Whos given up everything to follow a dream ?
Discussion
Fun Bus said:
JayTee94 said:
Fun Bus said:
JayTee94 said:
My parents have.
We moved to Florida in 2005. It was an amazing experience, we gave up a lovely house, car(s) and my parents had successfull jobs.
It was decided on a white sandy beach on holiday at sunset. I respect my parents very much for trying something new, giving me the chance to meet new contacts/friends and having many experiences that I can share!
Genuine question JT (aside from me taking the Micky) - what brought your family back to the UK? I understand if its for reasons you don't want to share here.We moved to Florida in 2005. It was an amazing experience, we gave up a lovely house, car(s) and my parents had successfull jobs.
It was decided on a white sandy beach on holiday at sunset. I respect my parents very much for trying something new, giving me the chance to meet new contacts/friends and having many experiences that I can share!
Not a dream so much. I was asked to go to India (Jaipur) for 5-6 months to finish a project off. The plan was then to return to the UK, join a different company (all agreed) and buy a house. Well the 5-6 months became 2 years, 5 years after that moved to Dubai where I have been based for the last 7 years.
Do I regret not moving back to the UK, nope not one bit.
Do I regret not moving back to the UK, nope not one bit.
Negative Creep said:
......The problem is just working out what I could do, or who would hire me.......
I spent over ten years in that quandary: desperate to go abroad, get out of England, but had no real money, or any job prospects overseas, and no idea how to get one. The crazy house price bubble farce at the end of the 80's let me make money selling my house, so away I went. Other than that I'm pretty sure I'd still be working in a factory in the Midlands...
When money ran out I got a job simply walking around an industrial estate/offshore supply base in Singapore, knocking on doors and asking for work.
We're 3 days away. We haven't "given up everything" - I'm moving out with my wife and son to live abroad. My wife will be working, I will be after settling in and caring for my son initially. But sitting here in my house absolutely empty, with 2 suitcases packed upstairs, it feels pretty terminal! I've given up one of the last secure jobs there is, with a "golden" pension. We'd done everything in a very low risk way though, career break, renting out our house rather than selling up etc.
The decision point for us was the job offer for Mrs Nev. We knew we needed "$x" to lead an equivalent lifestyle, they offered her "$x +20%"
And we sat on our sofa in the living room and thought "If we're sat here in 5 years wondering what could have been, we'll never forgive ourselves". So, off to a new land to see what life near a beach is like!
The decision point for us was the job offer for Mrs Nev. We knew we needed "$x" to lead an equivalent lifestyle, they offered her "$x +20%"
And we sat on our sofa in the living room and thought "If we're sat here in 5 years wondering what could have been, we'll never forgive ourselves". So, off to a new land to see what life near a beach is like!
My dream was to travel, I planned to go for a while, after leaving an ex who left me in debt, it wasn't really an option. But after a lot of work I managed to break even and with some smart credit card balance transferred incurred no interest charges too.
I was finally ready to start saving and then my companies announced redundancies. Brilliant I thought, I can volunteer for that, take the money including selling my car and don't have to wait a year of saving up to go. So I did a 2 months later, once redundancy pay was in the bank, car sale money was in the bank, and a random idea of getting a motorbike licence within a week worked out.
I've been travelling for 4 years on and off since now. South East Asia was brilliant, but then I went to Australia and it destroyed my budget leaving me with just a camper van, which I sold for a flight home to the UK. After that I found a job in Japan and spent a year there, and now after a brief sprint in the UK to finish off my degree which I had a 7 year gap year from and save some more money I'm back in Japan with the woman I married here a few months ago. This wasn't part of my dream/plan, but I am happy now at least. I need a job but intend to travel more as and when finances allow.
I was finally ready to start saving and then my companies announced redundancies. Brilliant I thought, I can volunteer for that, take the money including selling my car and don't have to wait a year of saving up to go. So I did a 2 months later, once redundancy pay was in the bank, car sale money was in the bank, and a random idea of getting a motorbike licence within a week worked out.
