Moving abroad

If you don't go you will always wonder "What if..."
Good luck!

My grandparents went abroad for several years because my grandfather accepted a work contract in his 60's. We grandchildren - then of primary school age - were able to go out and visit them. To experience a different culture and surroundings from a safe but different home environment was wonderful and it opened our eyes to so many new things.

Go for it!

We spent 13 years in the Gulf. You will almost certainly be able to have an enjoyable time, especially if you enjoy lovely warm sea! - but the summers can be truly horrible. I used to clear off back to the UK with the children for a minimum of 2 months. It's very hard to imagine that sort of summer heat if you haven't experienced it. We couldn't even go to the beach till very late afternoon, because the sand was too hot to walk on, and I swear you could sit in the sea with a cold beer, in the shade of a boat, and still sweat. And it's the only place I've ever seen a big shade built over half a swimming pool, to stop the water getting too hot in summer.
Yes, everywhere has air con, but even the most dedicated indoorsy types have to go out sometimes.
Winter weather was lovely - so many grandparents would come for Christmas. We had both lots twice.

Not sure exactly where you are going to, but Cyprus is a nice place too. We have been to both sides last time was this year on the Turkish side. The people were so friendly and helpful. The food was so cheap we could eat out every night. Very good supermarkets and lovely restaurants, plus historical places to see. OH was stationed there twice 2yrs and 1 yr and he loved it. It can get very hot in the summer so nice to have a pool to chill out in. Plenty of Ex-Pats there too to get to know which we did.

For anyone going to live in Norway just thought I would add that it is very expensive as regards every day living. Tax is also high if you work. They all speak English very well, but it is respectful if you learn a few sentences to get by with.

OH was in the RAF so we went to Belgium and Norway, each for 3 yrs. He went to other places where I stayed at home with the boys.

Norway was a SUPER posting. I learned to ski there. Because he worked for NATO we were once invited to an Embassy dinner, proper posh. Lovely people and very friendly too. Lifestyle was fantastic, pay not so good. I worked for a company called SITA which was French. They did not know what to charge me in tax so I was given a nominal charge and got some back when I left to come home.

Belgium was ok. We saw more of my DS whilst there than we do in UK because they were stationed in Germany. My youngest was born there, we nearly lost him through salmonella poisoning and if it had not been for the BRILLIANT staff at the Brussels hospital we would have lost him for sure. People were not well off but very welcoming and friendly. Nice city and a good place to launch from to see the rest of Europe. I worked for SHAPE there and learned to dance shuffling squares on the American base. Lovely to see how the other nationals live. There were Italians, Germans, Belgians, all sorts and we all got on very well.

Go and enjoy yourselves. See a bit of the world. You will not be isolated if the locals have anything to do with it. If you are coming back on visits you will have the best of both worlds. I would jump at the chance if it was me.

We moved abroad permanently 10 years ago when I was 50. DP had just taken early retirement. Our situation is not exactly the same as yours as we have lived abroad for several other periods when we were younger so we knew what to expect.

However one thing to be aware of when you read the posts of younger people – what we realised this time was that it had been much easier to integrate when you moved with children of school age, because there was an established community you had to join. This time it would have been perfectly possible for DP to sit in the apartment and do nothing. I would wholeheartedly recommend the experience, but you have to be prepared to throw yourselves in at the deep end, to take language classes and make a positive effort to foster new relationships. It will be difficult, tiring and sometimes downright embarrassing. But it will be hugely rewarding and it has the strong potential to be one of the best things you've ever done.

It all sounds so exciting. Very jealous
Go and enjoy!

My DH took early retirement and we came to France 16 years ago. With the arrival of our DGC and some health issues, we are now moving back to the UK this year, to live in the same town as one of our DDs. It has certainly been an experience which I wouldn't have missed for anything but now it is time to go back.

We have done it twice, but it was never 'home'. OH knew the days were numbered when the grandchildren came along. Even with Skype and coming home twice a year, it wasn't enough.

There are several factors to consider. One is are there any ex pats who will be living nearby to help you to make friends quickly? Two is do you speak the language as it will be easier to fit in if you do? Three if you are living in an urban district it is easier to find things to do than if in a rural district. Four would your family come to visit you. Only you can decide how much you would miss friends and family but you can always facetime or skype. It sounds like a plus is being able to put a nest egg aside for retirement.

