Every once in awhile, my husband and I start dreaming about living elsewhere. While my feet are firmly planted here in the US, due to his job we sometimes entertain thoughts of moving abroad. That’s when the ideas start flowing: where would we live, if we could move anywhere?
After reading The Expats by Chris Pavone (a mystery-thriller about a young family who moves to Luxembourg) I began to push aside romanticism and started realizing the inherent challenges of moving to another country. Logistics and culture shock aside, long term issues such as learning a new language, forming relationships, and adjusting to a totally new lifestyle– and vision for your life– become a reality.
All that aside, I can’t stop dreaming– which is mentally much safer than actually moving somewhere new. Dream along with me, and tell me where your fantasy move would be if there were no constraints to hold you back. Here’s what’s on my top 4 list– where I’d go if I could move my entire world of family and friends with me anywhere!
One of our favorite movies, Waking Ned Devine, is set in a seaside village in Ireland. Oh, to experience the lush green of Ireland on a daily basis! With a favorite village pub and famous Irish humor infused into daily life, it would certainly be an amazing place to live. It’s a dream of mine to be able to live somewhere accessible enough to walk to the market, the cafe, the local stores, the village green. Ireland might provide just that, and so much more!
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But alas, rain is what keeps Ireland green… and gloomy skies have never been my favorite. So, let’s focus on sunny. How about New Zealand? Surrounded by ocean, with looming mountains, it’s pretty much paradise. I have a friend who grew up there and said it’s truly an amazing place to live. Picture perfect in every way…
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… except the distance. Somehow, I doubt my friends would love to jump on a plane for 24 hours just to visit:
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Perhaps England? Now that we’ve been hooked by Downton Abbey, it’s easy to envision living in the English countryside if you had a place like Highclere Castle to call home. The hustle and bustle of London isn’t quite my style, but to live in the city for a few years would certainly be a dream come true. And I could get lost in the architecture, history, culture, art. Of all the places on my list, England probably most resembles where I grew up– New England. With a few thousand more years of history, of course!
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Again, though, the rain. And I’m not sure I have thick enough skin for that biting English wit if it were somehow directed at me, unless it’s dispensed by the Dowager Countess of Grantham (“what is a weekend?”), or Colin Firth (swoon).
Which leads me to GREECE. My people. Of all the places I’ve mentioned, Greece is where I’d most feel at home. There’s sun. There’s the sea. There’s the food. There’s this:
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The downside? Greece is all uphill (that’s an inside joke with my mom). Plus the current economic situation. And, learning an entirely new language.
Moving abroad for a year or two would certainly be an adventure, and depending on the locale I’d probably jump on board. Moving abroad forever? Not sure I could do it at this point in my life, though I have much respect for and am in awe of those who can! We had a fun discussion on this topic on Facebook, and while the places I’d move within the US are too many to mention I have to agree with the top US fake-potential-move destination for sure. 😉
Have you ever had to make a drastic lifestyle change? Where would you move, if you could move anywhere with no strings attached? Please share!
This post was inspired by mystery thriller novel The Expats by Chris Pavone. Kate Moore sheds happily sheds her secrets and old life to become a stay at home mom when her husband takes a job in Europe. As she attempts to reinvent herself, she ends up chasing her evasive husband’s secrets, and risks exposing her own. Join From Left to Write on January 22 as we discuss The Expats. As a member, I received a copy of the book for review purposes.
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Not sure if I could move somewhere that’s not close to family. I’d love to visit, perhaps a long-term visit of a month or two (we’re talking winning the lottery now), but I love New England and wouldn’t want to stray too far away.
Long term visit list: Paris, Tuscany, Oregon coastline, Frisco (Colorado) area… Nice to dream.
I couldn’t leave family either, but dreaming is so fun! Maybe someday our lottery dreams will come true and we can take month-long vacations to all those places we yearn to live. Ditto to all the ones you mentioned!
I’ve dreamed of moving outside the US many times, but I have no clue where I’d go. I suppose there would be something guiding me there, and if felt right, I’d do it. When my children are grown maybe I’ll go where the spirit moves me! For now, though, I”m content to travel the world and check out potential sites. Great post!
Each time we travel to a new place, we chat about what it would be like to live there. I’d love to travel the world and really consider moving if I found the perfect spot– with all my family and friends, of course. 😉
Beautiful pictures!! I especially love the New Zealand ones.
If I could move anywhere in the world, I’d move to Australia. We went there for our honeymoon and immediately fell in love with it. I would love to go back, even for just a visit!
Australia is also on my list; I could be wrong, but the people seem so warm and friendly and the environment is breathtaking! Not sure I could handle that plane ride on a frequent basis, though… to honeymoon there must have been amazing.
Beautiful photos! I love the ones of Ireland. If I could move anywhere I would move back to Arizona. I just loved it there and find as I get older that I really miss the desert and warmth…lol. No wonder Snow Birds go to Arizona in the winter months.
After the Peace Corps, I decided that I no longer had any desire to live in another country! But I suppose I could be persuaded for the right job and the right price. 😉 Visit? Absolutely. The Galapagos is 1st on my list for a visit.
I live in Belgium, and I’ve traveled to many different European countries/cities as well as Canada and the US (New England, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Illinois). My choice: USA Northeast. The grass is always greener on the other side :-).
This sounds totally cheesy, but I would just travel to eat different foods. I’m sure the pretty views like the ones in the photos above won’t hurt either.
I’m an American expat living in Germany. Living abroad has many pros & cons that are both amazing & extremely challenging for a family, especially with children. That being said, I’m moving back to the US after 2.5 years in Germany and will leave here excited to be closer to my family, but very sad to be ending an amazing adventure. You grow as a person & gain such a unique perspective from such an experience. But the US feels like “home”.
Jen, that sums up exactly how I think I’d feel as well. What an amazing adventure you’ve had! Germany seems like a beautiful place to live, and so close to other incredible desinations. Europe seems almost borderless with how easy it is to travel from country to country. I didn’t really think about the challenges of being an expat until I read this book, and I used to be gung-ho about possibly moving abroad but now better understand the cons as well. The US will welcome you back with open arms, and I hope your transition goes well… I know that’s challenging, too.
I should definitely read the book you mentioned! Thanks. Yes, Germany is wonderful & it’s very centrally located in Western Europe so it allows for wonderful road trips!!
No strings attached-hmm…I think I’d have to say India. Even though it’s gotten a lot of terrible press lately, I’ve traveled there quite a bit and am always totally transformed and inspired. It’s a country that grabs ahold and doesn’t let go, and I always want to go back as soon as I step on the plane.
I love the way you used the Expats for this prompt. Great job!
It’s so funny you mention India, my husband is in Bangalore right now. It seems like an incredibly vibrant place! I’ve never visited, but it’s definitely on the list of places I’d like to visit in my lifetime.
What wonderful images – makes me feel like packing up and going! I’ve never lived close to family, so I’d run away to a new country in a heartbeat. My husband has always lived near family, so it is a little harder for him to think about moving far from them – even more so now that we have three kids. A girl can still dream though!