I've been travelling for 4 years on and off since now. South East Asia was brilliant, but then I went to Australia and it destroyed my budget leaving me with just a camper van, which I sold for a flight home to the UK. After that I found a job in Japan and spent a year there, and now after a brief sprint in the UK to finish off my degree which I had a 7 year gap year from and save some more money I'm back in Japan with the woman I married here a few months ago. This wasn't part of my dream/plan, but I am happy now at least. I need a job but intend to travel more as and when finances allow.
WeirdNeville said:
We're 3 days away. We haven't "given up everything" - I'm moving out with my wife and son to live abroad. My wife will be working, I will be after settling in and caring for my son initially. But sitting here in my house absolutely empty, with 2 suitcases packed upstairs, it feels pretty terminal!
I was the same in 2010, my wife and daughter flew out to our new home, in the Philippines, leaving me in the totally empty house for three days before I flew out to my ship. Walking round the gutted house was painful, remembering the four years we'd lived there, very sad. And leaving my hand built workshop behind too.
I was almost in shell shock that we had gone from happy families in the UK, to a holiday to the Philippines in February, to moving there in May, it all happened so quickly it was unreal!
And the most painful part of all, leaving my parents behind, in their mid seventies.
They lived not ten minutes walk from us, we'd seen them probably once a week for years, and our daughter got on great with them. I went back to visit last year, but my daughter and wife haven't been back for nearly three years.
Ice
What sort of work did you find in Japan? I was applying for the JAPAC scheme a couple of years ago before this gig came up.
I wouldn't say I gave up everything to come here (Dubai) and it also wasn't to follow a dream. Saying that, the expat life agrees perfectly with me and it may facilitate a move/green card for the US if I play my cards right.
Xaero said:
My dream was to travel, I planned to go for a while, after leaving an ex who left me in debt, it wasn't really an option. But after a lot of work I managed to break even and with some smart credit card balance transferred incurred no interest charges too.
I was finally ready to start saving and then my companies announced redundancies. Brilliant I thought, I can volunteer for that, take the money including selling my car and don't have to wait a year of saving up to go. So I did a 2 months later, once redundancy pay was in the bank, car sale money was in the bank, and a random idea of getting a motorbike licence within a week worked out.
I've been travelling for 4 years on and off since now. South East Asia was brilliant, but then I went to Australia and it destroyed my budget leaving me with just a camper van, which I sold for a flight home to the UK. After that I found a job in Japan and spent a year there, and now after a brief sprint in the UK to finish off my degree which I had a 7 year gap year from and save some more money I'm back in Japan with the woman I married here a few months ago. This wasn't part of my dream/plan, but I am happy now at least. I need a job but intend to travel more as and when finances allow.
Nice!I was finally ready to start saving and then my companies announced redundancies. Brilliant I thought, I can volunteer for that, take the money including selling my car and don't have to wait a year of saving up to go. So I did a 2 months later, once redundancy pay was in the bank, car sale money was in the bank, and a random idea of getting a motorbike licence within a week worked out.
I've been travelling for 4 years on and off since now. South East Asia was brilliant, but then I went to Australia and it destroyed my budget leaving me with just a camper van, which I sold for a flight home to the UK. After that I found a job in Japan and spent a year there, and now after a brief sprint in the UK to finish off my degree which I had a 7 year gap year from and save some more money I'm back in Japan with the woman I married here a few months ago. This wasn't part of my dream/plan, but I am happy now at least. I need a job but intend to travel more as and when finances allow.
What sort of work did you find in Japan? I was applying for the JAPAC scheme a couple of years ago before this gig came up.
I wouldn't say I gave up everything to come here (Dubai) and it also wasn't to follow a dream. Saying that, the expat life agrees perfectly with me and it may facilitate a move/green card for the US if I play my cards right.
10 years ago I packed 2 bags and my skis and headed to a new motorsport related job in NE Italy - was the best thing I have ever done and never looked back. I was 25 at the time, living in London and was looking for a change - girlfriend at the time wasn't too keen but I wanted to challenge myself and fulfill the dream of living by the mountains. I now work in a completely unrelated industry but love the life here, I've travelled the world met some amazing people and realised there is so much more to life than I had imagined. If you have the chance, do it - it broadens the mind.
h0b0 said:
I have. I left England with 2 bags and a hotel reservation in NJ. I left behind the person I expected to spend the rest of my life with and an amazing apartment in the center of Manchester. I was 25 and had a job offer that would allow me to live in spitting distance of NYC.
