Yes that is the best advice, take this part of your life, and see it as an 'experience an adventure' dont regret.
In the 70s my 2 sisters (married to 2 brothers) emmigrated to NZ Oamaru.
Their husbands family had one by one gone over, because the initiator a brother, had started out with his new bride on a govt sponsorship.
In the end he was the only one who stayed and had a successful life, cos he went for
The right reason. My sisters too.
Unfortunatly tho my bros inlaws had good jobs and were happy and content in their
New lifes choice, their young children were also happy,my sisters became homesick for family.Though they had taken that into account before they left, they didnt realise
how strong that family closeness would be missed.My sisters did try to overcome that
Pull.They integrated with no problem, they had local friends aswell as husbands relations and family living nearby.for them everything was perfect.
But that 'BUT' and UK gravity pull was too strong.Their husbands would of prefered to
stay, for their wives, my sisters, sake they made the descision to return.
In coming back, the husbands landed on their feet and returned to good jobs and
improved status and prospects. Though it was the 70s.
Now my point is.......They returned, and even up to today they spoke/speak positively
and have no regrets and are internally proud that they had given it ago.
They and their children, now in their middle 40s have no negatives towards that period
in their lives.My sisters now retired and that family that they then were homesick for,
have all emmigrated to their maker , they still reminis over all parts of their adventure.
As a person, I have an opposite feeling to homesickness, I have travelled worked and lived in many lands, as a single, married, and married with children.
My problem is 'fernweh' ...distance sickness or wanderlust.

I'm happy enough with -21. 11 is ok too.

Never been to Alberta but I'm sure it's just fine. I'm probably easy pleased. I grew in N.Ireland and was lucky to live in a "good bit" of it. Lived in Edinburgh for a while and it was great. Then Ottawa which was splendid. Now Guelph which I love too.

Later this year we'll be on our way to Illinois. That, being the USA, is not really something I'm particularly looking forward to but we'll see how it turns out. Luckily it's just a temporary detour and we'll be back in Ontario eventually.

We've been in NJ for nearly 5 years and made the decision to move back during the summer. We had said we'd stay for 3 years and then when that flew by, changed it to a couple more. I think because we had always planned to return that it never felt "real" - more like being on holiday (especially for me as I didn't work here).
We aimed to return in Sept 2014 but when our long term tenants in our UK house left, we moved it up and are flying back in June - hopefully after a great holiday out West!! We've both really enjoyed our time here and if we're honest, would stay a lot longer if it wasn't for the pull of families back home. I'm so pleased we did move across the pond as any chance to explore this big old world gets a huge thumbs up from me!
Even if things don't work out as perhaps people had hoped, it's a huge experience to live through and talk about in later days. You may sometimes regret the things you do and the decisions you make but if you never try anything, you will always wonder what if........

Just read this. My advice, do it like the Finns and invest in a home sauna back in the UK. Your wife will love it and no complaints about the weather. Brits are always negative about the weather, but it isn't different in North France and they never seem to complain. Being in the UK you'll also have loads of opportunities to go for short breaks during winter, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Turkey etc.

Whereabouts in Illinois are you headed? I've been here (ex N. Ireland myself) for almost ten years so let me know if you have any questions, I may be able to help.

Chicago area.

Nice one. I'm in the far northern suburbs so if you have any questions or need any pointers I may well be able to help.

So feel for you. We spent 8 years in NZ. Had many positive experiences (and a few not so) over the years. I would stand and marvel at the beautiful scenery but my head was just screaming but its just not home (just like you) We returned two years ago - best thing we ever did. Unfortunately in my desperation to get home I didn't make the most of my last months as I had already left!! Try and make the most of your remaining time and enjoy the friends that you have made, it will hopefully help with your feeling of desperation and help make your time left a little easier. A friend once told me Millions of flowers open without forcing the buds. Everything will happen in the right time. Good luck with everything

Thanks will do.

Remember being able to see Carrick when standing on the beach in Bangor

Ah, yes. I remember being able to see Bangor while trying to work out why they call that pathetic little strip of sand at Carrick a 'beach'

I came to the US but have a similar story.

I have wanted to go home for many, many years but for one reason or another didn't at the time.

Now, as I get older, the desire to go back is much, much stronger, especially over the last six years.

I survived the years here by cutting off part of my soul in the years I was here and by being very depressed and on anti-depressants on and off for a long time.

Today, I have panic attacks because the desire to go home is so strong that it feels life is not worth living unless I do.

I hope I am on my last year in the USA because living here gets harder and harder for me every single day. I don't just mean economically. I feel as if I am not living the life I was supposed to have, not where I am supposed to be. I have lived a half-life, if not a quarter-life, since the day I landed here.

Not much help, I know, but it is how I survived it - with dread!

I could have said this myself .... its exactly how I feel.

I'm going back to Bangor and Carrick in May - should I take my cozzie?

Not sure Belfast Lough will have warmed up sufficiently by May to go into without a full wetsuit . You could always nip up the Antrim Coast to the even better Portrush beach, of course. Easy to get to from either because the A2 runs through both Carrick and Bangor.

Bangor beach is quite nice though. You say 'going back' - have you been to my old stomping grounds many times before? I'm heading back to Carrick myself for 10 days in June/July ...

Yes, I visit the University of Ulster every now and then as I do some research with them. I've just taken on external examiner duties for the affiliated 2-year programs at three "FE colleges" on 5 campuses, so I'll be in Carickfergus, Bangor, Belfast, Coleraine, and Derry (I think) in late spring. I was in Carickfergus in January for the external examiner orientation.

I also have a good friend who has lived in NI most of her life (grew up in Castlewellan, now lives in Killyleagh) and I visit her about once a year. Have had a fun time every time I've visited NI.

[Sorry, OP, didn't mean to take your thread off-track!]