Happiness Factor - Distance from London

Just what makes the Happiness Factor?

An informal poll.
    Thought struck me that this site seems to have US members who are either happy to be here in the UK or can't wait to leave. And I wondered if distance from London may play a part. I also wondered if it gets better the longer we're here. What helps in settling people here? What attitude? How long does it take?
    If you'll indulge my curious nature, perhaps we can answer a few questions to maybe suss out why we feel the way we do and identify any contributing factors...(sorry, but since it's a question of an American citizen being happy living here in the UK, I'm afraid the questions won't make sense for non Americans and/or those still in the US)
    First, the big question...


1. Are you happy in the UK?
   a) I love it here! The best thing I ever did!
   b) Most days are really good. There are moments, but none I can't overcome.
   c) It's alright. I can take it or leave it.
   d) It's been really hard to make the adjustment. Most times I just want to give up and go back home
   e) I hate it. Get me on the next boat back.

2. Where in the UK do you live?
   a) In the heart of London. I can practically see Big Ben from my window.
   b) In a London suburb. I can take the tube to get into the city, on a good day taking less than a half hour to travel the distance
   c) In the commuter belt. I can take a train into the city without having to transfer. It takes me less than an hour.
   d) In the countryside and a bit too far to travel into London on a daily basis. It might take me two hours to drive there.
   e) Too far from London to even consider going there for just a day. I'd have to plan to stay overnight.

3.  What (approximate) area of the UK do you live in?
   a) London area
   b) South of London
   c) East of London
   d) North of London
   e) West of London
   f) Wales
   g) Scotland
   h) Northern Ireland

4. Are there other Americans living near you that you see from time to time?
   a) yes, quite a few, actually
   b) I know one or two and I'm sure there are others because I overhear accents and I know they aren't tourists
   c) Not a soul. I'm the area's "token" American

5. Do you have a job, or are you volunteering with local charities?
   a) Have had the same job for years and love it
   b) Stuck in the job and hate it, but have no place else to go
   c) It's okay as jobs go.
   d) Not worked here long enough to figure out if I like it or not
   e) I've been trying to find a job but nothing suits, or no one is hiring me
   f) I'm too busy to work fulltime, so I volunteer as much as I can
   g) I've been volunteering to do things until I can find a paying job
   h) I plan to work when my circumstances change (children go off to school, etc.)
   i) other (please explain)

6. How often do you come to web sites like UK Yankee?
   a) a couple times a year, or even less
   b) once (or a few times) a month
   c) once (or a few times) a week
   d) once a day
   e) several times a day
   f) I just found this site so I don't know yet

7.  Do you get together with people from web sites like UK Yankee?
   a) a couple times a year, or even less
   b) once (or a few times) a month
   c) once (or up to several times) a week
   d) I just found this site so I don't know yet
   e) have never met anyone from these web sites

8. Have you ever lived outside the US before coming here?
   a) yes
          i) as a child with my family
          ii) as an adult, either on my own (ie work or student) or with a spouse
   b) no

9. How old were you when you moved here (this time, if it's been more than once)?
   a) younger than 18
   b) late teens, up to age 23
   c) 24-30
   d) 31-40
   e) 41-50
   f) 51-60
   g) 61 plus

10. If you came to the UK solely for the purpose of living with your British partner, have you been married (or had a long-term living-together relationship) before?
    a) yes, with one
    b) yes, with two
    c) yes, with more than two
    d) no

11. If partnered with a Brit, describe your offspring situation answer as many as apply
    a) my partner and I have (or are currently expecting) a child or children together
    b) my partner has a child or children from a previous relationship
          i) at least one is living with us
          ii) none are living with us
    c) I have a child or children from a previous relationship
          i) at least one is living with us
          ii) none are living with us
    d) No children yet, but perhaps in a few years
    e) No children, nor any plans for any

12. If partnered with a Brit, do you get along with your partner's family?
       a) Yes, they are fabulous!
       b) They are very supportive and we're good friends
       c) We are friendly with and civil to each other, but there's no real closeness
       d) They aren't very supportive, but we tend to bite our tongues
       e) We don't get along at all

13. How close do you consider your own family ties?
    a) leaving them was the hardest thing I ever did; it was the biggest change I made, not seeing them all the time
    b) we're an emotionally close family, but we never did see each other all the time either, so staying in touch isn't all that different now
    c) we were never all that close, so it wasn't really a factor
    d) "family ties" is not an issue to me

14. How long have you lived here?
    a) Just moved here...first month
    b) 1-3 months
    c) 4-6 months
    d) 7-12 months
    e) 1-2 years
    f) 3-5 years
    g) 6-10 years
    h) 11-30 years
    i) 31 plus years

15. Have you, or do you plan to, apply for dual citizenship?
    a) yes, definitely
    b) still thinking about it, but probably
    c) one day I want to, the next day I don't. Not sure.
    d) I sort of feel it would be almost slap on the face to my family, so I'm not so sure
    e) never, would never consider it

16. Are you in the process of, or are you planning to, do the paperwork to return to the US?
    a) yes
          i) I hate it here and my partner has agreed to try the change
          ii) It was never permanent...studies or employment brought me here temporarily
          iii) just for a change of pace, another life adventure
    b) no
          i) I'm really happy here and have no plans to return to the US
          ii) I'm settled here and it would be too tiring to go through all that paperwork again
          iii) I'd love to go back but my partner refuses
       

17. What do you think about the food here?
        a) British food is the best I've ever had....love it!
        b) I'm always up to try something new, and British food is fine
        c) It's taken me a while to get used to it, but I manage
        d) I avoid it as much as I can, but there are bits that might be better than US foods, so all is not lost
        e) I just hate it.

18. Groceries... choose all that apply
    a) You stock up on American food when you visit the US (or buy from UK online shops)
          i) in the extreme
          ii) it's a ritual but not obsessive
          iii) sometimes a couple of favorites
    b) You get care packages from your family in the US
          i) in the extreme
          ii) it's a "holiday" package, usually
          iii) sometimes I get a couple of favorites for fun
    c) You find the grocery selection here enough to satisfy
          i) Products here fill most my needs and I hardly pine for American favorites
          ii) I wish a number of American products were available here, but I can get by on what few items I get from the US to compensate.
          iii) I hate grocery shopping here and only do it to survive

19. TV habits
     a) I love the British shows, better than the US ones
     b) I'm a real sucker for certain US shows and am really glad they show them here. I only fill in my spare TV-watching time with British shows, which I could take or leave
     c) I don't like the TV offering here and do what I can just to watch American TV (like cable or satellite)
     d) I don't watch TV, neither really matters

20. Male or female?
     a) Female
     b) Male

21. How often do you go back to the US?
    a) more than 6 times a year
    b) 3-6 times a year
    c) 1-2 times a year
    d) once every two years
    e) once every 3-5 years
    f) once a decade
    g) haven't been back at all since I've moved here

22. If you haven't lived here that long to really judge how often, please answer question 21 on how many visits you're PLANNING to take back to the US.

And now for the completely scientific portion of this quiz...
What sign are you?



P.S. Feel free to add your own questions, or explain your answers if an option given doesn't quite fit your story.

I'll start off:

1. Are you happy in the UK?
    a) I love it here! The best thing I ever did!
 
2. Where in the UK do you live?  
    d) In the countryside and a bit too far to travel into London on a daily basis. It might take me two hours to drive there.
 
3.  What (approximate) area of the UK do you live in?
    e) West of London  
 
4. Are there other Americans living near you that you see from time to time?  
    b) I know one or two and I'm sure there are others because I overhear accents and I know they aren't tourists
 
5. Do you have a job, or are you volunteering with local charities?
    a) Have had the same job for years and love it
 
6. How often do you come to web sites like UK Yankee?
    d) once a day
 
7.  Do you get together with people from web sites like UK Yankee?
    b) once (or a few times) a month
 
8. Have you ever lived outside the US before coming here?
    a) yes
      i) as a child with my family
 
9. How old were you when you moved here (this time, if it's been more than once)?
    e) 41-50
 
10. If you came to the UK solely for the purpose of living with your British partner, have you been married (or had a long-term living-together relationship) before?
     b) yes, with two
 
11. If partnered with a Brit, describe your offspring situation answer as many as apply
     b) my partner has a child or children from a previous relationship
      i) at least one is living with us
     c) I have a child or children from a previous relationship
      ii) none are living with us
 
12. If partnered with a Brit, do you get along with your partner's family?
   a) Yes, they are fabulous!
 
13. How close do you consider your own family ties?
     b) we're an emotionally close family, but we never did see each other all the time either, so staying in touch isn't all that different now
 
14. How long have you lived here?
     f) 3-5 years
 
15. Have you, or do you plan to, apply for dual citizenship?
     a) yes, definitely  
 
16. Are you in the process of, or are you planning to, do the paperwork to return to the US?
     b) no
      i) I'm really happy here and have no plans to return to the US
 
17. What do you think about the food here?  
    b) I'm always up to try something new, and British food is fine
 
18. Groceries... choose all that apply
     a) You stock up on American food when you visit the US (or buy from UK online shops)
      iii) sometimes a couple of favorites
     c) You find the grocery selection here enough to satisfy
      ii) I wish a number of American products were available here, but I can get by on what few items I get from the US to compensate.
 
19. TV habits
 a) I love the British shows, better than the US ones
 
20. Male or female?
 a) Female
 
What sign are you?
Capricorn

Sounds like fun Lisa!

1. Are you happy in the UK?

   b) Most days are really good. There are moments, but none I can't overcome.

2. Where in the UK do you live?

   b) In a London suburb. I can take the tube to get into the city, on a good day taking less than a half hour to travel the distance

3.  What (approximate) area of the UK do you live in?

   a) London area

4. Are there other Americans living near you that you see from time to time?

   a) yes, quite a few, actually

5. Do you have a job, or are you volunteering with local charities?

   a) Have had the same job for years and love it

Love is such a strong word!    But it's fine most of the time.  I got my current job six weeks after I arrived here, so it was my first and only UK job.

6. How often do you come to web sites like UK Yankee?

   e) several times a day

7.  Do you get together with people from web sites like UK Yankee?

   c) once (or up to several times) a week

8. Have you ever lived outside the US before coming here?

   b) no

9. How old were you when you moved here (this time, if it's been more than once)?

   c) 24-30

10. If you came to the UK solely for the purpose of living with your British partner, have you been married (or had a long-term living-together relationship) before?

    d) No

11. If partnered with a Brit, describe your offspring situation answer as many as apply
   
a) my partner and I have (or are currently expecting) a child or children together

None of these options really applied I'm afraid, but this is the closest one.  We're not expecting (yet!) and neither of us have children from other relationships.  Footloose and fancyfree we are!    
   
12. If partnered with a Brit, do you get along with your partner's family?
       
       c) We are friendly with and civil to each other, but there's no real closeness
       
13. How close do you consider your own family ties?
   
    b) we're an emotionally close family, but we never did see each other all the time either, so staying in touch isn't all that different now

This is a tough one to answer.  We did live near each other and saw each other often...but I wouldn't call us 'emotionally close'....at the time of leaving, I was a bit on the outs with most of my family having been driven to insanity by the stress of the move...I'm pretty sure they were glad to see the back of me!  We don't hear from them much now, as they are very self-involved (all live and work together on a horse farm) but when we do get together, it's nice.  THey just have no concept or real interest in my life here, so our conversations are rarely about me.
   
14. How long have you lived here?
   
    e) 2-3 years
   
15. Have you, or do you plan to, apply for dual citizenship?
   
a) yes, definitely
   
16. Are you in the process of, or are you planning to, do the paperwork to return to the US?
    a) yes
         iii) just for a change of pace, another life adventure
   
again, this was the closest option but not quite right for us.  We always planned on going back to the US to raise our family once finances allowed for the move.  Plus, we started here because of the easier visa situation...we didn't want to wait to do it the other way.  

17. What do you think about the food here?
       
        b) I'm always up to try something new, and British food is fine

There are a couple of restraunts I miss in the US, like Craker Barrell and Taco Bell, but on the whole, I have to say I probably prefer food here.  But it wasn't always that way!!  Took time to learn how to not compare everything.
       
18. Groceries... choose all that apply
    a) You stock up on American food when you visit the US (or buy from UK online shops)
       
          iii) sometimes a couple of favorites
    b) You get care packages from your family in the US
         
Never had any!  Had a friend bring some things back for me but if we want American products, we have to find them here or try and pick up one or two small things when we go back, which isn't often.  Which means the next question is pretty obvious....I've had to learn to make due!

    c) You find the grocery selection here enough to satisfy
         
i) Products here fill most my needs and I hardly pine for American favorites
         

19. TV habits
     
     b) I'm a real sucker for certain US shows and am really glad they show them here. I only fill in my spare TV-watching time with British shows, which I could take or leave
     
20. Male or female?
     a) Female

21. How often do you go back to the US?
   
    c) 1-2 times a year

     
And now for the completely scientific portion of this quiz...
What sign are you?

Depends which horoscope you read.  My birthday is 20 Jan so I'm on the Capricorn/Aquarius cusp.  I usually just read them both and pick the one I like best!  

1. Are you happy in the UK?
 
   b) Most days are really good. There are moments, but none I can't overcome.
   
2. Where in the UK do you live?
 
   c) In the commuter belt. I can take a train into the city without having to transfer. It takes me less than an hour.  

3.  What (approximate) area of the UK do you live in?
   
   b) South of London
   
4. Are there other Americans living near you that you see from time to time?
   
   b) I know one or two and I'm sure there are others because I overhear accents and I know they aren't tourists
   
5. Do you have a job, or are you volunteering with local charities?
   
      e) I've been trying to find a job but nothing suits, or no one is hiring me
       g) I've been volunteering to do things until I can find a paying job
 

6. How often do you come to web sites like UK Yankee?
   d) once a day
   
7.  Do you get together with people from web sites like UK Yankee?
   
   b) once (or a few times) a month
   
8. Have you ever lived outside the US before coming here?
      b) no

9. How old were you when you moved here (this time, if it's been more than once)?
   e) 41-50
   
10. If you came to the UK solely for the purpose of living with your British partner, have you been married (or had a long-term living-together relationship) before?
       c) yes, with more than two


11. If partnered with a Brit, describe your offspring situation answer as many as apply
         b) my partner has a child or children from a previous relationship
     i) at least one is living with us (2 out of 4)
     
    c) I have a child or children from a previous relationship
     ii) none are living with us

12. If partnered with a Brit, do you get along with your partner's family?
  b) They are very supportive and we're good friends
 
13. How close do you consider your own family ties?
        b) we're an emotionally close family, but we never did see each other all the time either, so staying in touch isn't all that different now
     
14. How long have you lived here?
   
    f) 3-5 years
     
15. Have you, or do you plan to, apply for dual citizenship?
    a) yes, definitely
     
16. Are you in the process of, or are you planning to, do the paperwork to return to the US?
       
         b) no
           ii) I'm settled here and it would be too tiring to go through all that paperwork again
     
17. What do you think about the food here?
       c) It's taken me a while to get used to it, but I manage
   
18. Groceries... choose all that apply
    a) You stock up on American food when you visit the US (or buy from UK online shops)
          ii) it's a ritual but not obsessive
   
    b) You get care packages from your family in the US
     ii) it's a "holiday" package, usually
   
    c) You find the grocery selection here enough to satisfy
     ii) I wish a number of American products were available here, but I can get by on what few items I get from the US to compensate.
   
19. TV habits
b) I'm a real sucker for certain US shows and am really glad they show them here. I only fill in my spare TV-watching time with British shows, which I could take or leave

20. Male or female?
a) Female

And now for the completely scientific portion of this quiz...
What sign are you? Saggitarius (through & through)

1 Am I happy? - B most days  (I'm being optimistic, as I'm still with the inlaws and I'm trying to not let that sway my feelings.

2 Where do I live? - D it takes an hour by train if I catch the express.

3 What apx area? - B  South of London

4 Know other Americans? - D I hear accents every now and again, but I don't know a single one.

5 Do I have a job? - D & E  I JUST got this job, so I can't really tell yet... but it's not the job and I want and I'm still looking, but am having problems finding work.

6 How often do I come to sites like this? - D & E once a day or several times depending on the day

7 How often do I meet up with people from the site? -A  Only once so far.

8 Have I lived outside the US before? - D  I stayed here for 6 months back in 1997... which was either a really short time to live, or a really long vacation.  :-)

9 How old was/am I? - C I was 25 when I moved here, I'm 26 now.

10 Have you ever lived with a significant other before? -  D no

11 Children? - D none, and no plans to have any for the next couple years.

12 Friends with the fam? - A & B  As I'm living with them, things are a bit different right now, but they are wonderful people and we're very close.

13 Close to my fam? - A Missing my family is the hardest thing.  They're my only real "draw" for the US.

14 How long have I been here? - D 7-12 months.  Moved over Jan 29, so Monday will be 8 months exactly.

15 Dual citizenship? - B Won't be able to apply for a couple more years, so haven't put thought into it, but as long as I can retain my American I will.

16 Planning on going back?  ??  Not a clue.

17 The food? - B It's fine.

18 Groceries? -  B3  sometimes I get the occasional care package,  C1 all in all, I'm fine with the selection of groceries.

19 TV habits? - E I love my American shows (thank goodness they show them here (Friends, Frasier, Scrubs, etc) but I also like British programming.

20 M or F? - A Female

21 Sign? - Pisces

Wish, that's a good point about the kids. I've corrected the question to include other possibilities. Thanks!

BTW, I'm hoping to compile the answers at some stage to get some sort of "pattern"

1. Are you happy in the UK?
   
   b) Most days are really good. There are moments, but none I can't overcome.
   
2. Where in the UK do you live?
 
   c) In the commuter belt. I can take a train into the city without having to transfer. It takes me less than an hour.
   
3.  What (approximate) area of the UK do you live in?
   
   b) South of London
   
4. Are there other Americans living near you that you see from time to time?

   a) yes, quite a few, actually

5. Do you have a job, or are you volunteering with local charities?

c) It's okay as jobs go.
   

6. How often do you come to web sites like UK Yankee?
   
e) several times a day

7.  Do you get together with people from web sites like UK Yankee?
 
 a) a couple times a year, or even less
   

8. Have you ever lived outside the US before coming here?
   a) yes
         
ii) as an adult, either on my own (ie work or student) or with a spouse

9. How old were you when you moved here (this time, if it's been more than once)?
   
c) 24-30
   

10. If you came to the UK solely for the purpose of living with your British partner, have you been married (or had a long-term living-together relationship) before?
   
d) no

11. If partnered with a Brit, describe your offspring situation answer as many as apply
    a) my partner and I have a child or children together  we have three girls

12. If partnered with a Brit, do you get along with your partner's family?
       b) They are very supportive and we're good friends
       
13. How close do you consider your own family ties?
   
a) leaving them was the hardest thing I ever did; it was the biggest change I made, not seeing them all the time
   
14. How long have you lived here?

    h) 11-30 years

15. Have you, or do you plan to, apply for dual citizenship?
    b) still thinking about it, but probably

    16. Are you in the process of, or are you planning to, do the paperwork to return to the US?
   


    b) no

          ii) I'm settled here and it would be too tiring to go through all that paperwork again
         

17. What do you think about the food here?

       
c) It's taken me a while to get used to it, but I manage
       

18. Groceries... choose all that apply
    a) You stock up on American food when you visit the US (or buy from UK online shops)

          iii) sometimes a couple of favorites
    b) You get care packages from your family in the US
         
ii) it's a "holiday" package, usually

    c) You find the grocery selection here enough to satisfy
          i) Products here fill most my needs and I hardly pine for American favorites
         
19. TV habits


     a) I love the British shows, better than the US ones

20. Male or female?

b)female

And now for the completely scientific portion of this quiz...
What sign are you?

Aries  
21 How often do you go home?

d) every two years This is ideally, as it's sometimes more often but sometimes less.  At the moment I haven't been home in four years but that's unusual.

1. Are you happy in the UK?
   a) I love it here! The best thing I ever did!
   b) Most days are really good. There are moments, but none I can't overcome.
   
I waver between A and B generally.  Mebbe A with moments?  It didn't used to be that way tho!

2. Where in the UK do you live?
   b) In a London suburb. I can take the tube to get into the city, on a good day taking less than a half hour to travel the distance
   
3.  What (approximate) area of the UK do you live in?
   a) London area
  ish...between London and Heathrow, technically part of the Greater London Area

4. Are there other Americans living near you that you see from time to time?
   Define near?  The only ones I know live in or on the other side of London...but I'm sure there's a few more around, but I've not met any.

5. Do you have a job, or are you volunteering with local charities?
   i) other (please explain)
I love the guys I work for, and the job is okay, but the pay really really stinks.  I want to go to school to become an engineer.

6. How often do you come to web sites like UK Yankee?
   
   c) once (or a few times) a week
   d) once a day
   e) several times a day
   Varies between these three

7.  Do you get together with people from web sites like UK Yankee?
   a) a couple times a year, or even less
  A few times a year  Not every month, but getting better

8. Have you ever lived outside the US before coming here?
   a) yes
          i) as a child with my family
          ii) as an adult, either on my own (ie work or student) or with a spouse
  both lol.  

9. How old were you when you moved here (this time, if it's been more than once)?
   b) late teens, up to age 23
   
10. If you came to the UK solely for the purpose of living with your British partner, have you been married (or had a long-term living-together relationship) before?
    I actually came over to visit my best friend and we ended up getting married lol.  First *real* long term relationship (if you don't count the on-again-off again boyfriend I had, 3 years, but we broke up every two weeks or so)

11. If partnered with a Brit, describe your offspring situation answer as many as apply
   e) No children, nor any plans for any

12. If partnered with a Brit, do you get along with your partner's family?
       a) Yes, they are fabulous!
       b) They are very supportive and we're good friends
       e) We don't get along at all

hehe.  A+B to his Mum, E to his sister (but then he can't stand her either...)

13. How close do you consider your own family ties?
    a) leaving them was the hardest thing I ever did; it was the biggest change I made, not seeing them all the time
   
14. How long have you lived here?
    f) 3-5 years
     
15. Have you, or do you plan to, apply for dual citizenship?
    a) yes, definitely
    b) still thinking about it, but probably
    I waver, but at the moment, I'm planning to.  

16. Are you in the process of, or are you planning to, do the paperwork to return to the US?
    a) yes
          iii) just for a change of pace, another life adventure
    Tho dunno when.  We'll go oneday (or so I'm told )
         

17. What do you think about the food here?
       b) I'm always up to try something new, and British food is fine
         
18. Groceries... choose all that apply
    a) You stock up on American food when you visit the US (or buy from UK online shops)
         ii) it's a ritual but not obsessive
          iii) sometimes a couple of favorites
    b) You get care packages from your family in the US
         
          ii) it's a "holiday" package, usually
         
    c) You find the grocery selection here enough to satisfy
         
          ii) I wish a number of American products were available here, but I can get by on what few items I get from the US to compensate.
           
19. TV habits
     Some are better, some aren't.  I don't watch that often, but what I do watch is a mix.

20. Male or female?
     a) Female

21. How often do you go back to the US?
    d) once every two years
    This November I'll have been here three years, and gone home a total of...once.    But that's due to lack of fundage, not lack of desire!

     
And now for the completely scientific portion of this quiz...
What sign are you?
Pisces.  

LisaE-I think you could use a question about how often you go home as well.  

1. Are you happy in the UK?
   a) I love it here! The best thing I ever did!

2. Where in the UK do you live?
   c) In the commuter belt. I can take a train into the city without having to transfer. It takes me less than an hour.

3.  What (approximate) area of the UK do you live in?
   b) South of London

4. Are there other Americans living near you that you see from time to time?
   b) I know one or two and I'm sure there are others because I overhear accents and I know they aren't tourists

5. Do you have a job, or are you volunteering with local charities?
   i) other (please explain)  Am currently temping at a job that might become permanent - otherwise, STILL waiting for security checks to start job at Kent Police!

6. How often do you come to web sites like UK Yankee?
   d) once a day

7.  Do you get together with people from web sites like UK Yankee?
   b) once (or a few times) a month (closest answer - more like maybe once every two months or so)

8. Have you ever lived outside the US before coming here?
   b) no

9. How old were you when you moved here (this time, if it's been more than once)?
   d) 31-40

10. If you came to the UK solely for the purpose of living with your British partner, have you been married (or had a long-term living-together relationship) before?
    d) no

11. If partnered with a Brit, describe your offspring situation answer as many as apply
    c) I have a child or children from a previous relationship
          i) at least one is living with us

12. If partnered with a Brit, do you get along with your partner's family?
       a) Yes, they are fabulous!

13. How close do you consider your own family ties?
None were applicable.  We keep in daily contact with my mother via e-mail - but as the boys and I were living with her for YEARS before the move, it was more than time to "cut the cord"!  

14. How long have you lived here?
    e) 1-2 years

15. Have you, or do you plan to, apply for dual citizenship?
    a) yes, definitely

16. Are you in the process of, or are you planning to, do the paperwork to return to the US?
    b) no
          i) I'm really happy here and have no plans to return to the US
       
17. What do you think about the food here?
        a) British food is the best I've ever had....love it!

18. Groceries... choose all that apply
    b) You get care packages from your family in the US
          ii) it's a "holiday" package, usually AND
          iii) sometimes I get a couple of favorites for fun
BUT if it weren't an option to get care packages -
    c) You find the grocery selection here enough to satisfy
          i) Products here fill most my needs and I hardly pine for American favorites

19. TV habits
     a) I love the British shows, better than the US ones

20. Male or female?
     a) Female

And now for the completely scientific portion of this quiz...
What sign are you?
Scorpio (though a rather damaged one   :-/  )

Mindy, great idea! Added.
Ummm...for those who answered above this note, can you answer the newly added one: How often do you go back to the US?

1. Are you happy in the UK?
 
   a) I love it here! The best thing I ever did!
    or
   c) It's alright. I can take it or leave it.
Depends on the day.  I like it here and am happy to be here but I don't spend my time gushing about it

2. Where in the UK do you live?

   b) In a London suburb. I can take the tube to get into the city, on a good day taking less than a half hour to travel the distance

3.  What (approximate) area of the UK do you live in?

   c) East of London

4. Are there other Americans living near you that you see from time to time?

   b) I know one or two and I'm sure there are others because I overhear accents and I know they aren't tourists
I do know of one who may come along for tomorrow's gathering if she so chooses and Frank has said he's heard other Americans when out at Sainsbury's, although I never have.

5. Do you have a job, or are you volunteering with local charities?

   c) It's okay as jobs go.

6. How often do you come to web sites like UK Yankee?

   d) once a day
    or
   e) several times a day
Again, depends on the day

7.  Do you get together with people from web sites like UK Yankee?

   b) once (or a few times) a month
this would probably be on average.  It's more like Wench said once every couple of months but there are some months I see her more.  It's just one of life's little f-overs that I live at 3 o'clock and she lives at 9 o'clock.

8. Have you ever lived outside the US before coming here?
   a) yes
          ii) as an adult, either on my own (ie work or student) or with a spouse

9. How old were you when you moved here (this time, if it's been more than once)?

   d) 31-40

10. If you came to the UK solely for the purpose of living with your British partner, have you been married (or had a long-term living-together relationship) before?
 
   a) yes, with one

11. If partnered with a Brit, describe your offspring situation answer as many as apply

    c) I have a child or children from a previous relationship
          ii) none are living with us
    e) No children, nor any plans for any

12. If partnered with a Brit, do you get along with your partner's family?

       b) They are very supportive and we're good friends
       d) They aren't very supportive, but we tend to bite our tongues
mostly b) with a couple in the family I would say are d)

13. How close do you consider your own family ties?

    c) we were never all that close, so it wasn't really a factor

14. How long have you lived here?

    e) 1-2 years

15. Have you, or do you plan to, apply for dual citizenship?

    b) still thinking about it, but probably

16. Are you in the process of, or are you planning to, do the paperwork to return to the US?

    b) no
          i) I'm really happy here and have no plans to return to the US

17. What do you think about the food here?

        b) I'm always up to try something new, and British food is fine
I'd probably really love British food if it wasn't always meat based.  I have had vegetarian versions of some things or have had some of the things that are meatless and I really like them

18. Groceries... choose all that apply

    a) You stock up on American food when you visit the US (or buy from UK online shops)
          iii) sometimes a couple of favorites
    c) You find the grocery selection here enough to satisfy
          i) Products here fill most my needs and I hardly pine for American favorites

19. TV habits

     d) I don't watch TV, neither really matters

20. Male or female?

     a) Female

21. How often do you go back to the US?

    c) 1-2 times a year

What sign are you?

Libra!

    First, the big question...[/i]


1. Are you happy in the UK?
   a) I love it here! The best thing I ever did!
   
2. Where in the UK do you live?
   
   c) In the commuter belt. I can take a train into the city without having to transfer. It takes me less than an hour.
   
3.  What (approximate) area of the UK do you live in?
   a) London area- borough of Bromley
   
4. Are there other Americans living near you that you see from time to time?
       b) I know one or two and I'm sure there are others!

5. Do you have a job, or are you volunteering with local charities?
   a) Have had the same job for 2 years and love it
   
6. How often do you come to web sites like UK Yankee?
   
   d) once a day
   
7.  Do you get together with people from web sites like UK Yankee?
   c) once (or up to several times) a week! Yay!
   
8. Have you ever lived outside the US before coming here?
   
   b) nope!

9. How old were you when you moved here (this time, if it's been more than once)?
   c) 24-30 (29 to be exact)
   
10. If you came to the UK solely for the purpose of living with your British partner, have you been married (or had a long-term living-together relationship) before?
    d) no

11. If partnered with a Brit, describe your offspring situation answer as many as apply
d) No children yet, but we're hoping perhaps in a few years
   
12. If partnered with a Brit, do you get along with your partner's family?
       a) Yes, they are fabulous!
       
13. How close do you consider your own family ties?
    a) leaving them was the hardest thing I ever did; it was the biggest change I made, not seeing them all the time.

14. How long have you lived here?
   
   2 years in December !
   

15. Have you, or do you plan to, apply for dual citizenship?
    b) still thinking about it, but probably
   
16. Are you in the process of, or are you planning to, do the paperwork to return to the US?
    i) I'm really happy here and have no plans to return to the US- part of me would love to go back and raise our family there...but we think England is probably the best place for us to be.        

17. What do you think about the food here?
       
        b) I'm always up to try something new, and British food is pretty yummy!


18. Groceries... choose all that apply
    a) You stock up on American food when you visit the US (or buy from UK online shops)
          iiii) sometimes a couple of favorites
    b) You get care packages from your family in the US
iii) sometimes I get a couple of favorites for fun
    c) You find the grocery selection here enough to satisfy
         
i) Products here fill most my needs and I hardly pine for American favorites
          ii) I wish a number of American products were available here, but I can get by on what few items I get from the US to compensate.
19. TV habits
     b) I'm a real sucker for certain US shows and am really glad they show them here but there are a few British shows that are absolute favourites!   

20. Male or female?
     a) Female

21. How often do you go back to the US?
    c) 1-2 times a year- although it may be 3 this year if I count my trip to NY for my spousal Visa!
   
22. If you haven't lived here that long to really judge how often, please answer question 21 on how many visits you're PLANNING to take back to the US.

And now for the completely scientific portion of this quiz...
What sign are you?


Aries

1. Are you happy in the UK?
   a) I love it here! The best thing I ever did!
   b) Most days are really good. There are moments, but none I can't overcome.
   

2. Where in the UK do you live?
    e) Too far from London to even consider going there for just a day. I'd have to plan to stay overnight.   See question 3!

3.  What (approximate) area of the UK do you live in?
     h) Northern Ireland

4. Are there other Americans living near you that you see from time to time?
     c) Not a soul. I'm the area's "token" American   l have heard there are others here but haven’t met any yet! Do have an American friend in Coleraine and Omagh. Both are an hour away!

5. Do you have a job, or are you volunteering with local charities?
     i) other (please explain) l have a new job, the other jobs contract ended. But new job is on an as needed basis and l need permanent full time hours!

6. How often do you come to web sites like UK Yankee?
     e) several times a day


7.  Do you get together with people from web sites like UK Yankee?
   a) a couple times a year, or even less, Have only met two people from this site personally, but looking forward to meeting others in the near future.


8. Have you ever lived outside the US before coming here?

   b) no

9. How old were you when you moved here (this time, if it's been more than once)?

   d) 31-40
   

10. If you came to the UK solely for the purpose of living with your British partner, have you been married (or had a long-term living-together relationship) before?
        d) no

11. If partnered with a Brit, describe your offspring situation answer as many as apply

    e) No children, nor any plans for any        Not by choice!

12. If partnered with a Brit, do you get along with your partner's family?
      f) None of the above really, hubby has a cousin l really like she lives in the next town over from us. His sisters live in Scotland! Now that is a different story on how l feel about them!

13. How close do you consider your own family ties?

    c) we were never all that close, so it wasn't really a factor---Side note though, l am closer to them now that l moved than l have ever been.


14. How long have you lived here?  
    e) 1-2 years


15. Have you, or do you plan to, apply for dual citizenship?
    e) never, would never consider it

16. Are you in the process of, or are you planning to, do the paperwork to return to the US?
    a) yes
          i) I hate it here and my partner has agreed to try the change
          iii) just for a change of pace, another life adventure
      I don’t hate it here, l do really like it, we both feel it would be better for us to be back in the states financially wise plus l would be with my family more!
         

17. What do you think about the food here?
       
        c) It's taken me a while to get used to it, but I manage
.

18. Groceries... choose all that apply
    a) You stock up on American food when you visit the US (or buy from UK online shops)
             iii) sometimes a couple of favorites
    b) You get care packages from your family in the US
              ii) it's a "holiday" package, usually  From Family, friends are another story

    c) You find the grocery selection here enough to satisfy
              ii) I wish a number of American products were available here, but I can get by on what few items I get from the US to compensate.


19. TV habits
       b) I'm a real sucker for certain US shows and am really glad they show them here. I only fill in my spare TV-watching time with British shows, which I could take or leave
 
         I have always loved British period piece movies so l watch them when l get the chance!

20. Male or female?
     a) Female


21. How often do you go back to the US?
       g) haven't been back at all since I've moved here

22. If you haven't lived here that long to really judge how often, please answer question 21 on how many visits you're PLANNING to take back to the US.

      Hoping to go back next year but who knows!

And now for the completely scientific portion of this quiz...
What sign are you?  

Cancer

1. Are you happy in the UK?
b) Most days are really good. There are moments, but none I can't overcome.

2. Where in the UK do you live?
d) In the countryside and a bit too far to travel into London on a daily basis. It might take me two hours to drive there.

3.  What (approximate) area of the UK do you live in?
d) North of London  

[/b]4. Are there other Americans living near you that you see from time to time? [/b]
b) I know one or two and I'm sure there are others because I overhear accents and I know they aren't tourists

5. Do you have a job, or are you volunteering with local charities?
i) other (please explain) Working as a temp until I’m too big and fat and pregnant to move anymore.

6. How often do you come to web sites like UK Yankee?
e) several times a day  

7. Do you get together with people from web sites like UK Yankee?
a) a couple times a year, or even less

8. Have you ever lived outside the US before coming here?
b) no

9. How old were you when you moved here (this time, if it's been more than once)?
c) 24-30

10. If you came to the UK solely for the purpose of living with your British partner, have you been married (or had a long-term living-together relationship) before?
d) no

11. If partnered with a Brit, describe your offspring situation.
PREGNANT!

12. If partnered with a Brit, do you get along with your partner's family?
a) Yes, they are fabulous!

13. How close do you consider your own family ties?
a) leaving them was the hardest thing I ever did; it was the biggest change I made, not seeing them all the time

14. How long have you lived here?
e) 1-2 years

15. Have you, or do you plan to, apply for dual citizenship?
    b) still thinking about it, but probably
   
16. Are you in the process of, or are you planning to, do the paperwork to return to the US?
    a) yes (potentially, he needs a new job and our best options might be in the US)
         
17. What do you think about the food here?
c) It's taken me a while to get used to it, but I manage

18. Groceries...
b) You get care packages from your family in the US  
      iii) sometimes I get a couple of favorites for fun
c) You find the grocery selection here enough to satisfy
ii) I wish a number of American products were available here, but I can get by on what few items I get from the US to compensate.

19. TV habits
a) I love the British shows, better than the US ones (except for very few US shows I love)

20. Male or female?
     a) Female  

21. How often do you go back to the US?  
    c) 1-2 times a year

What sign are you?
Gemini!


(And for the record, I'm happiest living an hour away from London. Can still get there if I need to, but don't have to deal with it on a daily basis.)