[elleann]

Hey ...

From reading the posts in this forum, it *seems* as if the majority of migrants are young (20s, 30s ...) and also that most are married couples with either no kids or young kids.

I'm curious to know if there are any other migrants out there who are (like me) single (with or without kids) and older (ie between 40 and 55, the cut-off age). If so, how have you coped with managing the emigration process on your own, and/or how did you find settling into a new community?

Just wondering .... :)

[TonnyTessa]

I fall in the single category, but not in the right age group, I am still too young..... Also still need to emigrate to NZ.

However I did move to England and lived in lots of other countries too including some far away ones (think Australia or Pakistan) emigrating isn't too difficult. Staying there and rebuilding your life is the more difficult part. Yes there will be difficult moments, and yes there will be times that you will curse yourself for even thinking about moving away from friends and family. But there are so many new opportunities waiting that I am confident it for me at least it will work out. Of course I am fortunate enough that it is just me and I will be earning a decent salary, so I should be able to go "home" at least once a year without it costing a total fortune. It is going to be hard work, getting used to the new job, finding your way around the supermarket, knowing which government office deals with what, building up a social network again. All part of the fun for me!

[Kate D]

Hiya,

I fall into the catergory of a single migrant in the age group you mention (lower end:D) - came out here on my own eight months ago, with no children. I had a job offer before I left the UK and have also previously lived in other countries. However, I was still a little taken aback by the rollercoaster journey involved to get here! This forum became my late night lifeline - demanding job and commute by day, emigration sponge by night!

Feel free to PM me for any further info. I've also come across other single migrants in that age range too.

Kate

[tea drinker]

Me too :D
still here waiting for house to sell
will be jumping over on holiday visa... sometime ...
Good to know that there are others out there in the sameish situation. :clap

[Francoise]

Hi,

My husband and I are 50 and busy emigrating to Christchurch. We have no kids (he has 3 grown up living in various parts of the world). Just waiting for property to sell and finish up jobs, and we'll hopefully be leaving SA in March 2009. Got our PR already.

We're both very excited about the new adventure.

[elleann]

Hi all! good to hear from you all (also thanks for the PMs)! I'll be travelling with a teenage daughter and we'll be arriving in Welly at the end of Jan 09 - look forward to meeting up with some of you then!

Kate, you are so right, it IS a rollercoaster of a journey. Not only all the paperwork and trying to get the timing right (and at this stage, I'm only doing the work visa thing!) but also all the emotions that come with leaving family behind and striking out on your own again. There's no turning back, but I do still get the occasional attack of the collywobbles .... ;-)

TonnyTessa, I like your approach - it IS fun, if somewhat nerve-wracking, negotiating a new world! But there's nothing quite like a fresh start, is there?

Francoise, good luck. Where in SA are you guys now?

[RJLink]

Elleann,

45, single, moving to Wellington, won't know anyone at first, etc. Crazy--or just adventurous? Just wanted to let you know there are others out there doing the same thing.

[Mrs Pony]

OH moved to Wellington all by himself in 2006. He was about 27 then....

[elleann]

Richard, I think it's a mix of both with a dash of hopeful optimism thrown in! But how often do you get a chance to make a fresh start ... as nervous as I get at times, I'm looking forward to reinventing my life. ;-) When do you arrive and are you from DC USA?

Mrs Pony, you've been through a LOOOONG process already - I salute your persistence and fortitude!

[Jacqi B]

Not single, but we are older. We will be 50 (me, in January) and 44 (45 in May) when we get there.

[Mrs Pony]

Mrs Pony, you've been through a LOOOONG process already - I salute your persistence and fortitude!

ugh! Tell me about it!... We're getting there one way or another!!

[RJLink]

Linda,

Yes, I'm currently living in Washington, DC. I was interested in going to Australia as well, until finding out that their age limit for PR is 45. I was assuming it would be 55 like NZ.

[RJLink]

Oh, and I arrive Jan. 3 in Wellington.