Would You Stay or Would You Go

It's easier to leave if there are no ties, especially no kids in the middle of schooling. I've known families who have "ping-ponged" from here to the UK and back again, and it ain't easy on the kids!

Did you ever have the feeling that you wanted to go,
and still had the feeling that you wanted to stay?

Wanted to go...
Wanted to stay...

Go... Stay...
Stay... Go...

Stay now, go later?
Go now, stay later?

I agree RMA, HOWEVER... I would go in a heartbeat as although we have a good standard and quality of life here, I can't work and I'm bored . I need to do more with my day than housework/childcare etc... The joys of the trailing spouse!
I need to get back to the UK so I can do refresher courses and get back into nursing/midwifery again before I forget it all!! also the life if not the weather in the North East of Scotland is pretty good!

Put me down for STAYING - until I find a viable alternative!

Interesting to read the different points of view on the "should I stay or should I go" conundrum..

Ive been here since 1990, first spending several years in Berlin, where I experienced the weird east-west thing, living in eastern Berlin, working in western Berlin. Then moved to western Germany where Ive been ever since. Feels much more normal, western, less "foreign" over here compared to Berlin, and I prefer that now. I chose eastern Berlin because it was cheap, and a chance to experience that unique part of transitional history first hand. Since then Ive had enough of the east and its problems...so relatively speaking Im happy to be here in the western part of the Bundesrepublik.

Now Germany as a whole is on the rocks, and its not clear where its heading - so far the direction is a gradual "down the pan", they have not yet got their act together, just taking the most minimal half-hearted "reform" measures that they can get away with.

In addition, for me, the novelty of Germany has long since worn off. I was thinking of trying other EU countries until the crash in my sector of work occurred 3 years ago (IT). So thats now shelved, at least for now, maybe for ever... Things have picked up a little for me beruf-wise, so for the moment Im staying here.

I travel back to the UK every year to visit family and friends. And I always enjoy it. I even find myself getting interested and even a little fascinated by the brits and their way of life and outlook compared to here in Germany . Dynamic economy, sense of humour, easy goingness. But, return to the UK? The things Ive read here, and gathered myself from my visits back: "long hours", ridiculous cost of living, not least rents and property prices, poor public transport, yobs, high crime rates, lousy beer, NHS, EU and Euro hostility...

So I dont think returning to blighty would be the solution. Fortunately Im single, so things are easier. I wouldnt mind moving south - eg Spain.. But, learning a new language and customs... not easy. It looks like Im stuck here for the time being!

Rick

That I can understand all too well, in my case, it's probably the other way round. I enjoy my job and have no intention of stopping working when I'm 65. In the UK, I would probably have zero chance of getting a job at my age - 60 - (apart from a miniscule chance concerning historic products), so I'm more or less stuck here whether I like it or not, fortunately, that doesn't bother me particularly!

Wow, thanks for all the replies, very interesting.

For my wife and I we came for a year and decided to stay and put down roots. So we are here at least until her working days end, after that I don't know. I can't see ever returning back to Canada, although we do visit regularly. I've on occasion thought of, perhaps, living in the UK, (close to Europe but English speaking) but the crime, weather, ugly cities and short vacations, long working hours means I'm planning on staying put.

I'd love to live somewhere warmer someday, but the thought of trying to learn another language is a bit of a put off.

along the lines of moving back, here is an article on going home.