Speaking as someone who has not lived in the UK for many years, I should like to make a comment.
This is in no way to be a wet blanket.
Bear in mind that when you leave the UK you will be leaving:-
1. Your GP and local hospital.
2. Your family, which may include elderly parents in less than perfect health.
3. Your friends.
4. Your mechanic.
5. Your language, unless you have a perfect mastery of the language where you are going.
6. The shops where you are used to shopping.
7. Your neighbours.

In short, everything which is familar to you and all of your support systems.

We have seen many Brits move to France, only to give up and go back to the UK having spent the capital from their UK house and now unable to get back onto the property ladder, 'Back Home.'

You may well ask why we live in France and are not thinking of moving back. The answer is simple. Our family live in France and we have lived here so long that our 'support systems' are here.

I can imagine that it is nice to dream, but please think as well.

quote:

Originally posted by app:

You may well ask why we live in France and are not thinking of moving back. The answer is simple. Our family live in France and we have lived here so long that our 'support systems' are here.

Ah yes. You did it but the rest of us are not capable.

My experience of emigrating recently is that you adapt fairly quickly.

Every country has doctors. You just pay for them in an insurance premium and not tax. And a lot of us barely use the NHS anyway.

You can get the basics of a language in a few months if you have to.

Every country has shops. And they are increasingly the same ones (Lidl, Aldi etc).

And many people emigrate to get away from the rut of family, friends and neighbours . They can of course contact them via web and VOIP now anyway (or visit them with a dirt cheap air ticket). And they make new connections quickly .

I always slightly puzzled by why it is that people move to a non-English-speaking foreign country from the UK. Perhaps it's a combination of many factors, but while I can see someone moving to, say, Canada, Australasia or the USA, I can't see why you'd burden yourself with (i) a completely new language and (ii) notorious French beaurocracy. Obviously, if it's your job then that's different.

I also appreciate that a young family can help integration a lot, as well as if you're running a business. But what's the advantage of retiring somewhere where you are unlikely to learn the language quickly and are going to be relying on all sorts of services.

Some people seem to make it work, but a lot seem to regret a move (I've met some of them on holiday).

We made the big move to Florida in 2004. We are in our 50,s and decided to go for it.
We left family, but they are all independant now, and we all live our own lives. We have seen as much if not more on some cases since we have been here.
We love it.
We have a great DR, and yes the insurance is high, but so is the service.
Bernadette