Did you emigrate? Did you return? If so, why?

I uprooted myself and have lived on the west coast of Canada for 12 years. My daughter, my Canadian son-in-law and grandchildren live in the neighbourhood. I have dual citizenship and return to the UK annually . I found the culture difficult to understand at first but eventually " tuned-in" to it. Canadians are polite and respectful people. I love the scenery and wildlife. What do I miss? The British sense of humour of course!

DH was offered a job in Canada in the 70s, out two children were very young and we thought they would adapt to the new life.
I discussed the move with my parents and my mother told me it was not an option as her health was deteriorating and my elder sister already lived abroad. I also was the mother of her only grandchildren and it would be wrong to take them so far away.
I often wonder what life would have been like.

Yes, I emigrated to Malta to marry my Maltese husband when I was 24.

My mum lived here with her Maltese partner so I had a lot of support when our four children were born.

Of course I missed my sisters and many friends back in the UK but we kept in touch by writing long letters and visiting as often as finances would allow. Friends were always happy to visit us as we had plenty of space to put them up plus a swimming pool. 😄

I’ve been fortunate to travel a lot and see so many lovely places but I’ve had the most lovely life living here. , I miss absolutely nothing about the UK and find it depressing to revisit and find it so changed from the lovely place I left, although it’s great to catch up with family and friends,

Even though I am now widowed and our two eldest have been living in the US for the past twenty years, I still have a son and daughter here plus my two little grandsons so there’s nowhere else I would rather live.

I have lived in France for 38 years now and have never regretted the change. I like the way of life here and no I don't live in a sunny region either.
Now that i'm 70 it hits home of in a sense 'abandoning' my
parents and depriving them of the contact with their Grandchildren. It does pain me to think of it as I have so much contact with my own Grandchildren.
There are good and not so good points here, higher taxes
but good infastructure. All in all it was the best decision to move.

I emigrated from South Africa to the UK because things were going downhill. Fortunately my parents were British and I had also been born in a former British colony, hence the passport.

Some years later I met and married my now husband in 2017. We got stuck in France with borders closing due to covid, and Brexit happened. Fortunately we had just bought a house. I had to apply for French residency because of potential over-stay.

I like where we live, and the rolling countryside. I battle with the language though.

In a way, I miss South Africa and its laid back way of life. Hakuna matata, as the Kenyans say! But I try to go back as and when. A visit is long overdue though. if things were better, I'd settle back there in a heartbeat. You can take a girl out of Africa but you can't take Africa out of her heart.

I am glad I never had that decision to make. I am English and love being so, I would never consider leaving. Would have missed my parents too much.

My parents emigrated to NZ in 1958. But whilst my father was a high school teacher in England he never taught here, instead he went back to University & began a new career in accountancy. He never truly settled, my Mum settled well, loved it here. It’s the only home I’ve known. Each and every day I’m unbelievably grateful for the courage shown by my parents to leave everyone & everything they knew and were familiar with to bring my brother and myself here.

I arrived from NZ aged 10 as my NZ dad had died and my DM wanted to live in England. All my close relatives were in NZ.
I came to Scotland when I married my Scottish DH and have lived here ever since.
My DS emigrated to NZ 20 years ago.
I have a DB who lives abroad.

The world is a smaller place now so keeping in contact is easy. I don't have regrets apart from losing DH.
It must be hard for those who don't settle in their chosen home.

TwinLolly
You can take a girl out of Africa but you can't take Africa out of her heart.
Amen to that. Loved SA and everything about it [except the deteriorating political situation and high crime rate]. Emigrating from JHB to Oz turned out to be a disaster. Belgium was our next stop, but the biggest culture shock was actually coming back here after 44 years.

I emigrated to France with my head in the clouds in my early 20s to marry my French boyfriend who I had met while at school there in my teens. It wasn't to be and I came home to London.
The love affair with that country never died, however, and I emigrated again to France in my 40s. During my later time there I learnt so much about myself as a person, and how to have a far more relaxed attitude to life.
But somehow the mental challenge was lacking, and once again London called me back to throw myself into a new chapter of work and a busier lifestyle.
Maybe third time lucky?! Maybe one more try? I'm half tempted to give it another go, but I now have 4 wonderful grandchildren in England who I would miss too much.
Luckily we still have a property there.

Myself and DH sold up everything and went to live in Portugal. We found a home quickly and settled in. My mother's health deteriorated until after a few years it was clear we had to come back to help her despite the fact she had disowned me for leaving I regret that we did return with the UK in general being in such a state and sadly, thanks to Brexit we can't return there now.

If you were once in the system yogitree, you should find it easier to return. I mean if you have paid taxes there and made contributions towards a pension in that country?

I think a lot depends on luck and whereabouts in a particular country you come to. I just know I would never have settled in West Australia, for example. Many reasons for that which I won’t go into. Same if you go to the UK - some places you feel
‘ at home’, others ,never.