We have an opportunity to live in London for 3 years...what would you do???

So my husband works for a division of the Department of Defense in DC. This particular division grants opportunities to their employees to live abroad-the tenure would be 3 years. They pay for our housing and all utilities.

DH would love to do this...I am very hesitant as you can imagine. I get sad thinking about living so far when I have Johnny who is just 7 months old. BUT...this would be a great time to do this. He wouldn't start school during those years...we would get to see so much of Europe...and we can save my DH's salary to put towards a home when we moved back.

My family would be very sad I think. Although they can come to London and visit AND we can fly home for a few weeks out of the year to visit.

I am so torn. It's not definite...its just a serious, serious consideration right now.

Any thoughts???

**edited to add that we want to try for a second baby sometime after DS's first b-day which means I'd be pregnant and deliver in London. Not that thats a bad thing, just a little scary to think about doing it somewhere so different!

Message edited 4/2/2007 3:20:47 PM.

Re: We have an opportunity to live in London for 3 years...what would you do???

We would go in a heartbeat. We wanted to transfer to DH's London office while they were young and come back before they start kindergarten, but his firm is grooming him for a specific position in NYC and won't transfer him. Oh well......

Re: We have an opportunity to live in London for 3 years...what would you do???

I sounds like an amazing opportunity. It would be hard to be so far away from family but it might be worth it for a short period of time.

Re: We have an opportunity to live in London for 3 years...what would you do???

Wow - that sounds like SUCH an incredible opportunity. I think if your parents/DH's parents could visit for an extended period of time and if you could go back home for long stetches at the holidays, then I'd do it in a heartbeat. It is definitely hard to be away from family when the kids are so young but its also a once-in-alifetime chance to live abroad, expose your DS to another culture and be able to save so much money doing so. What does you DH/parents think about it?

Re: We have an opportunity to live in London for 3 years...what would you do???

Of course you should do it! As you have heard me mention before, having a child in England has been a wonderful experience for me. There are tons of organisations that encourage Mums meeting up, its a city full of transplants, so people are looking to meet other people all the time! The city is full of green spaces, parks and stuff, so there is lots of area to be outside. The cost of living is high, but if your husband is going to be subsidized by his company, that won't matter so much to you guys.

For me to get home to LI its only 8 hours door to door...we leave our house in Manchester (we live quite near the airport) at around 8 in the morning and we are in NY for Noon (NY Time) which is 5 UK time...so its like one working day. Its great!

Do it! Its a once in a lifetime change!
Any other questions...FM me.

Re: We have an opportunity to live in London for 3 years...what would you do???

Re: We have an opportunity to live in London for 3 years...what would you do???

Re: We have an opportunity to live in London for 3 years...what would you do???

Posted by racheeeee

Of course you should do it! As you have heard me mention before, having a child in England has been a wonderful experience for me. There are tons of organisations that encourage Mums meeting up, its a city full of transplants, so people are looking to meet other people all the time! The city is full of green spaces, parks and stuff, so there is lots of area to be outside. The cost of living is high, but if your husband is going to be subsidized by his company, that won't matter so much to you guys.

For me to get home to LI its only 8 hours door to door...we leave our house in Manchester (we live quite near the airport) at around 8 in the morning and we are in NY for Noon (NY Time) which is 5 UK time...so its like one working day. Its great!


Sorry I messed up the quote in this reply, lol...




I thought of you right away actually when he brought this up! I was going to FM you with questions if and when we decided :) It is such a scary step......I just really don't know what to do. If i say yes, DH will put in for the transfer. I kind of feel like vomiting! Lol. I am most scared of feeling alone while he works...and not having people...but like you said, I'm sure we'd meet other transplants....

Message edited 4/2/2007 3:27:02 PM.

Re: We have an opportunity to live in London for 3 years...what would you do???

Please do it. You will probably kick yourself one day if you don't. 3 years in your life time is such a small time span. Remember we only get once chance and life and we need to grab great opportunities. Wish I had that chance.

Re: We have an opportunity to live in London for 3 years...what would you do???

I would already be packing BUT:
most of my family is in London AND it is my most favourite place in the world.

