How do/did you cope?

So like many of you, I love the UK and can't wait to move.  However, it will be some time before I can actually take the plunge and move. So my question is this, how do/did you deal with the time in-between deciding to move and actually moving?  Did you visit often? Were there forums you frequented?

Personally, I find Camvista one of the best remedies for my UK withdrawals, because I can see what's going on and look back to memories I have of the various locations.  I also enjoy listening to Classic FM as i feel a bit more connected while listening to the station.

Between the decision and the actual move itself, I tried to spend as much time as I possibly could with my friends and family.  That was priority #1.  I didn't listen to much Glasgow radio because I knew I'd be getting plenty of it when I arrived.  My main focus was to live the last days of my single girl life to the fullest: karaoke every weekend  , late nights over pizza and cava with girlfriends, and long solo drives.  These are the things I predicted I'd miss most, and I've been right so far.

hmm- I was on UK-Y a lot, as I recall (wait a minute, I'm still on UK-Y a lot!)  And I spent a lot of time obsessively planning the details of the move.  I didn't take the time to fully enjoy my life in the States though (I didn't think this was going to end up being a permanent move when I went over to study for my masters degree!) and I wish I had.  I always wanted to take a road trip around Texas, and who knows when I'm going to get to do that now!

I also tried, as much as possible, to do the things I always meant to do in Rhode Island (it wasn't my native place either). I figured Britain was going to be forever and I'd get plenty of it soon enough, but I might never go back to New England.

I got a little ways down my list, but I was so extraordinarily busy in those last weeks, I didn't get far. The things I regret most: not taking more pictures and not spending the night in Lizzie Borden's house 

hmm- I was on UK-Y a lot, as I recall (wait a minute, I'm still on UK-Y a lot!)  And I spent a lot of time obsessively planning the details of the move. 

This.  I had several months between my job offer and actually getting my work permit and then my visa.  So I had lots of time to contemplate life!

I am with most everyone else here - I tried to spend time with friends and family and get my fill of my hometown, as I knew it would be some time before I saw it again, and then, only as a visitor. I tried to appreciate the hot, sunny days by swimming at night and things I knew I wouldn't get to do here in Northern England. Mostly, I was so uber busy tying up loose ends with school, working to save money, and getting rid of stuff and things like that, that I didn't have much time to do all the stuff I wanted to do. (I wanted to go to the JFK museum thingy downtown but never did.)

I had two months between job offer and move, so what I had to cope with was planning, packing, stress, and sleep deprivation.

I had two months between job offer and move, so what I had to cope with was planning, packing, stress, and sleep deprivation.

All of the above (just replace 'job offer' with 'fiance visa'), plus working like crazy to make as much $ as possible, as well as soaking in the cool stuff about my city and making mental notes about where to take my now hubby when we finally get back for a visit.  I took lots of pictures of friends, work buddies, and just stuff I though was quirky, beautiful, or cool about my city as well.

I'm at the point now (about six weeks out from the permanent move) that all I do is panic.  Hardcore.   That said, I've spent a lot of time on RightMove, fantasizing about apartments,  and I've been reading UK news (the Guardian for me) most days.  I also found out that the BBC has local news sites for most areas, so I try to check out the one for Tyneside most days.  Oh, and I watch a lot of BBC television--I'm telling myself that I'm preparing for the accents, but really I just like watching Doctor Who  .  Like everyone else, I've tried to spend time with friends and family.  They're all a bit scattered, though, so that's involved some travel.

This.  I had several months between my job offer and actually getting my work permit and then my visa.  So I had lots of time to contemplate life!

Agreed. Though, while usually a great source of information, and more importantly, perspective, I musta been reading wrong threads or something at the time cause I came over with the expectation of everything bureaucratic being extraordinarily difficult and frustrating! When I went to the bank thinking I'd need to defeat the manager in a death match to open an account there, it was quite deflating to have it all sorted in ten minutes.

But I did spend a fair amount of time turning towards the US too -- spending time with family and friends, eating foods I was likely to miss, visiting places, etc.

When I went to the bank thinking I'd need to defeat the manager in a death match to open an account there, it was quite deflating to have it all sorted in ten minutes.

LOL! Ditto for me- it just goes to show you how individual experiences are. I had zero problems opening a bank account, registering with a GP or getting a National Insurance number despite not having a job, but I was totally prepared for fights on all those fronts.

Agreed. Though, while usually a great source of information, and more importantly, perspective, I musta been reading wrong threads or something at the time cause I came over with the expectation of everything bureaucratic being extraordinarily difficult and frustrating! When I went to the bank thinking I'd need to defeat the manager in a death match to open an account there, it was quite deflating to have it all sorted in ten minutes.

LOL! Ditto for me- it just goes to show you how individual experiences are. I had zero problems opening a bank account, registering with a GP or getting a National Insurance number despite not having a job, but I was totally prepared for fights on all those fronts.

I know! And I didn't even a SO to rely on when I moved, but somehow it all worked out fine.  Its strange how some need to fight endlessly and others have no problems.  We're all humans dealing with other humans...