This country and why people live here..NB

[Koeketiene]

Pretty much my list too - apart from the accents (where are the subtitles when you need them?)

<hr width=100% size=1>Experience is a good teacher, but she sends in terrific bills.

 

[Sybarite]

As a long term expatriate - >30 yrs - I believe 3 years out is a critical period. This is long enough to have developed a new circle of friends and to - perhaps - feel not quite so close to your friends at home.

Those who stay more than 3 years are at least 50% probably going to stay for along time. I have seen this pattern many times.

John

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[TheBoatman]

One Abiding Memory

I was one of those £10 Poms that went to Aussie. I spent 3 years there before I returned by boat and the one memory that has stuck with me to this day is; I was below decks in one of the long corridors when over the ships tanoy the 1st officer made the following announcement
“In a few minutes the ships whistle will sound, this will mark our entry into the English Channel”
Everybody including me came to an instant halt; we all just stood in total silence until the ships whistle sounded off, then the most almighty cheer went up and everybody seemed to be a changed person, laughing, crying, dancing about like lunatics. Even at the tender age of 17, I knew why I was English thru’ and thru’ and couldn’t conceive of living anywhere else!
That night I think everybody on the boat stood out on the decks trying to get the first glimpse of a light on the shore that was an “English” light. I know it sounds very sad but it’s the truth. The final irony was that we arrived in Southampton Water and the berth was full so we had to layoff over night before docking the next morning!!!!
Peter.

BTW
Whilst typing this post I have a tear in my eye just thinking about it, even after 35 years.


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Guest]

Seven years living in Moscow had its ups and downs, but was fun, and the ups more than made up for the downs. I much preferred it to living in the UK. After that I moved back to the UK (Oxford) for a couple of years, but couldn't enjoy it any more. This incidentally was the case among most of my British friends who had lived in Moscow - they found it difficult to force themselves to move back to the UK, and most of them haven't: ten years on, only one is back in the UK, the others in Moscow, Kazakhstan, Warsaw etc.

Then, after Oxford, I moved to Krakow in Poland, which for me is the most charming place I have ever been, I get tremendous pleasure from just strolling the streets. Every time I arrive back here, I find my heart lightening. I always experience a sinking feeling when I travel to Britain, though I am very glad to see family there.

I like many things about the English/British character, but there are other things I detest, and for me the country as a whole has rather lost the plot, and in the end is just plain boring.

That may sound harsh, but it's honest. I think I am the luckiest guy I know living as I do. Perhaps if I didn't have the opportunity to visit the UK from time to time I might start to miss it a bit more.


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[BrendanS]

I'd be interested in a full write up of your experiences and challenges in NZ. It's one of the few of the very many places I've travelled to where I'd consider emigrating, so would appreciate any experiences you've had.

<hr width=100% size=1>Me transmitte sursum, caledoni

 

[ShipsWoofy]

NZ is a great place but I was driven to despair by the constant noise of the cicadas. When I first left Aukland airport as a passenger in the car I thought the car had serious bearing problems until I worked out the noise was from outside.

The natives all say they can't hear it, it just fades, well it didn't, for three weeks and probably a similar time once home all I could hear was that deafening screeching of those damn bugs.

Otherwise a great place with the climate we brits actually wish for, not too hot, but lots of sunny days in the summer that mean you can plan things and travel with only a small bag; Rather than carrying a full all weather wardrobe for a weekend away.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk>Woof</A>

 

[ccscott49]

Left tthe UK some years ago, No family there now, some friends, who visit me and very occasionally I visit them. No intentions of coming back to UK to live, love my life on the boat cruising where I want, new friends new places, new experiences. I couldnt do with the crowded, cold, miserable UK anymore, nor the politics and bullshit. But still love the people and some areas (west coast of Scotland, west country) I can see why people live there, just not me anymore.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Dave_Snelson]

Seems to me that you have already taken significant steps towards this because you have "chucked the job in" and done the ARC! Good move!

Me?? Well at 48, I have 3 teenage kids in a good school, and a wife who adores her Mum (and her Mum is definately a good 'un!). So that's me tied up for a few years yet.

I also would like to work in boating and I am currently looking at doing APB and PB Instructor. I am also studying engineering and fabrication at night school in order to learn how to make things from Stainless Steel and Aluminium. I believe there is a market for bespoke component manufacture in the marine leisure industry.

Cheers
Dave

<hr width=100% size=1>Madoc Yacht Club
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.madocyachtclub.co.uk>http://www.madocyachtclub.co.uk</A>

 

[Benbow]

Well I don't live there any more. When I returned to the UK after a long stint abroad with kids who had never known Britain except for short holidays, we were all appalled by the small-minded parochial ignorance of virtually everyone we met. After going to schools with 20 different nationalities in a class of 25, the kids were nonplussed to find that they were suddenly being mocked for wearing the wrong kind of trainers or speaking with the wrong accent.

We felt, and still do, that we had a totally different view of life from almost everyone we met. That makes it quite difficult to feel at home. However, the benefit that the kids gain from that outside perspective is dramatic. Because they can see the cliques that the clique-members cannot see, they appear more mature and more able to mix with people from different backgrounds.

