Should we stay or go?

[Beanieskis]

From what you've written it seems like there would be a lot of compromises to go. There will be other jobs in Europe when the time comes. Stay.

Personally I would go to Switzerland if I had the chance without a doubt, but I have a career that I know sooner or later I would find a good job in Switzerland. However it's very expensive - if you don't earn a decent salary it will be difficult there. In HK, although property is expensive, everything else is much cheaper than Switzerland.

[civil_servant]

Switzerland is the last place you want to be to regret a life decision. Mixed with low sunshine hours, boring cities, and pretty liberal views when it comes to euthanasia and it's fairly obvious where this might lead.

[civil_servant]

Yes, I'm trying to relax a bit and keep this in mind. It's all forced me to think carefully about what I want in life and there's always some pressure to "do what I really want to do" when I move, and I'm kind of tired of this as what I have going now makes me pretty happy (especially since we're online). I'm pretty sure dream careers of mine could never be realized in Europe.

Yes it's true we can come and go and we have money and freedom, but actually I realized something really bothers me about this: I love gardening and it's really important to me. We continually feel unable to buy anywhere we're at -- CH is the worst. Even if you wanted to buy -- you can't! There are no places! I am a bit emotionally attached to my plants and am not sure I can come to terms with a lifetime of continually having to separate from them. (Sounds crazy, but if you saw my rooftop you'd understand...) There's ways to deal with this, like focusing on vegetable gardening, but it's still some life goal of mine to have a little place to call my own and see grow over years.

But yes, I will stay put and don't need to make any decision initially. I can write to potential employers there and see if any doors open. If they do, fine, I can go.

I worry so much that life back in Europe will be pretty boring. Once upon a time it was an exciting, new, beautiful foreign place to me. I found the people interesting and enjoyed learning about their culture. Now it may seem quite banal and restrictive. @jdf21st you don't think it's boring and plain?

If you like gardening you can buy some dirt cheap orchard lots with a Rustico on it in the mountains of Northern Italy. Treat it as a cottage or something like that. Having the Gotthard Base Tunnel opens up such opportunities for weekend getaways. It would also assist with the lack of sunshine hours and the boredom that one experiences in the Northern part of Switzerland.

[Elegiaque]

Switzerland is the last place you want to be to regret a life decision. Mixed with low sunshine hours, boring cities, and pretty liberal views when it comes to euthanasia and it's fairly obvious where this might lead.

Oh I know, how dreadful to have a implicit civic duty to read newspapers about a transparent government over Brötchen on Sundays so that you can make informed decisions when you exercise your democratic rights to shape society. No wonder they have euthanasia.

If you like gardening you can buy some dirt cheap orchard lots with a Rustico on it in the mountains of Northern Italy. Treat it as a cottage or something like that. Having the Gotthard Base Tunnel opens up such opportunities for weekend getaways. It would also assist with the lack of sunshine hours and the boredom that one experiences in the Northern part of Switzerland.

Yes... this gets into tricky relationship negotiations. But yes... this kind of suggestion is good, except I'm not sure how realistic it is, especially with cats.

[Pauljoecoe]

I worry so much that life back in Europe will be pretty boring.
Once upon a time it was an exciting, new, beautiful foreign place to me. I found the people interesting and enjoyed learning about their culture. Now it may seem quite banal and restrictive. @jdf21st you don't think it's boring and plain?

Very strange comment. Are you referring to this specific place becoming boring? For one 'Europe' is big place and full of variety in terms of culture, cities, countryside, landscapes, weather, etc. It really depends on where you are referring to. Also, living in Europe means you have easy access to all of this by car, train or air.

I loved Hong Kong in terms of an interesting culture that was different to mine (although in time that initial interest disappears and some aspects become annoying). Also, I loved the landscape, the easy access to sea, beaches, mountains, However in time I found the lack of culture in terms of western art (theatre/music) frustrating, and the fact you are essentially locked in by borders to a fairly small area very restrictive as someone who like to explore and travel and particular road trips.

I also love living in a house, with gardens and a garage, and space!

There are people who are so glad they left and there are people who swear they will never leave this city. You'll never know until you actually do it... but bear in mind each city has its own drawbacks and they may not necessarily be obvious at first!

Of course, there is life outside of Cities!

[eightfivetwo]

Means we made long life friends in Hong Kong and retain an interest in its present and future?

Those who carp about non-residents posting on here - what does that say?

And serves as a connection to the city for many of our former residents. It's a good thing! Past, present, and future residents all equally welcome.

[Mr Chips]

well, so many left and still stuck to this website like their daily bread.. what does that say ?

I lived there for over a decade, my wife is from there, my children grew up there... I have many friends there... Pardon me for still having an interest.

That said, I did once say the same to @hullexile, I was wrong, and I know better now.

If you love Hong Kong, I hope you can imagine how for those of us who spent a long time there, at least part of our hearts remain... and, I couldn't be in my current situation if it wasn't for Hong Kong.

[Mr Chips]

well, so many left and still stuck to this website like their daily bread.. what does that say ?

I lived there for over a decade, my wife is from there, my children grew up there... I have many friends there... Pardon me for still having an interest.

That said, I did once say the same to @hullexile, I was wrong, and I know better now.

If you love Hong Kong, I hope you can imagine how for those of us who spent a long time there, at least part of our hearts remain... and, I couldn't be in my current situation if it wasn't for Hong Kong.

[mrgoodkat]

Switzerland is the last place you want to be to regret a life decision. Mixed with low sunshine hours, boring cities, and pretty liberal views when it comes to euthanasia and it's fairly obvious where this might lead.

All of your posts read like you've never left Hong Kong.

[jdf21st]

Yes, I'm trying to relax a bit and keep this in mind. It's all forced me to think carefully about what I want in life and there's always some pressure to "do what I really want to do" when I move, and I'm kind of tired of this as what I have going now makes me pretty happy (especially since we're online). I'm pretty sure dream careers of mine could never be realized in Europe.

Yes it's true we can come and go and we have money and freedom, but actually I realized something really bothers me about this: I love gardening and it's really important to me. We continually feel unable to buy anywhere we're at -- CH is the worst. Even if you wanted to buy -- you can't! There are no places! I am a bit emotionally attached to my plants and am not sure I can come to terms with a lifetime of continually having to separate from them. (Sounds crazy, but if you saw my rooftop you'd understand...) There's ways to deal with this, like focusing on vegetable gardening, but it's still some life goal of mine to have a little place to call my own and see grow over years.

But yes, I will stay put and don't need to make any decision initially. I can write to potential employers there and see if any doors open. If they do, fine, I can go.

I worry so much that life back in Europe will be pretty boring. Once upon a time it was an exciting, new, beautiful foreign place to me. I found the people interesting and enjoyed learning about their culture. Now it may seem quite banal and restrictive. @jdf21st you don't think it's boring and plain?

Nope - not bored nor plain, IMHO - love Europe, still loads to see and do, but it may be simply a matter of personal preference. Been in HK for over 20 years so so much has changed. From Rovaniemi to Valletta, from Faro to Bucharest and more - loads to do, places to visit, easy & cheap to get around (normally; and if you want the train to take the strain check out the man in seat 61). Now not far from London - I can be sitting down at Brasserie Flo in less than 4 hours! At least in Switzerland there’s a good chance your lungs will improve after HK; would love to live amongst real mountains - love skiing and remember seeing snow capped Alps from the Limmatquai and sorely tempted to skip my meetings.... Might take up gliding again which wasn’t really possible in HK. As for Culture Vultures was there ever any comparison?