Springy6

I think that's a good idea.

We're currently in the process of relocating to Maryland this summer with 2 teenagers. We've spent a lot of time in the U.S. over the years but when we visited schools at Easter, found ourselves looking at it in a different way. What came clear to us was that an'exit plan' was important to have and, as a result, we're now trying to let our house rather than sell.

We are definitely going to give it a go, as I'm sure you will, because we don't want to be saying "what if" in 10 years time if we don't do it.

scrubbedexpat099

Fighting talk...

jjmb

You will see plenty of 70/80yrs old working over here due to finances. Pretty sure the woman who prepared our taxes this year was well into her 80's, one reason we will be changing our tax accountant.

scrubbedexpat099

Europe is the blue bit

Pulaski

You have made no compelling reason to move to the US at all, but you have set yourself up for numerous disappointments and frustrstions.
No!

Keeping a house in the UK can lead to problems and frustration if you get a bad tenant or a bad property manager. Also it can turn into an expensive tax situation if you don't sell within three years - if you have owned it for a number of years it could easily run to tens of thousands of dollars.

scrubbedexpat097

Yep. We are 60 and 61 now and our working days will be carrying on for the considerable future.

My boss is retiring at the end of June . He is only 57 but he has worked for the County for 30 years and his pay out from our private pension plan will be more a month than he earns now, plus he has his own business he is trying to build up.

I wish we were in the same position but we haven't been in our jobs with benefits long enough to do that . Also if we retired before 65 our medical insurance would cost a fortune, at least at 65 Medicare kicks in and helps that problem.

stockhall

You seem to be missing a few islands there, not only UK, but Ireland, Faroe Islands, cyprus, madeira, the azures, Iceland, Greenland, sicily, sardinia, corsica, many of the Greek Isles, the balearics and the canaries to name a few the map you have is faulty. A better comprehensive map of Europe.
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=map%20of%20europe&source=web&cd=& cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Flinzh ouweb.com%2F186222-europe-map&ei=6WtzVfKhMoroUuXqgOgI&bvm=bv.95039771,d.d24& psig=AFQjCNE8jUQfzIU46m5_BLSvdVI6arWPrg&ust=143371 3474648794

Pulaski

That's funny, because your blog says that you came over because you were invited/ encouraged by relatives of M.

Admittedly the relatives, as far as I can tell, didn't want much, if anything, to do with you after you arrived, but still you did have a reason to come other than "you just felt like it".

stockhall

What sort of compelling reasons would be acceptable to you? You clearly are very hard to please.

Noorah101

So if UK is not consisted part of Europe, what continent is it part of? Not trying to cause a stir, genuinely curious, as it goes against what I've thought all my life.

Rene

Jerseygirl

It's part of Europe. We tend to refer to the France, Germany, Italy etc as Continental Europe.

scrubbedexpat097

We weren't invited. When we found out we could come over we just decided to do it. They encouraged us to come to Texas and not try elsewhere, which seemed like the best idea at the time. And yes they were absolutely no help when we arrived and never have been ...and they weren't just his "relatives" it was his mother ( you can chose your friends but not your family)

Noorah101

Thanks! Must be some inside joke going on, or Boiler and Pulaski were pulling my leg or something...oh well, back to regularly scheduled programming. LOL

Rene

Pulaski

I believe you're mistaken. ..... I have succeeding in get several "official" reports issued (internally) at work that refer to "the UK and Europe".

stockhall

When did I ever say I just felt like it aside from that why would I need to justify myself. It makes most economical, personal and practical sense, being paid in US dollars is a big issue when it comes to practical matters. It may not be big, but until he was able to open up a US account we lost a fair amount every month in conversion. We automatically save that if everything is dealt in dollars. He has American colleagues some from many other states NC and TX were the ones recommended for a move. Finally on a personal note yes I want to, I would love to live there. Admittedly my first choice was Australia but that ain't ever going to happen unless I qualify in a job that is of high interest, the US is fascinating, my favourite books are set in the southern states ok in the 19 30's, but still. I find US history fascinating as do I UK's. I am not abandoning my roots and I will miss my family but the world is so big and amazing, life is too short and Texas is my choice (if all goes to plan) for the next few years. The change of lifestyle may be hard at first I get that totally, been looking up national and state holidays and found myself going wow more times than not.

I am open minded, you may not believe it but I am. I am shy yes, but I get there in the end. I am proud every day of all my children and will help them as much as I can to achieve their best. I am hoping that the way the education system works in the state makes my kids realise that they have it easy here and it is not a free ride to leave some things to the last minute.

I am hoping to take my children and explore that vast nation and if that takes until I am 60 plus I will do it. It scares me and excites me. The weather is unpredictable at times and can be down right dangerous, but you can keep safe.

Reality is it will be a big change and upheaval there will be negatives there will be positives. I will have times when I feel lonely I will have times when I will feel loved. There will be months when money is tighter and months when it is not but with a roof over our heads, clothes on our backs and food in our bellies, educated happy well mannered playful children (as they are children) then it should not matter where it is, but if you have that little bit more room to breath then it is just that bit more special and appealing.

This has turned a bit theatrical apologies.