Hi, new here...

Hello, everyone:

I'm currently living in Oregon, researching several options to move to the UK to be with my boyfriend in the next year or so. I'm an RN, so I've been researching the complicated process of registering with the NMC (the requirements for which just changed this month).

We are in no rush to marry, so I am considering coming over on a student visa (and I would be a very non-traditional student at 42) and pursuing an advanced nursing degree, or perhaps finding work with a travel nursing agency if my NMC registration is successful.

My dilemma is has to do with the overwhelming idea of starting over: selling all of my possessions, re-homing my pets (that one's the hardest, honestly), etc. It just seems like so much. All of this would have been so much easier when I was in my 20's, before I'd so firmly established a home. So. Much. Stuff. Any insight or advice is appreciated.

Thanks for reading!

Yup, amazing the amount of clobber we accumulate over the years.  And when push comes to shove it all seems vitally important that we hang on to it.  It's not just the angst of parting with this stuff emotionally but it's sooo much hassle.  As for the animals -- a lot of people bring them over.

I think you do eventually get over parting with favourite possessions (oh ... there was that dress I still wish I had  ) but the pets -- never.

Bring the pets!  Loads of us have.  I wouldn't have moved without them.

Hiya and welcome,

I'm a Massachusetts born,bred and trained RN. I came here to Scotland in 1999 on a work permit all on my own, no bloke etc..back then they were relatively easy to get and the rules were not as stringent.  I worked my way up the immigration ladder and now hold dual citizenship.

Where abouts in the UK are you looking at? Its a bigger country than you think

I'm lucky in that sense and I also got my naturalisation in the years before the Life in the UK came in and before the prices,regulations got insanely expensive/tight.

I was in my late 30's when I came and it was indeed daunting starting over at that stage of my life.. I sold a lot of stuff and put the "important" things in storage for a "few" years that became way too ridiculous to pay a monthly fee on when it became obvious I was going to be here on the long haul. So one trip back i ended up clearing out the storage unit and gave away or kept the really "important" stuff. Some is still at my parents house.. Some I've brought back with me over the years..

Feel free to ask away, its a friendly group here..

Kay

Hi!

It definitely seems daunting, doesn't it. I only came over with two checked bags and a carryon. So I packed light... I still have about 5 or 6 boxes I want to ship over, but that'll have to wait until I'm working and can save a bit more money for it.

I know how difficult it is to leave a pet behind, my dog is back with my parents in Colorado. Technically he's their dog, but I'm his person and if I had just moved around the United States instead of across the Pond he'd be right here with me. I just couldn't put him through 18 hours of plane travel (in February) since he's 10 years old and he has a bad leg. The stairs here are so steep and he was having leg issues back at home. I miss him like mad and if I can find a better way to get him here I will. I wish I knew someone with a private plane who wouldn't mind a 4 legged passenger on one of their transatlantic flights. *smiles*

The rest isn't too bad. I don't have too much of an attachment to things. Mostly books. haha.

Best of luck! We all like seeing the happy endings on here.