On a more practical level, I found Britain boring, over populated and over-regulated. So I left again! I agree that some Brits seem to suffer from a total disorientation when they leave and never come to terms with what is really increased freedom but many see as frightening loss of security. Certainly life is often more physically dangerous, but that is not a price to be paid; it is part of benefit.

And as for the sailing, until you have surfed a fireball on a 3-sail reach down 5m swells in 30kn of wind in water the temperature of warm milk, you have never lived.


<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[tr7v8]

Umm, interesting post. English born & bred for 47 years & married to my lovely wife from Sierra Leone, who has lived here most of her life although did live in the USA for 10 years. I've worked in Libya, Italy and we regularly holiday in France. I'd love to move abroad but my wife won't. Her comment is she doesn't want to feel a second class citizen somewhere else, my comment is as a working man I feel like a second class citizen here! I commute 75 miles each day, each way, around the M25 (Chatham to Bracknell) and I've had enough.
2 interesting comments, one from my IFA who has around 2000+ contractors on his Co. books "About 1 in 4 of my clients are looking to go away from the UK permanently in the next 5 years"
Also as a member of the TR Register 6 couples from the Kent group have now sold up and gone to France with another 2 going to Spain.

<hr width=100% size=1>Jim

Draco 2500

 

[Metabarca]

"So where exactly do you live? It sounds great! "
Trieste: Friuli-Venezia Giulia (the region) is great: lowish density of population, little crime, lots to do, lots of major destinations nearby, from Venice (1hr) to Vienna (4hrs), Ljubljana (1hr) and Budapest (5hrs). Cold winters, though! And my berth in the centre of town = €500 (+ club fees).



<hr width=100% size=1>Adriatic links here: <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.comoy.com/saillinks.html>http://www.comoy.com/saillinks.html</A>

 

[Benbow]

>Her comment is she doesn't want to feel a second class citizen somewhere else,<

Don't understand that, she is far less likely to encounter bigotry in a cosmopolitan environment abroad than in the UK.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Violetta]

That\'s an easy one

I have no doubt there are many places in the world where I could have a great life.
I've visited many such places and got to know some of them very well. But I have no wish to move because if I did I would miss out on the great life I have here.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[halcyon]

We have had at least 4 couple move to France from our local yacht club in the last couple of years, and that's not that large.

Brian

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[AlexL]

Lots of people like to work in this country as you can earn good money, but alot of those who have the money to choose, choose not to retire here, or live here for large portions of the year. I have travelled much of the world and the grass is definately not allways greener, however there are places I would prefer to live - some of them are in the UK, some not - just not in the South East where I am now.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Andrew_Fanner]

Why are you all here?

Because we are not all there...

Other reasons might be

Decent beer (although a strong challenge from Czech Republic)
Curry restaurants
South of the M4 most people East of Bath have a fair command of the same tongue that I speak
Policement who don't habitually carry guns.

<hr width=100% size=1>Two beers please, my friend is paying.

 

[clouty]

I returned to England from Spain three years ago. Everyone said "WHY?" "You must be mad".

1. The access to culture
2. Easier paperwork - in Spain , to buy a car, you have to visit three government offices, one twice, and pay each time. And just don't talk about taxes - much more onerous
3. The longer, and much more interesting sailing season - last race is in October over there, new season opens at Easter
4. Sausages, marmite, tea, chedder cheese, Abbots Ale.....

Don't diss England. Everywhere has it's advantages and it's disadvantages. Though I dream of exploring the rest of this amazing world, by boat of course.



<hr width=100% size=1>clouty

 

[Marsupial]

Will bale out next year, hate it here, would leave tomorrow if I could. I have watched Britain spiral down and down for last 40 years as sucessive goverments have milked it dry - it has no future unless you are super rich - why? consider this -for example a set of 12 router bits now costs £4.99 + VAT when I was an apprentice 40 years ago one cost over £30.00 - all you economists out there get your heads round that! UK limited simply cannot support 60 million people with that kind of competition given its cost base. I now work longer hours to earn less, this year wife and I are so knackered after a week at work we often dont get to go sailing - so where is the reward? Many friends have gone to the med for a couple of years - and not returned after 10. Family are all grown up and now and looking after themselves. Its time to get out while we still can. I need a window in the weather to cross Biscay next May/June.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[tcm]

Re: selling up

ah but tax on selling properties is up to a massive 4%, and tax on selling a business is 10%, so, being a total stingbag, my only option is to continue to sit here and whinge.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[ChrisE]

Re: selling up

<<my only option is to continue to sit here and whinge.>>

You'll be in good company then judging by the other comments

Me? I live in the UK because I like it here, I've lived abroad and can see pros and cons of many places. I've come to the conclusion that me and the UK are wedded for good. That's not to say that I won't be off sailing in the foreign again, I will, but I'll always return here for the seasons, the culture and above all the humour.

I'll even put up with the whinging!

<hr width=100% size=1>