We did it when we were in our late 50's - my husband was offer a job and he moved first and I got a flexible leave of absence from my job and went back and forth for the first year before actually resigning and moving abroad to be with him. Our DD had just finished university and starting her career and our DS was engaged. We didn't rent our house out - our daughter lived in it and we stayed there on our trips back home

Our contract was for three years - we stayed for 15! I was able to get a job after living there a year. We did eventually sell our house and buy a condo that we would stay in when we came to visit and it was a great arrangement because we had somewhere to live when we finally retired and moved back home.

It was one of the best decisions we have ever made - it has completely changed our retirement and given us financial freedom. During our time abroad both our grown children married and had their children and honestly this time abroad has had no effect on our ongoing relationship with the closeness to the family. I think it had made us better grandparents in our old age!

It isn't always easy - but the experience changes you and your relationship with husband and family for the better.

What a wonderful oppurtunity to have in later life.I think you should definitely go and enjoy the experience.

To answer your question Sar, I've done it and overall it was a very positive experience.

Seven years ago at the age of 55 I worked in Saudi Arabia for six months - not a bundle of laughs admittedly but I knew that before I went.

You won't be isolated - there are so many expat workers and spouses in the ME. Plenty to do, even in Saudi!

We are overseas in the Middle East. Wouldn't change a thing for now. It's a great experience, we have many new friends and a broad outlook on life. DH works, I fill my days with friends, interests or just pottering around my home.
As they say, 'travel broadens the mind'!

I would go (in fact I planned to for a year or two after I retired but my had health problems so couldn't) but if you really don't like it after giving it a fair try, don't see coming back early as a failure. I don't have many regrets in life but those I do have involve sticking with things that were making me unhappy because I was brought up to believe that giving up was failure.
I envy you the opportunity.

We are not married at the moment but would do so before going, if and when it happens. We have been together about 9 years and have never felt the need to before.
Radicalnan, your comment made me smile. It would be an adventure and it would set us up for our retirement together. We have always wanted to buy a home in the south of France, that may be a possibility.
We would rent out our flat, we have decided that we would have it redecorated and new carpets fitted before moving back. When I come back 3 or 4 times a year I will stay with my DD's, luckily they both have spare rooms and I would be a live in babysitter !!
I will let you know when I have more news, hopefully within the next few weeks.

Go for it. I emigrated to South Africa, with my wife and two daughters, when I was 30. But things were stagnating there by the time I was sixty. My approaching retirement, wasn't looking too healthy. I was offered a two year contract in mainland China, which was an offer I couldn't refuse and would make our future secure. My wife and I took the plunge and were there for the full two years. It was one of the best things we ever did. Besides securing our future, it was a wonderful experience. Travel is the greatest thing in the world. So as I say go for it.

As Riverwalk says, if you are not married, you do need to be careful in the Middle East. In some countries there, it is illegal for a heterosexual couple to share a home if not married (I think they assume two men, or two women living together, doing so as merely friends, unless they have information to the contrary).

My in-laws just moved a couple of hundred miles north when they retired, never mind abroad, and it was a complete disaster. They were inflexible people, however, so I guess it depends on your disposition as to whether a move will succeed.

You say 'my partner' - does that mean you're not married? If so, you might find it difficult, if not impossible, to get a spouse's visa for any Middle East country.

I agree with not letting out your house in the UK, not at least for the first year, particularly as you are planning to return so frequently.

I don't think you should go. I think I should, in fact I am mostly packed and ready to rock, my life is full of absolutely no adventures at all. What's your husband like for getting along with? got any tips for me? Oh I wish it was me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sounds like a good move.

You certainly have to go with a positive attitude so that you will get the most out of it, but it's a relatively short time and I think you should certainly go for it. However I agree with Izabella about renting out your house. We have done this a couple of times and I swore I'd never let my own home out again. People don't look after it carefully unless you're very lucky and you can't depend on letting agencies either.

Sorry I think I posted in the wrong part of the forum, oops !!

Agree with liaise. You will need respite from the heat so not renting out would be a good idea and saves a possible nightmare of a wrecked house when you get back. Not all renters I am afraid are respectful of other people's property. What an exciting prospect awaits you both. I hope you grasp the opportunity and enjoy the journey.