Do you dream of living overseas? You are not alone many people have this dream. I wonder though how many people think the move through before actually making the move.
Often people will go on holiday to a place, love it and want to move there. They go home quit their job and make the move overseas or to a new state on to realise that life is not always like a holiday. They then return home and remember why they left in the first place and so return again. Back and forth.
Now of course this is not true for everyone, many people have successful moves, but for those who don’t, their dreams can turn out to be a nightmare!
So before making the decision take a moment to think about your dreams. What do you dream of regardless of where you live. Do you dream of more time with your family? Travel? Sailing? Advancing your career? A warmer climate? So many possible dreams!
Before making the decision to follow your dream, think about the following:
- Your values – How do they fit in?
- Your family situation.
- Your job or career situation.
- How it will feel to leave family and friends behind.
- Your expectations.
Don’t let your dream turn in to a nightmare. Thing about your decision before making the move. Make sure the move fits with your values, that you can cope with being far from your homeland or state and, that your expectations of a new life are not too high.
Which questions do you think you will have to ask yourself before making a decision.
This blog post was part of a group writing project. To see more information about the topic “Dream” please connect with the following bloggers!
New Life on The Road - What is your Dream?
Cake Decorating Books & Supplies – Dream Wedding Cake
Awaken Magic – The Time to Create your Dream is now
Renovating Italy – What is it about the Italian Dream?
Sugar Coat it – I was 10, I had a Dream
Mother’s Love Letters – I went to ProBbloggers training day. But maybe it was just a Dream
Make Money Online – What is your Dream?
Gutsy Women – When the Dream come Alive, What is the message
My Dream to travel more will come true it will just be a little longer than I first thought.
I don’t dream of living overseas but I would like to travel overseas.
I hope you get to travel overseas sooner than you hope
Hi Kama,
My dream is to travel around Australia!! Its been a huge dream of mine for ever, and I would love to eventually move and travel overseas
Cheers
Lisa
I am so happy you are living one of your dream
Oh I can see how this could happen. Every time I travel the two hours from my home town to Brisbane, I consider moving. I imagine mornings in cafes and long lunches and big nights out with friends. But the reality is, I would still need a job, my family isn’t there etc etc.
Great post. A reminder to think it through but not to give up on it is an important one.
Thank you Melissa, yes exactly, to think it through but not give up.
I have to say that 30 years is enough time to think it through. Guess it just had to be the right time, but we did it! We sold or gave away everything we owned and moved from the US to Australia and it has just been MAGIC! We are living the dream!
We have made a few moves that have not worked out, but for the most part… if it doesn’t, well at least you gave it a try and you won’t leave this world wondering what it would have been like.
And you might miss out on profound experiences like the one I wrote about just today as a part of this group “dream ” project: http://debbieducic.com/2011/when-the-dream-comes-alive-what-is-the-message/
Fantastic that you are living your dream Debbie. I agree totally, you don’t want to be left wondering.
I admire people who have the courage to move their whole lives to a foreign land. I really want to see the world but I am happy to keep my home in Australia. Thanks for the tips.
Thank you Jackie, there is nothing wrong with staying home either, I admire people who can do that
+ Australia is beautiful!
Our family moved from one country to another. It was a great experience but there is a price to pay.
Our kids will (likely) never return to live In their birth country, and our “family” history has changed forever. We didn’t mean to become immigrants … One or two years just developed into 10 – now our parents are facing their retirement years on their own.
Even if my husband and i returned to be with our parents, it would mean leaving our adult kids behind along with any future grandkids. The short term fun of moving and living in another country, never really takes into account the future “cost”.
Please don’t misunderstand – we don’t regret moving. We just didn’t really understand the cost. There’s always a cost …
Lori, you are so right! I now live in Australia and I have a son in Norway and a son in Canada so I totally hear what you are saying. I love Australia so like you I don’t have regrets but I am paying a price. Thank you for your comment, it is good for people to get a clearer picture of what they might be missing later in life if they make this decision.
Hi Kama,
Well you know my dream, and yes funnily we did move to Italy, live there for two years then returned to Australia and now know that it is Italy for us. I don’t have any regrets about any of our moves and the good thing for us is that we weren’t afraid of the unknown. Even with all our preparations the reality of moving to another country is a shock and it took me six months to settle in. Your book is wonderful as it takes you through steps to deal with all aspects of such a major decision, especially the important emotional ones often overlooked.
Brava, ciao Lisa
Thank you Lisa. I am looking forward to visiting you in Italy. Yes it can take up to a year to start feeling settled, sometimes more.