I will say though that it will be harder once your DC are in school, and travel is relatively inexpensive to come back & forth, especially during the off-peak months.

Re: We have an opportunity to live in London for 3 years...what would you do???

I know, you guys are prob very right.....I don't want to look back and wish we had gone. I already live 5 hours from my family, what is 3 more (by plane??

Seriously. I will have to think long and hard about this. I don't want to have my mom beside herself b/c we'll be so far. That worries me the most. If I knew I had her blessing I'd go ...

Re: We have an opportunity to live in London for 3 years...what would you do???

Posted by maybebaby

I know, you guys are prob very right.....I don't want to look back and wish we had gone. I already live 5 hours from my family, what is 3 more (by plane??

Seriously. I will have to think long and hard about this. I don't want to have my mom beside herself b/c we'll be so far. That worries me the most. If I knew I had her blessing I'd go ...

Re: We have an opportunity to live in London for 3 years...what would you do???

DH works for the Department of Justice and we've tossed around the idea ourselves. We could live pretty well for 3 years and save a lot of money. I think if we were younger, and we didn't have a child, we would probably do it in a heartbeat. At my age now, I just want to be settled somewhere and since my Mom is older so I want her to be around Charlie as much as possible. Unless of course, we were to go to one of the Islands. Then I know our family would be visiting us all the time

Re: We have an opportunity to live in London for 3 years...what would you do???

If you were my daughter, I would tell you to go as much as I would miss you. This is the opportunity of a lifetime and you shouldn't pass it up. You're only a plane ride away and the world is a much smaller place with the internet. Three years can seem like a lifetime, but, it will pass very quickly. I am sure your family will understand.

Re: We have an opportunity to live in London for 3 years...what would you do???

I think it's a HUGE decision and a hard one but if your family is willing to come visit, then do it - esp if they already live 5 hours away.

My friend just had twin boys and has a 2 1/2 year old and her husband is being transferred this August. She's waiting until January when the twins turn 1 and the holidays are over, and then she's moving with the kids too. She's going to miss her family but she knows it's a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Re: We have an opportunity to live in London for 3 years...what would you do???

Re: We have an opportunity to live in London for 3 years...what would you do???

Re: We have an opportunity to live in London for 3 years...what would you do???

Re: We have an opportunity to live in London for 3 years...what would you do???

No doubt in my mind I would be in London...you would kick yourself if you missed this opportunity and think, you would be near Racheeeee

Re: We have an opportunity to live in London for 3 years...what would you do???

Racheee I would definitely have to meet up with you if we take this opportunity!

In my head I imagine going to the mums group, eating crumpets and sipping a cup of tea whilst talking about the queen mum. Lol!!

OK back to reality...You are all very very right. I do not want to kick myself later in life...I told DH that if we get there though, and for some reason I am upset and it's not working out, he has to agree to leave. He told me it's not as easy as that, lol..which is what I expected.

I think I am going to tell him to apply for the transfer. I am a firm believer in things working out the way they're supposed to...I just wish I didn't feel so nervous!!!!

Re: We have an opportunity to live in London for 3 years...what would you do???

hell yeah, most definitely.

Good luck with your decision.

Re: We have an opportunity to live in London for 3 years...what would you do???

Sounds great!!! I love it there!

Re: We have an opportunity to live in London for 3 years...what would you do???

We have friends doing this right now! The husband just left this weekend and his wife and 2 kids are moving there in June after school is out.

I would do it in a second. 3 years is nothing!

Re: We have an opportunity to live in London for 3 years...what would you do???

i know someone who just did this a few months ago. Her company made her an offer she couldnt refuse and she has two kids, ages 10 and 6. and her hubby is a teacher.
She emails her friends/family a newsletter of their travels and experiences.

Theyve settled in nicely and they are traveling and enjoying so much!

Take that leap!
Good luck, it is a hard decision, but you have to do what works for you!

ETA: I think her assignment is 2 or 3 years.

Message edited 4/2/2007 8:18:48 PM.

Re: We have an opportunity to live in London for 3 years...what would you do???

I am not a fan of the thought of moving away from my family, but this would definitely make me try it for three years. I say do it!