Ducati Sporting Club UK > General > Idle Chat > A fresh start?

[nelly]

If there's half an idea in your head Lil that has triggered this, and you have a pretty good idea you can get on and do it...............then go for it.
I did. It's not been easy or plain sailing by any means but, on the whole it's been worth it. Well worth it.
I'm making no where near what I was paid in industry in my previous life, but my life in general is a whole lot better. I get up every morning, wanting to go to work. You can't buy that.
There have been sacrifices, way beyond what I was expecting, but you can't forsee everything.
At least if it goes wrong, there's only yourself to blame. Likewise if it all goes well, then there's only one person collecting the bonus
Life's too short to be thnkin' "what if"

[Jon]

Lily the grass always looks green'er the other side of the fence.
nine years ago, my partner who was also my Father in law, went up and died on me. My brother in law no longer wanted t work in the building industry and my only employee, fooked off to ozz.

I didn't know what to do at the time and all kind of thoughts entered my head. Different job,country, etc. In the end I decided to carry on regardless.
I'm glad I did, the business went on to do quite well. I still would not say I'm any happier now than I was then. But!!!! I could have been a lot less happier now if I had made some changes. You never know what is around the corner

[aws]

To my way of thinking, if you don't have too many ties, are the left side of 40 (?) and have commutable skills that are in demand then if you need to know if you'd be apperciated in say Canada or Oz (2 of the favourite locations) then why not?
If it all falls flat you can come home and no one will think the less of you. Far from it, others will want to know how and why as they are toying with the very same idea.
I really, really came close to emigrating to Oz in 1989.
I have had several clients who have upped sticks to Oz, and a few to the US and one to Canada.
They have sunshine, warm seas and some have snow too, but it's more than that, it's an out-doors lifestyle that we can only glimpse on the tv such as Neighbours, they all have a great way of life that revolves around the community, physical persuits and having trips all over their new found continent.
The post cards I get! Bas£arDs!
I was in Oz for a year and it still draws me from afar.
Having a business or two, children, homes and all that are reasons why I have not made the change.

The older you get, the less likely your dreaming will become the reality.

If nothing else, you have a good range of opinions here on this site, yet the over-riding concensus is that if you are mentally 1/2 way there, what's stopping you stepping out the front door?

Com'on - what are your thoughts?

Tim

[phillc]

I arrived on these fair (?) shores in December 2000 (Sunday will be four years to the day!) from Sydney. Arriving from the middle of summer, to the shortest darkest days of winter was the biggest shock. I had to drink a lot to keep warm.

Funny thing is that it didn't feel like that much of a "change". It just felt like "life". I was working for the same company, my partner also moved out to the UK 3 months later, about 1/2 a dozen of my good mates from home were also living over here. I just got on with it and didn't think about it too much. Best thing I could have done at the time though. Not a regret in sight.

Now just obtained Indefinite Leave to Remain last week and have no plans on going anywhere else just yet. British passport is the next trick which opens up all of the EU as options.

Within the next 10 years I'd like to be in a position of not having to bust my butt for the man. Whether that involves setting up my own business in the same industry or doing something totally different, who knows. Sailing is my latest cash burning interest (and bikes of course) and I hope to get some more qualifications this summer. Who knows where that may lead......

Also lived in Cape Town for 12 months and the US for about 3 months I think it was.

If you only have limited ties - no mortgage, kids, debts - then making a life change is not too difficult and I'd recommend it.

[Edited on 10-12-2004 by phillc]

[Mr_S]

I made a lot of changes in '98

That year I

Quit drinking
Left the Navy (resigned after 10 years, easy job as a CPO, reasonable money, but I was BORED!!!)
Ditched the first wife
Started out in IT - Citrix engineer for Ferrari sponsoring telco

6 months later sold the house I had and bought one out of town for a while.

For me, best decisions of my life, I'm now in control of my time, in a job I love, re-married with an 8 month old son ( Ruben ). Big house (garage is bigger than parents ground floor ), new cars every 2 years, can afford to run a Ducati. 2 foreign holidays a year plus other travel. I got lucky, or I'm damned good at what I do depending on who you talk to :P

I've worked overseas a lot, Hong Kong, Florida, Washington DC, Southern France but always enjoy coming home.

It doesn't work out for some people though. 3 friends of mine left the Services at the same time I did, 2 went back in during the Gulf war as they couldn't find decent work outside (not used to working for a living either). The other guy has only just started to make headway ina new career, and although lives in Cheshire (nr Warrington) can't maintain the lifestyle he had 7 years ago.

If your thinking of doing it, try to negotiate a Sabbatical, so that if you aren't happy you can return. Rent out property instead of selling up and arrange work before you go.

One final thing you could ask yourself....

If NZ, Oz, SA etc are such great places to live, why are they all over here???

[Jon]

You know I said that my only employee went off to start afresh in Ozz.
He's still there and still picking fruit i reckon he will be back in a couple of years when he hits 40 and the back packers think he's an old hippy