As the rain drizzles down my window pane I sigh and moan, yet another dreary day, permeated by dusty grey clouds, with no sunshine to be found. The leaves begin to fade away and the damp of winter threatens ever closer, as the trees are stripped bare from all decoration. The wind is laced with ice and biting cold, nibbling at me with vindictive vengeance, reminding me that summer is nothing but a distant memory. I pack away the floral swimsuits and the inflatable swans and drag out the sturdy wellington boots and the thick faux fur coats, summer is well and truly over. 2017 was meant to be my year of travel, but that dream dissipated into murky mush, within mere weeks. As I flick through catalogues that are emblazoned with vivid images of travelers on their vacations, I wonder what it would be like if I, Faded Spring would ever move abroad. Would I be home sick and long for the familiarity of my London community or would it be an adventure, where I would be too busy having fun to miss home?
You see I’m not the only one who sometimes dreams of swapping boots for sandals; according to HouseBuyFast, 70 % of Brits long to move abroad, with the US, Australia and Spain topping the list. But why on earth would we leave behind our childhood homes, for the promise of the unknown I hear you ask? As someone who is of Maderian heritage ( a Portuguese Island named Madeira) sunshine is in my blood and while I love living in London, sometimes I crave a getaway drizzled in the welcome blaze of the morning sun, with a refreshing mojito in one hand and a book in the other. There would be no pressures of a working environment here and the air would be still and quiet. Away from the office drones of the urban city, a harmonious silence would ring through the private desert island, with the only sound being a quiet tinkling of laughter that seems to be coming from the rustling leaves of the nearby palm trees.
As Brits, we are true to stereotype and obsessed with the weather; when the sun has decided to bless us with an appearance we take off all our clothes and leave our suits rumpled in a corner as we dance under the meager sun, and yet when the skies threaten to boil over with thunder and rain, we stay inside, wrapped up in cozy blankets as the open fire cackles and spits in the face of our gross misfortune. So it makes sense that when the true British winter kicks in, we pack up our suitcases and leave, begging to be doused in the glorious rays of the tropical sun, instead of returning home with damp shoes and a rain stained face. But would I Faded Spring, ever be bold and make that move abroad, away from the ones I hold dearest to my heart? The truth is despite my moans and groans about the British weather and my grumbling distaste about the biting cold, home really is where the heart is.
When I was growing up in the countryside, I always felt like something was missing. I felt alienated, I felt bored and I felt like I didn’t belong. Sure the tranquility of the countryside was a welcome balm to childhood woes and I loved the secret worlds that I found myself to be a part of, but the shoe ‘didn’t quite fit’. But something changed when I went to university, aged 17 and I found myself finding what I had been looking for my whole life, somewhere to call home. And that home was called London. Yet it wasn’t until a year and five months ago, aged 22 that I was able to call East London my forever home. I love the street art that decorates arches and narrow doorways, I love that no matter how alternative you are, there is a community for you and above all I love the whisper of a thousands foreign tongues, as they chatter among themselves, buzzing with anticipation.
But then there are the days where the depression sets in and I feel numb, desensitized to myself and those around me. It is when I am at my lowest that I imagine the palm trees swaying in the breeze and scented coconut oil lotion wafting around a wooden cabin that lies a-perch its sandy location. Its a beautiful thought and its easy to see why us Brits are so afflicted with the winter blues, with 1 in 3 people suffering with Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D). So naturally the promise of a far flung land, will often seem like the answer to all our prayers. For some its the adventure of a lifetime, travelling the world and always being on the go, living off the clothes on your back. But for others their dream of a lifetime abroad is a nightmare in disguise, as they realize that ‘too much of a good thing’ can ruin a good moment forever. For me personally I dream of travelling but I know that I am too attached to my ‘creature comforts’ to ever move abroad. I would miss the solitude of my room and its immediate connections to the outside world, I would miss the ever changing landscape of the East London world and miss watching it change before my eyes. Most of all, where else but London would I be able to eat food and experience culture from over 270 different nationalities?
