I got an email from an old school friend recently. He had emigrated to Australia a few years back and we had lost touch. However, a chance email from a mutual friend inviting us all to a school reunion gave me his new contact address, and since then we have been catching up.
Like so many of the people now living Down Under he sings the praises of the life there: the sunshine, the outdoors living, the plentiful work and leisure opportunities. For all that, he still misses Europe at times. "I sometimes think having the sun and being closer to home would be nice, and you have that in Spain," he says.
Which underscores the predicament facing many prospective expatriate Brits: where is the best place to move to?
In every survey and poll Australia continues to top the list of the most popular destination for Brits moving abroad. And with good reason. There is the sunshine, of course. And the draw of those wide, sweeping, sandy beaches (just put the sharks out of your mind). Plus the chance to go diving off the Great Barrier Reef, skiing in the Blue Mountains or camping in the Outback.
But there is also the lifestyle. The balance that exists between work and play. The swimming pools and the barbies and the time to spend with family and friends.
It is English-speaking too, which makes the transition and integration so much easier.
On the downside, it is a day's flight away, with a time differential guaranteed to send your body clock haywire. Not the kind of place you can pop back from for the weekend.
As a result, everyone I know who lives there only makes it back for visits to the UK every few years or so. It hardly lends itself to close contact with the family and friends that have remained behind. Going to Oz (or New Zealand) is not just a move abroad, it is a dislocation.
By contrast, Spain - the second most popular British expat destination, and my home - is just a two or three hour plane ride away. Plus the flights are frequent and cheap. And while it may not have the Great Barrier Reef or Bondi Beach, it does have copious amounts of sunshine, fantastic scenery and a rich, vibrant culture.
Unless you speak Spanish though - or can pick it up quickly - integrating is going to be tougher. Without the language you will always remain a foreigner on the margins of the local community, as I see time and time again here.
Which brings me back to that conundrum.
Picking an English-speaking destination with the ease of transition it brings means travelling a long way from home: the States, Canada, parts of the Caribbean, South Africa, Australia or New Zealand. Alternatively, choosing to move somewhere in Europe means overcoming those language barriers.
So which is most appealing to you?
Paul Allen is the author of "Should I Stay Or Should I Go? The Truth About Moving Abroad And Whether It's Right For You," a comprehensive ebook guide for people considering a move abroad. For more details about the book, and to get lots of free information and advice on moving and living overseas, visit his website http://www.expatliving101.com
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