What’s next?
A few months ago I posted about what we might be doing next after our stint in Mexico. Where we might be living when this contract is over. We’ve been here for 21 months now on a 2 year contract, so it’s not too hard to work out that our Mexican adventure is coming to a close. We’ll probably be leaving here around July.
For a short while the possibility of Vancouver as our next home was exciting, but we were never really convinced it would actually happen. And then a few things changed with the company and the market and it seemed a Canadian stint was off the cards. Then it seemed it was back on … by which stage we weren’t so keen on the idea.
So the last few months have been a bit up and down for us - trying to work out what to do next. The trip back to Perth was perfect timing - giving us a chance to think about living back there and a chance for Rocky to scope the job market.
And we have made a decision…to move back to Perth!!
That’s probably not as exciting for you to read as it is for us, but it’s actually a pretty momentous decision. We left over 8 years ago as newlyweds, we’ll be returning as a family of four. We’ve lived in 5 different countries, and a stint in NSW in that time. I think part of the reason we’ve put off moving home is that we’ve always felt like once we do, that will be it for the expat life. No more living overseas. Maybe that’s true, but who knows what we’ll be doing in 5 years or 10 years time. With Guerita starting school soon, this is probably a good time for us to settle down for a while and have some stability.
We talked with family and friends about coming home when we were visiting and many of them asked how we felt about it. It’s hard to describe the emotions, I think. Excited, definitely. It will be so great to have all those “comforts of home” on a regular basis. Having friends and family around will be fantastic and this was obviously a major factor in the decision. Guerita is very close to her cousins and was distraught when we had to say goodbye last time. Through her sobs she said to me “Mum, I just want you to tell me when we’re going to move back here!”. I knew we were making the right decision then.
But as well as excited, there’s also a measure of fear when approaching this move. For 8 years we’ve missed home, idolised the Perth lifestyle, talked endlessly about the things we will do when we’re living back there. That’s a lot to live up to and I know we’re not going to be able to just slot back into life as it was before. Perth has changed, our friends have changed and most of all we’ve changed. It’ll be an adjustment, just like it was getting used to all the previous places we’ve lived. It’ll be easier, no doubt, because it’s all familiar and we won’t be all alone, but I have no illusions that we’ll pick up where we left off in 2000.
So, there you have it. The Roaming Aussie Family are going home. Finally.
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Wow! Big changes ahead. But I think the fact that you’re so aware of these things will help. If you were heading back totally expecting to slot easily back in, the little hiccups along the way might feel worse. I hope it all goes well. Sounds like everything really is just falling into place - like a confirmation that the timing is right.
As for staying “home”. I think once you have the travel bug, it never leaves you. Even if for a while it becomes just short trips.
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OOooo How exciting!
Even if it’s “coming home”‘ it’s still another period of change and adjustment and settling. All just as exciting as moving to a completely new place I think.
Bettina’s last blog post..Phone Etiquette?
I think it all sounds very very exciting!!!
Hope all the planning goes well! Don`t stress too much (Like I have already started doing about going home for the year!)
Lulu’s last blog post..Movie quote madness…
Wow that is a big move…. probably the biggest of all of them I expect! But exciting none the less!
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Wow Guera - that is terrific news! I can completely relate to this post - we often think about whether we should go home next or elsewhere, and even though we have only done this for a year and 1 country, I get trepidatious about repatriating b/c even in this much time we couldn’t just slip back into our old lives (nor would we want to I’m guessing). But I think for those of us who have always had that desire at the back of our minds to go back home, it will be wonderful (after somewhat of an adjustment period I expect). I really am thrilled for you and can’t wait to read about the process of going home and your new-old life back in Perth!
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Wow! That is exciting news! I think its fabulous news!
When?
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Thanks everyone! It is exciting and a little bit stressful (trying not to think too much about all I have to do, Lulu. You know what it’s like!). At this stage we should be heading back around July - allowing Guerita to finish up her school year and go straight back to Term 3 at home. Poor thing will miss the big summer holiday, but then she did just have a month off!!
That’s great news. I bet that afternoon at Cottesloe Beach made all the difference. hehe
Seriously though - look forward to seeing you back in the small smoke.
CB
x
cellobella’s last blog post..Broome Sunrise
CB - well, an afternoon at a beautiful beach, great weather, good company - made the decision so much easier!!! We’re looking forward to coming back too - it’ll be good to catch up again.
WA is still like a different country for us East Coast Australians
Now you can replace all the cactus themed photos with beaches, open cut mines and red desert.
May I suggest my camels on cable beach at sunset photo as a candidate? it would be easy to crop it and only use the middle horizontal section
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Sometimes it does feel like a different country! I will have to have a big re-design of the site when we move and I love that camels photo of yours. I might have to actually get to Broome myself though (I’ve never been!!) before I can put it on my blog… Hmmmm, more travel!?!
Guera, good luck!! Nice to “meet” you via my blog and thanks for the kind words. You sound much more prepared to move back to Perth than I was. My (German) husband convinced me to come back here and I really wasn’t keen at all. Luckily it’s not as bad as I thought but it’s got to be one of the most difficult places to live if you’re used to travelling regularly like I was (and like you are, by the sounds of things). Everything is so far away and therefore relatively expensive, time-consuming, etc etc. On the up side, I was surprised that Perth seems to be getting a bit more cultural, so you never know … and it is nice to have family around, that’s true.
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