No English People Left in England
I’ve a theory that England will become the most cosmopolitan country in the world.
With people from all over the world moving to England and so many English people moving abroad in a few years the transformation will be complete …
I’ve been surprised for some time just how many people are leaving the country or have homes abroad in preparation. Times have changed as these are ‘normal’ people not the rich elite.
Several people in my street have emigrated to New Zealand and Canada etc (though that could be because of me)
If you look at the influx of European workers coming here, and thank god I say as our home-grown youth cannot even read and write as well as kids from Estonia and Poland for example, there will soon be a complete swap over !
Has anything like this ever happened in history before ?
I know places like America were built on immigration from all over the world but has an established country ever just swapped over it’s population.
What’s brought this on you ask
Well a 102 year old man has just announced he’s leaving Britain because he’s had enough of the place. He amusingly says
“I didn’t want to get to 105 and wished I’d gone to New Zealand when I was 102″
So that seems to be the situation in the UK - here’s a summary let me know what you think !
All the Scots, who can, leave Scotland anyway, they always have !
The Welsh all leave Wales if they are capable of work outside hill farming 
The English are swapping places with Europeans and Australian bar men
I wonder when the time will come for me to go - are you contemplating it ?
A Retired Bookdealer said,
January 4, 2008 @ 12:01 pm
I think for most of us, an easy relaxed lifestyle in the sun is tempting, but there is always a down side to everything, I mean if its that good, why do people come back ?.
Could it be they have problems with their health and are unable to get medical help, the property they bought has been a nightmare, or do people just get homesick.
Though I would imagine missing family and friends for most is the main reason.
Anyway the people I talk to regularly who live abroad seem very happy with the cheaper living, healthier food and a more relaxed lifestyle.
But interestingly, what they all say is, make an effort to speak the language, mix with the locals and live as they do.
At the end of the day whatever you say “There is no Place Like Home”, even though it is cold, wet and miserable most of the time.
Rod said,
January 4, 2008 @ 12:58 pm
ARB,
I’m sure nothing is really as good as it appears from afar. There are bound to be downsides wherever you go unless it’s Utopia of course.
I’m just amazed at how many people are going. It’s gone from something you read about to something a lot of people known to me or friends of friends etc are doing.
Language is a biggie, I’ll wait until English is the official language of the world before I up sticks - my brain could not possibly supply enough power to learn another language !
RC
A Retired Bookdealer said,
January 4, 2008 @ 1:12 pm
Rod,
I think one of the things that must tempt a lot of people to go, is that a modest pension goes a lot further abroad and with it a much better, healthier life.
Rod said,
January 4, 2008 @ 1:30 pm
ARB,
I’m sure that’s a lot of it. At the end of the day what can you do in this country in the winter with £100 a week and UK living costs ?
Not much must be the answer
Witches of Eastwick said,
January 4, 2008 @ 8:12 pm
Rod,
We know someone who sold up and bought a static van on a site in the sun. No complaints from him but the cost of buying bricks and mortar in that area is sky high… living in a tin can year round won’t be everyone’s ideal but it works for some or at least they are prepared to put up with it. Naturally, if the Witches were to relocate to sunnier climes, we would insist that our dwelling have sufficient room to swing a cauldron without denting the bulkhead, not to mention spellbinding vistas
WoE
p.s. we’re trying to conjure up a vision of you in a caravan on a sunny remote hillside. At your disposal, one water pump and donkey transportation
Rod said,
January 5, 2008 @ 9:17 am
WoE
I understand prices are not what they used to be but I’m sure like for like moves are still possible. Moving to a similar area, status wise, to that which you live in in the UK still looks like a saving.
Even in America houses seem cheap compared to ours for example.
I don’t see myself living in a static caravan just yet, but you never know !
RC
Annie Flinn said,
January 12, 2008 @ 6:47 pm
Ah, my young man, where are you getting your prices of houses in America? I happen to live in California, where the cost of a house is rtoughly equivalent to the gross national product of a small nation. For example, a house in my neighborhood of roughly 1500 sqare feet costs anywhere from $539,00 to $600,00. Southern California seems to be obsessed with building new McMansions, homes so large that one needs a tram to commute from one section to another. Add to the purchase cost of a house of 1.5% of that cost to be paid in California’s annual property taxes, and one is looking at the “nose bleed” higher realms of income. My son and his fiancee are looking at paying at least $3,000/month to buy a townhouse that really has NO property associated with it. There, they will pay a mortgage, property taxes, and a homeowner’s association set of fees. I get dizzy just thinking about it.
Rod said,
January 12, 2008 @ 7:15 pm
Hi Annie
thanks for the comment, much appreciated.
It all depends on where you live of course but to take an average
The current average house price in the US is about $300,000
The average house in the UK costs $400,000
We all have property horror stories and I wonder just how people are meant to get started nowadays.
You mention $3k to buy a town house - I know of someone here in the UK paying $7,000 a month to rent a townhouse !!!
Pleased I’m sorted and no longer need to worry about such things, I wouldn’t want to be young again !
Regards
Rod