It was absolutely worth it in every way. 8 years on I'm married and have a son. Those are the things that count to me. On a materialistic level I have a lifestyle level that I could only dream of before.
But, for those who only aspire to own a big house and drive nice cars, you are doing life wrong. Life is about relationships, health and experience and I now know that all too well. I would walk away from everything again in a heart beat as long as I can take my wife and son. The adventure is the fun part not the maintaining. That bit is dull
You're my new hero. I wish I had the balls to do something like that!It was absolutely worth it in every way. 8 years on I'm married and have a son. Those are the things that count to me. On a materialistic level I have a lifestyle level that I could only dream of before.
But, for those who only aspire to own a big house and drive nice cars, you are doing life wrong. Life is about relationships, health and experience and I now know that all too well. I would walk away from everything again in a heart beat as long as I can take my wife and son. The adventure is the fun part not the maintaining. That bit is dull
Edited by h0b0 on Saturday 3rd November 13:48
chunkymonkey71 said:
You're my new hero. I wish I had the balls to do something like that!
Some times you don't feel like there is a choice. Someone else said "What happens if I look back in 10 years time and I am still sat on the same sofa?". Well for me that would have been the worst thing imaginable.The way things worked out my girlfriend at the time was originally meant to come with me. So, it did not seem like giving up, it was a new start for both of us. But, her mother put a stop to that so I was then left with the decision of staying or going. At this point there was no win situation. i would not have resented my girlfriend but that would not matter. She would always feel like I did. I was also in the middle of staging a semi hostile take over of my father's company. (he was on board but his business partners were not). I dropped the idea of taking over the company and went decided to go for a new life. I had to tell my girlfriend that I was leaving. We were sat on a rock over looking the mumbles in Wales and just as she had said "this is my favourtie place on earth" I replied back with "I going". I think that makes me a bit of a dick but I had run out of time by then. The place in Manchester had to go the next day due to circumstances and while I was waiting for my visa I lived with her in Sale. Her new place was a 400sft basement apartment that flooded every time it rained. It was miserable.
people would ask if I was excited about the move. I have asked other people who have moved and they have similar responses. The answer is probably not. There were so many things going on that all the emotions seemed to balance out and you just get things done.
One thing I did notice is body language differences. I have very bad hearing which means that with out body language and seeing lips I can not follow a conversation. When I first moved it was like I was deaf. I misjudged moods and meaning all the time. It took a while for me to get used to the new mannerisms and to understand when someone is "faking" what they are saying or how they are acting. That might just be me because of my hearing difficulties though.
Funny you mention this, i was going to write a post on here about my experience....
I have dual nationality US/UK, and have been living in the UK for damn near all my life, i have wanted to move to the US for many years now, i suppose to do with the perceived benefits etc.
Its really only been the right time to go, i am married, have a good few years experience in chosen fields which are now in demand, have cash saved up and equity in the house so that we can sell it, or rent it.
So in the past 5 months or so we have been doing the whole due dilligance thing, checking out finances, job markets, specific areas to live and compiled a list of places to go, in the end it has come down to Raleigh/Duram in North Carolina, and the Wayne/Philidelphia area in Pensylvania, my wife has just got her visa through now too.
My wife was having second thoughts about it all, which is understandable before we jack in our jobs and sell our house and move, we decided to take a trip to check out these areas, drive around a bit, speak to folk, check out the commuter areas to where we would potentially work.
It became quickly apparent to us after arriving in Raleigh, that it wasn¡¦t for us, then the Hurricane hit while we were in Washington DC. Philidelphia however I quite enjoyed. However again it wasn¡¦t for us¡K. It was a mixture of a major thing for me, time. Or lack of, when working/living in the US, then lots of small things which added up. Distance to shops, gym¡¦s, work, activities. The fact, im not really too keen on Americans, on the whole (my perception I suppose) they live in constant fear of things, and are more concerned with their work instead of living a life, along with other personality/culture traits which just get on my nerves.
