Who finds the idea of starting completely fresh in a new country enervating? I was discussing this with strag the other day, and he opined that humans were not built for monotonous work and living circumstances. We are nomadic by nature, so we’ll always find starting over to be appealing.
I dunno. I’ve met some pretty staid, homebody type people in my life. I think that many people prefer consistency to change, particularly in their home lives and occupations. Nothing wrong with it. It just ain’t me, as they say.
What do our various members think about starting over in a new country? Enjoy it? If so, what aspects do you enjoy the most? Find it difficult? Why?
Since graduating from uni in 1990, I haven’t lived in the same place more than two years running. It looks like Taipei, Taiwan will be the exception, since I have more than myself to consider this time.
Was this my choice? Yes and no… In many cases impetus for moving from one city to another was due to outside circumstances. For instance, when I was layed off from a job in Indiana and had to move back into my parents’ home in Pennsylvania
Other times it was by choice, like when I accepted my first job and had to move to Indiana. Or, I decided to leave my job in Pennsylvania, for a better one in Washington, DC.
And, sometimes it was a combination of the two. Like when I moved to Taiwan due to my partner having to leave the US and not wanting a long distance relationship. The underlying reason was beyond my control, but my decision to follow him here was in my control – i.e., I didn’t have to come.
Generally, I like stability, at least at home – i.e., in my relationship – sharing my life with the same person. But, I do find myself getting a bit restless with work and living conditions. So, I’m often looking for something different and/or better. A different/better job… a different/better apartment, etc… I guess, for me, as long as I have stability at home, it doesn’t matter where that home is or what it looks like.
Hmmm… did any of that make sense and/or answer your question?
I agree with Omni. In your 20s, yes, but 30s and beyond, not unless it was some kind of expat package. As I get older, steady and boring but with a solid roof over my head seems to be more appealing.
Ditto. In my 20’s, all I wanted was enough $$ to make a break for somewhere new. Now, closing in on, gulp, 40 , I just want to build a home, hug and kiss the same gal each night and take the dog for walks.
Omni is spot on the mark here. Have travelled for many years mainly due to work, but even as a kid due to my fathers work. Now that i have passed the big 40, my thoughts are maybe for one last move, not back to country of birth though. This would be the one to settle everything, work, retirement the full works. Difficult when no one knows what the future will hold in any given country
Mr. Smerf… You may be close to 40, but you are still handsome…
Anyway, for me, at 35, it is more important that I can come home, hug and kiss the same guy each night… but, not so important where that is – country, city, etc… Nor am I so concerned if that changes periodically.
Sure, someday I would like a house, the picket fence, the dog and, even, kids. But, until the kids come popping out, I’m not concerned with living continuously in the same place. Then, I’d only be concerned about having a stable home life for them.
The old saying is, “home is where the heart is…” and, well, my honey is my heart, so as long as he is there with me, we can be in Hooterville, Kentucky for all I care.
Mr. Smerf… You may be close to 40, but you are still handsome…
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Trust me, there will be a lot more than just hugs and kisses going on with my gal each night. But, I wanted to keep my post “G” rated in order to avoid any possibility of sidetracking this thread into another T&A session.
I must be a freak of nature. The thought of settling down in one place for more than a few years has always given me hives. I’m 35 years old, and I’ve still got at least three or four more countries on my agenda.
I think I still felt the same way at 35; if I’d had the time to pack the house and sell it, I would have happily moved somewhere else back then, but I was working 80+ hour weeks.
Even a couple of years later, it was extremely difficult to contemplate moving again. Not all of it was the sheer amount of work involved; there was also the sense of attachment to where I was living.
Well, I’m 29 and the thought of “settling down” as in living permanently in one place and having kids absolutely depresses me.
Maybe I’m dreaming, but I still hope to find a man who shares my wanderlust and passion for adventure. I envision a life where I and my perfect man move to a new country or city every couple of years. Maybe we’ll adopt a couple of kids along the way.
If any of you see this guy, could you send him my way?
[quote=“Erhu”]Well, I’m 29 and the thought of “settling down” as in living permanently in one place and having kids absolutely depresses me.
Maybe I’m dreaming, but I still hope to find a man who shares my wanderlust and passion for adventure. I envision a life where I and my perfect man move to a new country or city every couple of years. Maybe we’ll adopt a couple of kids along the way.
If any of you see this guy, could you send him my way?[/quote]
if that means being a migrant worker… ouch… what a tough life. but if that means being a photojournalist for national geographic spending months in the bush watching lions, or on the high seas looking for elusive sealife, or following some interesting people around knee-deep in mud as they hunt for food, where do i sign up? i’d adopt a dog; kids don’t fit in crates that well when you’re moving from country to country.
Have you considered working for the foreign service? I am not sure where you are from, but I think that those in the U.S. foreign service are required to move every two years (could be wrong on that. hope someone will correct if so) with all moving expenses paid by the government.
there are all sorts of other benefits and upsides. the downside is that you are working for the government–I don’t know, could be a positive for some, but not for me. Also, I think you give up some freedom, because I’m not sure how much say you have in where you are posted.
Well I sold everything I owned (basically), packed up and moved to Taiwan when I was 43. I don’t think it’s the age but the mind that has a lot to do with it. My sense of adventure is still going strong but it’s been tempered by a little more caution, commonsense, and body aches…
Of course I am afraid my next move, when it comes, might be my last…
, I just want to build a home, hug and kiss the same gal each night and take the dog for walks.
