form of deprivation if one is unable to maintain an acceptance of being where you choose to be. I miss England in many respects, but it is not the England I would choose to live in. The USA is a country that was built on religious fervor and greed/violence. I agree with Oscar Wide's quote in that "America went from decadance to violence without a period of civilization." I would get the hell out of here if I could afford it !!
Are you a fan of Michael Moore?
Thank you for the profile.
Jul 6th 2012, 3:33 am
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Jul 6th 2012, 4:09 am
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Re: OVER 50's+ MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
Id agree Oregon is liberal, it doesnt take much to stir up a protest march in Portland, there are many diverse opinions and lots of older folks in this area,
many of there opinions differ to the younger student crowd.
Im ready to move on because I never wanted to live in America in the first place, I came here as a teenager, I had little choice, then followed my parents from Wyoming to Oregon thinking I might like it better as it was more like the UK, I do like it better for some things but income isnt one of them, there is no England in America, just places that slightly resemble it,
I was ready to emigrate back to the UK in 2000 then my mother got sick, since then both of my parents have passed away and Ive been trying to get away but the Greedy people that runs the financial side of this country/world have screwed us and made things very difficult for me and many others, 4 years ago I could have left with enough money to buy a home for cash, but circumstances have changed, Ive lost savings as Ive lived off them due to the bad economy and the rest was value in my home, its dropped about $80.000, so now Im stuck...
The Healthcare system and chances of losing everything is why I want out of America, many people even with Health Insurance are one serious illness from medical bankruptcy...
Ive been away from the UK for 36 years, I could stick it out if the system here was better, but at my age Im ready to move on, I cant risk it any longer, I dont see any good changes happening here.
Dont let my negative thoughts put you off, Oregon is a very nice place, we all have different wants and needs, Im sure there are many Brits who would put me off from returning to the UK, you have to follow your gut feeling.
many of there opinions differ to the younger student crowd.
Im ready to move on because I never wanted to live in America in the first place, I came here as a teenager, I had little choice, then followed my parents from Wyoming to Oregon thinking I might like it better as it was more like the UK, I do like it better for some things but income isnt one of them, there is no England in America, just places that slightly resemble it,
I was ready to emigrate back to the UK in 2000 then my mother got sick, since then both of my parents have passed away and Ive been trying to get away but the Greedy people that runs the financial side of this country/world have screwed us and made things very difficult for me and many others, 4 years ago I could have left with enough money to buy a home for cash, but circumstances have changed, Ive lost savings as Ive lived off them due to the bad economy and the rest was value in my home, its dropped about $80.000, so now Im stuck...
The Healthcare system and chances of losing everything is why I want out of America, many people even with Health Insurance are one serious illness from medical bankruptcy...
Ive been away from the UK for 36 years, I could stick it out if the system here was better, but at my age Im ready to move on, I cant risk it any longer, I dont see any good changes happening here.
Dont let my negative thoughts put you off, Oregon is a very nice place, we all have different wants and needs, Im sure there are many Brits who would put me off from returning to the UK, you have to follow your gut feeling.
It will happen soon enough and before you know it the time will arrive for the planning stage of packing to return home. Your reasons for wanting to return makes perfect sense.The healthcare situation in the States has gotten better thanks to Obama, but I never forget the fact that one election cycle could change all that.
But I'm sure you know that the healthcare offered to UK citizens can change as well. Many (not all) in the Tory Party would love to embrace a healthcare system that has at it's core a profit agenda and using insurance companies to achieve that goal. Education was once free for all UK citizens but that evenually was taken away. Time will tell. I think many people wish they had sold homes about five years ago.If only we had a crystle ball to have known what was coming, I know I do. You say you could have paid cash for a house in your area of the UK? How much would that have cost?
Oregon does seem like a really nice place to live. I have to factor in, the distance of traveling from the west coast to europe, and decide if that extra cost and added travel time will make sense. I really don't like any of the states on the east coast and that is a problem that makes me feel unsettled. If I were to move to Oregon, I feel it would be a temporary solution.
Jul 6th 2012, 7:04 am
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Re: OVER 50's+ MOVING BACK TO THE UK - Part II
I did wonder if I was missing something as I know so many people find it hard to leave, but when we arrived back, I can't describe it any other way than it felt like arriving back home after a very long and interesting, but somewhat tiring, holiday. I haven't seen the huge changes others experience. I haven't felt any reverse culture shock. I just feel at home for the first time in forever and completely content.
If I'm not normal, I'm glad if it because it's made the transition easy