airways

I intend to finish my days in the UK. I just plan on living for ever........

us4now

I guess my username says it all. The US is fine, but still seems like a place I am only here temporarily, could never inagine being here when I am old.
I definitely prefer Europe, better quality of life I think. I have enjoyed my time in the U.S but I know it is coming to an end. and thats fine with me.
Great quote from John Pierce, sums up my feelings perfectly

JayLad92

Thanks everyone for your posts! You have all helped me to see a little clearer!

Bob

It's all down to personal circumstances, it's just that simple.

At the end of the day, each country can be exactly the same as the other for the issues they have and yet be completely different.

What will make you happier is what you find important in life and if that's what you do for work, or your friends and family, or going mountain climbing, or shooting guns, what ever it is, it'll be that that dictates what will make you happy.

Comparing the countries is completely a wasted task because you just can't. If you live in a pokey flat in London and move to Texas, you can't compare the country because they aren't even on a similar footing. Likewise, moving from Nottingham to CA, it's going to be a completely different experience, different type of CoL and life style.

So, yeah, go where ever you can get a job in this economic climate would be my opinion, leaving any doors as open as you can.

Elvira

Indeed, indeed, dear Bob.

You couldn't pay me enough to swap my ex-council pad in Putney for a McMansion in TX

augigi

It's a hard thing to pin down - I will always feel like Australia is "home" in that innate way where you just fit in without trying and know your way around the places and the systems and the language... but I miss things about the US now when I go "home" to Aus and look forward to getting "home" to the US too.. it's confusing!

E3only

Totally relate to that….

I lived in Australia for almost ten years before I moved up here to CA. Born in India, I did my schooling there…

If you ask me today, in a weird way I wouldn’t mind leaving US and AUS and move back to India. I think it’s more to do with the culture, family, friends, favorite places, hang outs etc. That being said, I have all of the above in AUS and if I were to live in US for another 10 years then I would have about the same in US.

It’s very personal kinda what you want from life. No one can give you an answer as to what is best fro you. FOR me, my long term residence would very much be dictated by my ageing parents. When they grow older, I will be with them if that means living in India….from that perspective, US perhaps is a no go! Until they are able (physically), I better get cracking at repaying the mortgage, grow within the industry I am working in, may be work in UK etc etc.

keaki80

Jerseygirl has summed it all up; to the original poster and everyone who is thinking of emigrating - or even going back "home". You can't begin to compare the 2 countries because they are so different.
It doesn't seem like a week passes where someone doesn't ask these questions on here - and I know what you are all going through.
Bottom line is your life is mainly dictated by who you are - if you want to look for the bad in a place and the people, it can be found anywhere.
But, I also believe if you have less to leave behind, mainly in the terms of family; then the move is always going to be easier.

Another ex-pat who lives close here in the US has parents back home who she saw only twice a year before she moved here, so her transition was so much easier than mine, who left behind a mass of family.
Airways, you sound pretty fed up with your life in the UK right now, so I'm sure you will love the change. What is that saying - a change is as good as a rest?

As for where to spend the majority of life, I think it's more a question of where will most people here choose to grow old - and I think, reading other posts here, that that will be UK.

For now, I'm happy to stay in the USA. I think our dear old home country is not going through a very good patch right now, it all seems very unstable - but then, you could say the same about here.
See,.. Jaylad, such confusion!!!

Poppy girl

I think too many folk hang onto memories of the UK and its not the same when you go back people move on you want it to all be this safe little cocoon but its not in my opinion.......I just find it depressing seeing old friends looking older then thier years,knowing that so many friends and family have passed away that I remember in my minds eye of younger years when they were fit and healthy, seeing the same TV re-runs the gloomy weather the expensive cost of living, no way could I earn in the UK what I do in the US.....the 2 week vacation to Benidorm, Blackpool BOLLOCKS........give me the US any day, I just feel I fit in better here its my home and I would never move back to the UK not in a million light years.

ian-mstm

Y'know... a light year is a measure of distance, not time! <running & ducking>

Ian

Englishman43

I used to say that as well. SO much depends on your age, financial position, relationship status, family relationships etc It's an unanswerable question I think.

dunroving

I agree with a lot of what you say, but not quite as strongly. I do think some people are hanging onto an idealistic image of "Blighty" (I mean, calling it "Blighty" is a clue that someone might be living in the past, IMO).

blue_blanket

This thread caught my attention because I am leaving the US and moving to a new country.

I have been thinking and reading a lot about relocating and immigrating. I read somewhere (It might have been here on BE) that moving because you want to get away from something is less likely to be successful, than if a person moves towards something new. In other worse, I have had to double check that I want to live where I am heading, and not just leaving because I am unhappy with where I am currently.

As to neighbors and a community feel, I can only speak for my experiences in Chicago. I have never lived anywhere else, but I have lived in single-family houses, small apartment buildings, and now a high-rise. The neighborhood might be 'friendly' in that people nod to each other when they pass, if the see each other frequently. I would not know what to do, though, if a neighbor would just knock on the door to have a visit! In 40 years, it has never happened. I imagine my neighbors would be horrified if I did that to them. It would never occur to any of us to socialise with each other. We happen to live near each other, and that is it. I would not know if they were in need of a casserole unless they hung a sign on the door.

A sense of community here comes from whatever social groups one might belong to. For instance, a place of worship one joins, a ethnic/heritage club or organisation (Polish, Irish, Italian clubs etc), work/school related groups, or sports/gyms to name a few.

I am not trying to put anyone off coming here, but I agree with what the others have said. One cannot compare two places, as they are just different.
I think it can be tricky if one begins to see 'here' as rotten, and 'over there' as better.

Best of luck to you, whatever you decide.

SultanOfSwing

I've pissed off a fair few people pointing that out!

Poppy girl

LOL Keep ducking.