Now we are back, and glad we didn¡¦t give everything up for the so called dream, we are now possibly a little lost as to what to do, we may still move house within the UK, have a baby (wife REALLY wants one) and have all the holidays we are entitled to, and enjoying our friends, family, free time, hobbies. I may just have to buy a new car to cheer myself up! ƒº
I suppose the point in going to the US was for money, paid more, taxed less, and things are cheaper on the whole. But then no time to enjoy them would hurt me. So staying here for now, as the bloke said earlier in this thread, not all about money, more about relationships etc.
So here we are, I suppose in a kind of limbo, which is almost nice, we are not aiming towards anything and feeling pressure to get things done on time etc. Now I can spend my money doing random things I have not done before or enjoy doing, that was put on hold so I could save¡K¡K¡K¡K¡K¡K. Going climbing for the first time in a few days, hit up snowboarding real soon, and might go check out a few new cars!
I have dual nationality US/UK, and have been living in the UK for damn near all my life, i have wanted to move to the US for many years now, i suppose to do with the perceived benefits etc.
Its really only been the right time to go, i am married, have a good few years experience in chosen fields which are now in demand, have cash saved up and equity in the house so that we can sell it, or rent it.
So in the past 5 months or so we have been doing the whole due dilligance thing, checking out finances, job markets, specific areas to live and compiled a list of places to go, in the end it has come down to Raleigh/Duram in North Carolina, and the Wayne/Philidelphia area in Pensylvania, my wife has just got her visa through now too.
My wife was having second thoughts about it all, which is understandable before we jack in our jobs and sell our house and move, we decided to take a trip to check out these areas, drive around a bit, speak to folk, check out the commuter areas to where we would potentially work.
It became quickly apparent to us after arriving in Raleigh, that it wasn¡¦t for us, then the Hurricane hit while we were in Washington DC. Philidelphia however I quite enjoyed. However again it wasn¡¦t for us¡K. It was a mixture of a major thing for me, time. Or lack of, when working/living in the US, then lots of small things which added up. Distance to shops, gym¡¦s, work, activities. The fact, im not really too keen on Americans, on the whole (my perception I suppose) they live in constant fear of things, and are more concerned with their work instead of living a life, along with other personality/culture traits which just get on my nerves.
Now we are back, and glad we didn¡¦t give everything up for the so called dream, we are now possibly a little lost as to what to do, we may still move house within the UK, have a baby (wife REALLY wants one) and have all the holidays we are entitled to, and enjoying our friends, family, free time, hobbies. I may just have to buy a new car to cheer myself up! ƒº
I suppose the point in going to the US was for money, paid more, taxed less, and things are cheaper on the whole. But then no time to enjoy them would hurt me. So staying here for now, as the bloke said earlier in this thread, not all about money, more about relationships etc.
So here we are, I suppose in a kind of limbo, which is almost nice, we are not aiming towards anything and feeling pressure to get things done on time etc. Now I can spend my money doing random things I have not done before or enjoy doing, that was put on hold so I could save¡K¡K¡K¡K¡K¡K. Going climbing for the first time in a few days, hit up snowboarding real soon, and might go check out a few new cars!
When I left, at your age, people told me I'd have nothing in a year or two, no house, no job, no money left...
But I didn't care. I didn't want to be sitting on that proverbial sofa at 39 years of age, surrounded by the trappings of 'happiness' but still doing the same thing every day of the year.
Now, at 52, I am just as embroiled in normality as most people my age, but it was a hell of a different route getting here.
But I didn't care. I didn't want to be sitting on that proverbial sofa at 39 years of age, surrounded by the trappings of 'happiness' but still doing the same thing every day of the year.
Now, at 52, I am just as embroiled in normality as most people my age, but it was a hell of a different route getting here.
Left the UK in Aug last year to take a dream job in Sydney. Was 25, single, no mortgage so thought it was best to take the risk rather than regretting it in later life. Hardest thing I have ever done, leaving friends, family and everything you know.
Moving to a country I had never been to and where I knew not one person Was tough but 15 months on a life couldn't be better, been seeing someone for the last nine months (23, PE teacher, back of the net)and have got a good group of friends around me now.