When we long to move abroad, we are often craving a fresh start, away from the demons that watch our every move. And yet what we don’t take into account is how those demons will never go away unless we confront them head on. So while I would love to travel, I couldn’t see myself living abroad anytime soon. I might bemoan the weather and long for a vacation abroad, but when it comes to finding my ‘forever home’, to me there is nowhere more welcoming or accepting than London. But then there are others who do find happiness abroad, from Brits who move to Portugal like Cath from Battlemum, to American expats who find their home in the UK, a move abroad can sometimes be the change that you so craved for. But for me there is nowhere else that I would rather call home than London and that is a beautiful thought indeed.
Would You Ever Move Abroad? If So Where Would You Go?
*Disclaimer
Please note this is a collaborative post but all thoughts and research are my own and not affected by monetary compensation.
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I would love to retire in Orlando but that’s a long way off and also really expensive.
I live in Australia and whilst I love it, I have been tempted over the years to move over to London, (As most Australia’s are) we are so far away from the world. I long to be able to spend a weekend in Paris, a weekend in Rome.
I moved from the tropics to the great big north almost 10 years ago (wow, that seems like a long time) and I must say, homesickness doesn’t really go away. I feel like I’m always stuck between two places, you know? It’s fun and exciting but in the quiet moments…well, sadness sometimes creeps up on you. And yes, I get Seasonal Affective Disorder. I have a happy light!
Well I live in Greece and despite the fact that the economy is in the drains right now, the weather is always nice and it feels like paradise on earth. Other people move here and the only reason to move abroad is to find a job. So I would too but I would go to a warm place!
I love that outfit! Stunning.
I don’t think I could ever move abroad – unless all my family came with me! I’d miss them too much and I don’t have a big desire to travel since becoming a mummy 🙂
We moved last October to Sweden (so not for the warmth, but the long hot summer is glorious!). We haven’t looked back even though we left family and friends behind, we love it here
I love your outfit in this 🙂
As someone who moved from London to Denmark a year ago I can only say it’s possible! I was surprised how relaxed other countries can be far away from busy London, but at the same time I find myself thinking about some stuff that it’s just so easy in London where there is literally everything! If you move go to Portugal, overall sun all year, I do miss the hot weather, XX
You bet 70% of Brits would love to move to Spain or USA! the first one is super hot and the second sounds so exciting!!!! It can be such an exciting project to live abroad.
I would love to move abroad but then I would miss all my family so it would be a very hard decision. I really dislike being cold though 🙁 Lovely outfit, you live near some cool artwork 🙂
I lived abroad for two years to work. Leaving my kids behind was the hardest part of it. I was crying unashamedly in the airport (both departure and arrival). It is a good thing that it was only a fixed 2 year work contract. I found good friend whom I considered family all the while I was living abroad.
I’d happily go and live abroad. I’ve always fancied moving to Canada. I doubt I’d ever make the jump – maybe one day. Thanks for sharing.
When we travelled to France a few years ago and met lots of British people who had moved there we were quite tempted..! And when I travelled to New Zealand when I was a lot younger I really didn’t want to come home again! I think if I didn’t have children I probably would move abroad, even if just for a little while. I think it’s a very brave thing to do.
I don’t even need to think about it as there is no doubt in my mind that my answer is on. I’m a real homebird, my parents live round the corner, I live in the same village I grew up in and have my closest friends all nearby. I don’t think I would ever leave, although I would like some sunshine!
As much as I hate the cold weather in the UK and I would love to move somewhere warm, I think I would miss my family and friends too much if I moved
I love the idea of moving abroad, but reality is I am most comfortable at home and near family. I live in the states where winters are cold and dream of summer on the beach all tear! Someday it might be great to move more south.
