Are you happy you did/are going to?

For those of you who have made the move or are going to soon, are you happy you did it?  Is your SO happy too?

I'm happy with the whole range of life-changing decisions that we made regarding moving back over here.  I'm not always thrilled with the circumstances of day to day life, but overall I'm glad that I'm here.  Interestingly, my husband, who moaned for four years about being homesick, is less happy about being back, mostly because he's at a different point in his life and has a completely different prospective than he did while growing up and as a young 20-something here. 

Overall, we're starting to learn that, for us at least, there's your life and then there's where you live.  They're related, but not the same thing and life is not entirely dependent on where you live.  Neither will ever be perfect, but we are trying not to let bad feelings about one drag the other one into the mud too. 

Having said that, he's already started plotting our next trans-Atlantic move in about 10 years time.  I'm trying to ignore him for the time being.   

We *may* be making the move. Won't know for at least another 6 months I'm guessing. DH is in academia and is looking into jobs in the US. He's excited by the adventure of it but we haven't even looked at the paperwork/costs involved yet!

I think in many ways it will be harder for me than him. I've been here almost 7 years now and much as there are things about the US I miss, I know I'll miss a lot from here, too!!

We both cant wait to move back home to San Francisco next summer!  The boy already looks at jobs and houses, and its over a year away!  We know that we dont fit in here and feel much more comfortable back in CA.  There are so many things about the UK that he doesn't like, and hes the brit.  I think he is also quite aware it will be different for him living in the US, but he is very excited to make the move there and start a new life. 

Moving here was a great experience. But, there is no place like home.

I think I will miss things here too.  I still love the things about the UK that I always did - the countryside, the pubs, Boots!, the history, old churches, etc - but I do find life here a struggle.

When I went back to the US for a few months when I had my son, it was a culture shock to not be around countryside all the time, etc.  But I did find that life was easier.  

I am sure there will be struggles.  It will not be easy moving, but hopefully it will be the right choice.  My hubby isn't thrilled with it and sees it as permanent as he doesn't think we could then afford to move back here - and he may be right.  

We'll have to see how things go as he looks for work.

great question...

i woudl like to move back to the US in a few years time (after i have citizenship!)  my UK boyfriend says he'll move.  but i really worry about him being happy in the US.  his friends, his family, his football.  he owns his own business here in teh UK and he'd have to start from scratch.  that would be really tough on his ego.

Overall, we're starting to learn that, for us at least, there's your life and then there's where you live.  They're related, but not the same thing and life is not entirely dependent on where you live.  Neither will ever be perfect, but we are trying not to let bad feelings about one drag the other one into the mud too. 

Carrie--I think you put it brilliantly. I need to try to remember this more often.

Moving back to Chicago has made me very happy.  I really did miss the city and loved ones.  By the way Target is now selling Boots products for those of you who will miss Boots. ;-)

My husband and I couldn't be more happy about moving back to the U.S. We just bought a new loft, new car, and he has found a great new job.  My son is a lot happier because he has more room to run around in.  It's nice not waking up to a gray sky almost everyday. 

I find that our quality of life is sooooooo much better.

There are more things to do, as far as outing, concerts, amusement parks, clubs, BBQ's on a Tuesday.

I would never ever ever move back to England.

Hell yeah I am happy about our choice to move.

I am very sad to be moving back to the States.  I adore England, it suits me fine to settle here indefinitely.  No place is perfect, but England is my prefernce for the best place to live for me.  I knew this at 24 when I studied abroad here, and living here again, having two children born here, has only made that a million times stronger.

I'm reading all I can on reverse culture shock, and considering visiting a therapist once we are settled.  We're moving to a state/region I've never even visited, so it will feel very different from where I've lived in the U.S. 

Since I have small children, can't just take to bed and fall apart, have to be positive.  But I cry everyday.  I will miss England and our wonderful friends tremendously.   

What brings you back to the States?  I hope it isn't too hard for you!

YES YES YES.

It has been hard, there is no doubt. We miss England a lot, we get homesick for England a LOT (husband is English I'm American)... but the reasons we moved back to the US haven't changed (his job, my family, medical care) and we've been happy about it since day one.

For those of you who have made the move or are going to soon, are you happy you did it?  Is your SO happy too?

i'll let you know in a few months. 

but i can tell you it's a few days away and i'm freaking READY!

What brings you back to the States?  I hope it isn't too hard for you!

Aw, thanks!  We're returning mostly for cost of living issues and what my husband can earn in the States (and how much we can keep due to low taxes).  Also we can get a lot more of a home and pay low prop tax.  He'll get healthcare through his employer, so no issues with having to pay out of pocket.  We're in a very high council tax band now, and to move would mean crap homes (believe me, I've searched in my death grip holding onto staying in England!) and low salary for DH. 

I wish I could have found him the perfect job here, found a situation which would work long term.  But we just cannot get enough salary here to save the recommended amount, and we need to be prudent about our financial security and future.  We can reduce our cost of living AND double his salary by moving back to the States.  And reduce our tax burden considerably.  Those things are hard to argue against, as much as I try.   Stuff like mortgage interest deductions make such a big difference, shame the UK got rid of that.

I'm hoping that as my DH continues to work for int'l companies, we can move outside the U.S. in a few years.  But if the same factors come up (cost of living, taxes, etc) then it will probably mean staying in the U.S.