Moving to a country I had never been to and where I knew not one person Was tough but 15 months on a life couldn't be better, been seeing someone for the last nine months (23, PE teacher, back of the net)and have got a good group of friends around me now.
Edited by Munka01 on Tuesday 6th November 09:00
King Herald said:
And the most painful part of all, leaving my parents behind, in their mid seventies.
I believe this is the part that concerns me the most. Mine are in the mid 70's too, still OK but starting to show signs of the odd problem. They live in a maisonette above a shop but won't be able to forever as the stairs will be a problem for them. If I move abroad I won't be able to help them both phsyically or financially. My brothers already moved abroad so feel its down to me.
This thread has me rather fidgety. Im 25 and 2 years into a mechanical engineering apprenticeship. I've been to uni and just failed to have the drive and overall ability at a uni level at the current time, so I've kind of ended up in what's turned out to be what i think is my calling.
My problem is im living back home and as much as i love my parents and appreciate beyond description what they've done for me, the thought of spending the rest of my life in my home town around when something deep inside says i can be so much more.
Right now i want to finish my apprenticeship and give where i am a couple of years as i really enjoy where i am work wise, but where im living, the only saving grace is being close to my parents and a father who promises to help me build a kit car upon retirement.
Thanks for inspiring me
My problem is im living back home and as much as i love my parents and appreciate beyond description what they've done for me, the thought of spending the rest of my life in my home town around when something deep inside says i can be so much more.
Right now i want to finish my apprenticeship and give where i am a couple of years as i really enjoy where i am work wise, but where im living, the only saving grace is being close to my parents and a father who promises to help me build a kit car upon retirement.
Thanks for inspiring me
shibby! said:
Funny you mention this, i was going to write a post on here about my experience....
I have dual nationality US/UK, and have been living in the UK for damn near all my life, i have wanted to move to the US for many years now, i suppose to do with the perceived benefits etc.
Its really only been the right time to go, i am married, have a good few years experience in chosen fields which are now in demand, have cash saved up and equity in the house so that we can sell it, or rent it.
So in the past 5 months or so we have been doing the whole due dilligance thing, checking out finances, job markets, specific areas to live and compiled a list of places to go, in the end it has come down to Raleigh/Duram in North Carolina, and the Wayne/Philidelphia area in Pensylvania, my wife has just got her visa through now too.
My wife was having second thoughts about it all, which is understandable before we jack in our jobs and sell our house and move, we decided to take a trip to check out these areas, drive around a bit, speak to folk, check out the commuter areas to where we would potentially work.
It became quickly apparent to us after arriving in Raleigh, that it wasn¡¦t for us, then the Hurricane hit while we were in Washington DC. Philidelphia however I quite enjoyed. However again it wasn¡¦t for us¡K. It was a mixture of a major thing for me, time. Or lack of, when working/living in the US, then lots of small things which added up. Distance to shops, gym¡¦s, work, activities. The fact, im not really too keen on Americans, on the whole (my perception I suppose) they live in constant fear of things, and are more concerned with their work instead of living a life, along with other personality/culture traits which just get on my nerves.
Now we are back, and glad we didn¡¦t give everything up for the so called dream, we are now possibly a little lost as to what to do, we may still move house within the UK, have a baby (wife REALLY wants one) and have all the holidays we are entitled to, and enjoying our friends, family, free time, hobbies. I may just have to buy a new car to cheer myself up! ƒº
I suppose the point in going to the US was for money, paid more, taxed less, and things are cheaper on the whole. But then no time to enjoy them would hurt me. So staying here for now, as the bloke said earlier in this thread, not all about money, more about relationships etc.
So here we are, I suppose in a kind of limbo, which is almost nice, we are not aiming towards anything and feeling pressure to get things done on time etc. Now I can spend my money doing random things I have not done before or enjoy doing, that was put on hold so I could save¡K¡K¡K¡K¡K¡K. Going climbing for the first time in a few days, hit up snowboarding real soon, and might go check out a few new cars!
Have you not thought about Aus? If you work in an industry that is in demand the pay is very good over here. And from the sounds of it it has exactly the lifestyle you are looking for.I have dual nationality US/UK, and have been living in the UK for damn near all my life, i have wanted to move to the US for many years now, i suppose to do with the perceived benefits etc.
