Emigrating

[calorific]

I can;t help but feel that it would be lovely to go and buy somewhere abroad with a more temperate climate, with a small plot of land nearby and try to become as self sufficient as possible. Does anyone know of anyone who has done this?

 

[masona]

2 of my friends have done this approximately 5yrs ago, I pop over to visit them but they often feel homesick, they now can't sell their property, I think the best way is if you can afford it is to keep your home as a backup and just pop over whenever you feel like it

 

[chapeau]

I emigrated, came home, don't regret it even though the weather is worse and the money isn't as good in the UK. Grass is always greener....

I'd consider moving somewhere in Europe but would keep a house in the UK and do it in small steps so you don't commit before you know it's what you want to do.

 

[calorific]

Was that to the US?

Was thinking of somewhere like Turkey

 

[Dave54]

The biggest problem I've always thought of moving to a non-English speaking country was the language thing. It's lonely if you can't have a real conversation with anyone, apart from "How much are those tomatoes", and being virtually illiterate until you get up to speed must make things awkward when you have to deal with the inevitable bureaucracy. If you speak and write the language there's no problem of course.
Having said that it'd be nice to live somewhere it didn't rain every day!

 

[longdogs]

The biggest problem I've always thought of moving to a non-English speaking country was the language thing. It's lonely if you can't have a real conversation with anyone, apart from "How much are those tomatoes", and being virtually illiterate until you get up to speed must make things awkward when you have to deal with the inevitable bureaucracy. If you speak and write the language there's no problem of course.
Having said that it'd be nice to live somewhere it didn't rain every day!

I think I would enjoy learning a new language. I am quite good at picking up languages but I think the propblem would come when the phone rings and you can't understand who it is and what they are saying. I'ts bad enough when the Scots ring me from call centres. I suppose America would be the answer to that, where you just fit in and don't have to worry about understanding people. Most of Europe dosn't like us anyway so fitting in would be hard.
We looked at moving to Cyprus a short while back because you can buy some amazing purpose built villas over there, with swimming pools for the price of an average semi over here but there is hardly any work.
I understand though it would be nice to move away from the rain, overcrowding, rip-off prices and our inept governments. One advantage of course moving to a non-English speaking country is that all the b*llox that goes on wouldn't worry you because it's not your country of origin.

 

[joinerjohn]

The biggest problem I've always thought of moving to a non-English speaking country was the language thing.

Dunno so much. There's areas of many English towns and cities where you hardly hear the English language.

 

[Norcon]

Had a neighbour who emigrated to Canada (mechanic)with his wife and two children.
Sold out his property here which included land. Which now incidentally has another two homes built on it.

Came home after about 12 years and moved into a much more delipidated home. His children have to go out now and buy their own building sites which daddy could have provided free.
So he went backwards.

 

[Norcon]

I emigrated, came home, don't regret it even though the weather is worse and the money isn't as good in the UK. Grass is always greener....

I'd consider moving somewhere in Europe but would keep a house in the UK and do it in small steps so you don't commit before you know it's what you want to do.

If the grass was greener you would still be there. It's not all about financial wealth!

 

[Dave54]

A guy I knew a long time ago moved back fromCanada. He'd lived there for some years but moved back when he had heart problems, and from what I remember his health insurance either ran out, or wouldn't cover him any longer.
There's a lot of things to consider before making a move like that.

 

[chapeau]

Was that to the US?

Was thinking of somewhere like Turkey

Yes to the USA. Great experience but not home, though I have the ability to return if need be.

Turkey would be quite a brave step IMO. I think it's easier to 'fit in' to a properly western european country. I would say any new home would have to have a similar value system as the UK, whatever that means of course, that is an individual call.

Malta might be an interesting place to consider in the EU proper, though I think Norway is the country of choice in Europe, but harder to get into and you don't get weather like you do in the Med.

 

[Harbourwoodwork]

Denmark is rated as one of the least stresed country's to live in the world.

 

[Dave54]

Denmark is rated as one of the least stresed country's to live in the world.

Yes, but isn't the beer supposed to be more expensive there?

 

[Harbourwoodwork]

Denmark is rated as one of the least stresed country's to live in the world.

Yes, but isn't the beer supposed to be more expensive there?

Good point

 

[ladylola]

but the original post talked about being self sufficient so he'd be brewing his own