Pro & Con between life in UK & US

I didn't know that there were screens that you couldn't open if you wanted to.

Me neither!  I never saw those when I was in the US.

Screens make me feel nostalgic for some reason, though.

The sound of the screen door slamming shut behind you on a hot summer night, or the slow creak of it opening

The sound of cicada wings - they like to light on screens for some reason.

Waking up on a full moon night to see the shadow of a lizard scurrying across the screen.

The way the screen can moderate the wind so that it blows over you as just a breeze.

The start you get when the storm starts to blow in and blows the screen door shut.

Whispering to my cousins in the next room through the screen door when we were supposed to be asleep.

The smell of BBQ wafting through.

Sitting on the screened in porch having:

breakfast in the summer while there's still a coolness in the air

barbeques and all of the laughter that went along with them

thoughts while watching the autumn leaves

breakfast in the cool early autumn days

time with my newborn son (I had him in the States) singing to him as they days went by from the leaves being green to changing colors.  He loved the trees and the porch was the only thing that soothed him...

I wouldn't like screens that couldn't open either!!  I had those kind where there were tablike things on the sides you'd push in and then lift up the screen and the tabs would click and hold it in place.

Awww, I'm homesick now!!!

Yeah, my mom bought a house that had screens that were permanently in. I think it might have been a safety thing as it was a 3 story town house with a huge drop from the upper windows.

Sorry, but you are making me feel claustrophobic.

The sound of cicada wings - they like to light on screens for some reason.

Waking up on a full moon night to see the shadow of a lizard scurrying across the screen.

The way the screen can moderate the wind so that it blows over you as just a breeze.

The start you get when the storm starts to blow in and blows the screen door shut.

Whispering to my cousins in the next room through the screen door when we were supposed to be asleep.

The smell of BBQ wafting through.

Sitting on the screened in porch having:

breakfast in the summer while there's still a coolness in the air

barbeques and all of the laughter that went along with them

thoughts while watching the autumn leaves

breakfast in the cool early autumn days

time with my newborn son (I had him in the States) singing to him as they days went by from the leaves being green to changing colors.  He loved the trees and the porch was the only thing that soothed him...

I wouldn't like screens that couldn't open either!!  I had those kind where there were tablike things on the sides you'd push in and then lift up the screen and the tabs would click and hold it in place.

I really enjoyed reading your posts.  It's funny the little things we miss.  Now I'm back in the States and trying not to take anything for granted.

Sorry, but you are making me feel claustrophobic.

Pro: Easy access to parsnips!

(After reading scarlett516's 'First Roast' thread, I'll never take them for granted again!) 

Pro: Easy access to parsnips!

(After reading scarlett516's 'First Roast' thread, I'll never take them for granted again!) 

Word!   I love parsnips! 

(That said, I've been able to find them at my local Kroger in Georgia.)

Pro UK (for me):
- I can play field hockey here at a high level even at age 38...didn't have that in the US, other than not so great club teams spread thin.  This is one of my tops!
- I got to learn a new sport, cricket, that I love and enjoy playing - and I'm on our first 11 ladies team.
- my DH is here (this is my top reason even though he wasn't the reason for me moving over here)
- I LOVE my job, the fact that we all go out for drinks after work on Fridays, that there is a more relaxed atmosphere there about having food and parties in the school amongst my colleagues
- I don't have to shovel a super long driveway several times every winter
- I actually have people wanting to visit me, unlike any other place I lived (even if friends were hours away)
- travel, travel, travel
- I've been exposed to many more cultures than ever before
- Indian food and lots of it
- being able to walk down to the local butcher and get an amazing cut of meat, then go next door and get the freshest of veg (some of which I had never experienced before but seems 'normal' here)
- not having so many choices...for me it cuts down the stress and slows the pace
- not having to drive (being in London that helps)
- free birth control
- I walk so much more now
- I've learned to cook more and different foods

Cons to UK (for me):
- kids get little discipline and run much more wild.  It scares me what's happening with the youth here.
- petrol is more expensive
- housing is expensive, very expensive and lacks central heating/air conditioning in all the places I've lived
- narrow streets of London
- motorcycles weaving in and out of traffic

For me, that's about it.  I haven't lived near both my parents in years, so I only saw them every so often anyway.  My friends are all over the country so again, only saw them every few years.  These things wouldn't be different if I lived in the States.  But I don't miss any food in the US, especially restaurants as I never went to chains...and pretty much don't miss too much.  For me, life has been good as I didn't want it to be the same - that would have been me missing the point of living overseas...as many of my family have done and enjoyed. 

Perhaps I'm naive, but I don't know how anyone could prefer here to the States.

Perhaps I'm naive, but I don't know how anyone could prefer here to the States.

Naive. There I am calling you Naive. I love living here, I prefer it to the states, and I will probably die here. There, you are Naive.

Perhaps I'm naive, but I don't know how anyone could prefer here to the States.

Not naïve, but just different opinion.
 

Pro: Easy access to parsnips!

(After reading scarlett516's 'First Roast' thread, I'll never take them for granted again!) 

LoL Glad it helped you know how fortunate you are.   

Naive. There I am calling you Naive. I love living here, I prefer it to the states, and I will probably die here. There, you are Naive.

Pardon me but I looked up where you live on your profile and that led to a question I've always wanted to ask but didn't dare. Does our age always stay the same from when we first register?
Does it lock in? Saying another way if when I registered I was 16 in ten years would my profile still read 16
I enjoyed your comment regarding living in the UK.
To repeat, what has been said so many times here, it may depend on where in the UK you live plus some other factors.