Its really only been the right time to go, i am married, have a good few years experience in chosen fields which are now in demand, have cash saved up and equity in the house so that we can sell it, or rent it.
So in the past 5 months or so we have been doing the whole due dilligance thing, checking out finances, job markets, specific areas to live and compiled a list of places to go, in the end it has come down to Raleigh/Duram in North Carolina, and the Wayne/Philidelphia area in Pensylvania, my wife has just got her visa through now too.
My wife was having second thoughts about it all, which is understandable before we jack in our jobs and sell our house and move, we decided to take a trip to check out these areas, drive around a bit, speak to folk, check out the commuter areas to where we would potentially work.
It became quickly apparent to us after arriving in Raleigh, that it wasn¡¦t for us, then the Hurricane hit while we were in Washington DC. Philidelphia however I quite enjoyed. However again it wasn¡¦t for us¡K. It was a mixture of a major thing for me, time. Or lack of, when working/living in the US, then lots of small things which added up. Distance to shops, gym¡¦s, work, activities. The fact, im not really too keen on Americans, on the whole (my perception I suppose) they live in constant fear of things, and are more concerned with their work instead of living a life, along with other personality/culture traits which just get on my nerves.
Now we are back, and glad we didn¡¦t give everything up for the so called dream, we are now possibly a little lost as to what to do, we may still move house within the UK, have a baby (wife REALLY wants one) and have all the holidays we are entitled to, and enjoying our friends, family, free time, hobbies. I may just have to buy a new car to cheer myself up! ƒº
I suppose the point in going to the US was for money, paid more, taxed less, and things are cheaper on the whole. But then no time to enjoy them would hurt me. So staying here for now, as the bloke said earlier in this thread, not all about money, more about relationships etc.
So here we are, I suppose in a kind of limbo, which is almost nice, we are not aiming towards anything and feeling pressure to get things done on time etc. Now I can spend my money doing random things I have not done before or enjoy doing, that was put on hold so I could save¡K¡K¡K¡K¡K¡K. Going climbing for the first time in a few days, hit up snowboarding real soon, and might go check out a few new cars!
I've enjoyed reading this thread, so here's my story...
So I've just handed in my notice today. Leave work on Friday 7th December, and fly out from Heathrow to Melbourne on Monday 17th December, and then on to Adelaide on Friday 21st December.
Me and my OH (whom I've been with for over 11 years), sold our house in March this year and moved back home into my parents house. Her parents moved over to Oz last December, so we're now gearing up to join them. We're planning to live with them for a while and see how we settle and spend a few months travelling, we're only over on a 1 year working visa initially.
I guess I haven't given up everything just yet, but its a pretty big commitment and to say I'm bricking it would be an understatement. I've no job lined up (if anyones in that area and reading, I've spent 10 years in insurance, in sales, management and training ), no car, and we haven't exactly got loads of money, but enough to live on for 6 months without needing a job.
Now got loads of stuff to sort out before the move. Fingers crossed it works out. I've spent enough time mulling this over and thinking if I should go or not, and a few months ago just thought f
k it, lets do it... Might as well regret doing something than questioning if I should have...
So I've just handed in my notice today. Leave work on Friday 7th December, and fly out from Heathrow to Melbourne on Monday 17th December, and then on to Adelaide on Friday 21st December.
Me and my OH (whom I've been with for over 11 years), sold our house in March this year and moved back home into my parents house. Her parents moved over to Oz last December, so we're now gearing up to join them. We're planning to live with them for a while and see how we settle and spend a few months travelling, we're only over on a 1 year working visa initially.
I guess I haven't given up everything just yet, but its a pretty big commitment and to say I'm bricking it would be an understatement. I've no job lined up (if anyones in that area and reading, I've spent 10 years in insurance, in sales, management and training
), no car, and we haven't exactly got loads of money, but enough to live on for 6 months without needing a job. Now got loads of stuff to sort out before the move. Fingers crossed it works out. I've spent enough time mulling this over and thinking if I should go or not, and a few months ago just thought f
k it, lets do it... Might as well regret doing something than questioning if I should have...Gassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff