Would You Move Abroad?

[missprim]

If you were retired and your only child married and moved abroad then started to have children that you might only see perhaps twice a year, would you move there too?

[maggiebee]

No, I don't think so. I'd Skype and visit as often as possible, but don't think I'd emigrate.

[ummmm]

Depends where they emigrated to.

[missprim]

Do you have grandchildren Maggie?

[bednobs]

it depends - if they were in france, no. If they were in bolivia no. If they were in nz, maybe

[jno]

hard to say; you'd be balancing friends on one hand and family on the other. I don't think there's any right answer. But personally I wouldn't be rushing around the world just to exercise some grandparenting privilege. I only ever saw my grandmother once a year but I don't think anyone was worse off for it.

[Prudie]

My dream is to move abroad but I certainly wouldn't do it to follow my child or grandchildren if I had any.

[hc4361]

Depends.
What country?
Could I afford it?
Am I ill and need lots of meds/treatment?
What will happen if I get dementia or need 24/7 care?
Have I got a very full and active life in the UK?
Would that country let me live there?

[missprim]

ummmm somewhere nice and sunny like Aussie land or NZ.

[Mamyalynne]

I am in that position with 3 of my grandchildren, but no I won't move - am sure they will not be there permanently though.

[Hopkirk]

Like a shot, if the weather was better.

[Mick-Talbot]

What if they moved to get away ?

[tamborine]

I would for my g'kids

[maggiebee]

Yes MP, I have four and love them all dearly. They all live approx. 100 miles from me so I don't see them every week but we talk on the phone and visit each other regularly.

[tamborine]

you dont have to live with them mick

[Mick-Talbot]

I didn't want to type .... from you ...but that has got to be the case with some families.

[missprim]

I'm not asking for myself as it's not a situation I'm in, but a friend of mine whose only daughter has moved to NZ and I wondered if I only had one daughter, whether I would follow.

[maggiebee]

Grandchildren also grow up and have their own lives - often moving away for university or work.

[hc4361]

Oh! Don't forget the language problems. Would I be prepared to either be isolated and restricted to family or learn another language? Do I have hearing problems that would impede it?
Could I cope with the heat/the cold/the culture?
Would I be able to do things that are important to me, such as practice my religion with people who speak my language?
Do I get on with son/daughter in law?

[jno]

somewhere with a tolerable climate and English-speaking might be worth trying, though it'd be worth not burning all your boats just in case you didn't like it. Australia can get very hot, Canada can get very cold, NZ is somewhere in between, but I could probably cope with living in all of them. But I would be balancing what I would have to give up here.

[missprim]

Mick, not to get away from family but because of husbands job.