Home really is where the heart is! I’ve lived and studied in different parts of the us and even UK, and there is just something amazing about coming home to southern california. Maybe down the road when Im ready to retire at an older age I’d like a villa in Italy, but for now, So cal is my home.
We’ve just moved back to the UK after six years abroad. The home sickness for Edinburgh just got too much.
We moved to Dubai a few years back and even though we miss our family and friends, Dubai has become our home. Expat life is never easy but worth it! 🙂
I definitely need to stay in the UK, because I’m always poorly and rely on the NHS too much!
I don’t think I would ever want to move abroad as I would miss my friends and family too much x
I like to design your outfit. I’ve heard friends talk about Orlando. It seems like it’s a long way!
I long to move to New Zealand. We spent a lot of time over there when I was a child and it is a spectacular country
If it’s something that appeals to you, I would consider moving, even temporarily to get a new persepective. You can always come back if you find its not for you! I moved to Canada for a year, and then New Zealand for a year, (on Working Holiday visas) and didn’t regret a moment! I did miss my friends and family sometimes, but nowadays everyone is just a phone call away – and they can come visit too.
I don’t see myself moving abroad anytime soon but never say never. I like it here.
I know that feeling. I am from India and we crave for some place cold during summer. We have almost 7-8 months of summer months with unbearable heat and no, it’s not fun! My be we should swap places for a while! LOL!
I love the idea of moving abroad, somewhere with more sun and a new and exciting culture or lifestyle but in truth, the damp, drizzly England is my home and it probably always will be 🙂
On my part I’ve been away from home so often since I was 16 years old. I started tripping abroad at the age of 20 and work, live in most country of Asia. Going abroad really opens so much wisdom and maturity to me. But with all that I can still say, there’s no place like home.
I would live abroad even though I am doing that already – I was born, grew up and lived in Cape Town for 21 years but have settled for the past few years in Wales although before that spent some time living in France, Amsterdam and Scotland but already I feel like I have itchy feet again and want to go back somewhere warm. I do still get homesick every now and then for Cape Town but I equally don’t really want to live there again so I kind of feel free to move where ever I want but my kids are settled here so will have to see where the road leads me in a few years time
I’m a Brit at heart and as long as my family are here this is where i’ll stay. That doesn’t mean I don’t moan regularly about the cold weather though. I love our changing seasons but ideally I need regular top ups of sun too!
It has always been my dream to move to New Zealand. I have lived in many countries and I am thinking New Zealand or Australia would be my next stop
you’ll never know if you’d do it. Don’t regret things you haven’t done. Though if you are prone to depression it may be better to sign up to something so that you have a purpose when you get there i.e. volunteering etc. Just some food for thought.
As a matter of fact… my second home, as I like to call it, is the UK 🙂 – it’s very doable to move abroad but it all depends on WHY and WHERE — for me… I do feel like I resonate way better with the British and that’s also why I’ve made TONS more friends than I have ever had in Transylvania, Romania.
I would love to move somewhere thst was cheaper to get a bigger house,but im a big family girl so couldnt move abroad.
I would go to Formentera. It seems to me the most balanced place. Elegance and simplicity, golden beaches and turquoise sea.
I am with you o n this. There is no place I would rather call home than Ghana
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I worked abroad since 2010 for periods of 3 months but it`s not the same thing as moving as you still connected to your home.Then 2 and a half years ago I took the plunge and decided to move to the UK. It wasn`t easy but I guess not everybody has the guts to move abroad. Do I miss my family, friends and my home country? So much sometimes I can even put it into words.
My partner often talks about moving abroad but I could never do it, I would miss ‘home’ and family too much x
I’m not sure I could live abroad – I’m a homegirl at heart. Although if I did ever venture away, France would be top of my list – I’d love to immerse myself in the language. But I also fell in love with San Francisco a long time ago. If I was ever to move away from family though, I think I’d only go as far as Wales!
I love to travel and we travelled and moved so much growing up that I finally like being in the same country now for 8 years. I enjoy the change but with a baby now, I need stability.