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Waspy

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It doesn't stop me from hating my day from the minute i wake up to the minute i go to bed

Honestly, it doesn't sound like the UK is your problem.

Your stress isn't a result of the country you live in, the stress is a result of your situation.

The sun isn't going to put money in your bank or food on your table.

On the other hand, Spain is much cheaper than the UK. Your wife is out of a job, you are location independent, the kids are young... perhaps now is the time to go? Lotta people out their who sold their lives in one country and started a fresh one for the better in a new place.
 
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Paul David

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Honestly, it doesn't sound like the UK is your problem.

Your stress isn't a result of the country you live in, the stress is a result of your situation.

The sun isn't going to put money in your bank or food on your table.

On the other hand, Spain is much cheaper than the UK. Your wife is out of a job, you are location independent, the kids are young... perhaps now is the time to go? Lotta people out their who sold their lives in one country and started a fresh one for the better in a new place.

Thanks for your reply.

Perhaps you are correct. I do however feel that even if i did have more money i wouldn't really be living my life any different here. Sure you'd have maybe a bigger house or nicer car, clothes etc. The fundamental problems are still there for me.

Unless your happy to wrap up and go walking around the countryside in bad weather you're restricted to doing indoor things. Playcentres, swimming baths, bowling alleys. All ok in moderation but that's literally all there is.

You may be right about moving away now and just going for it. The worst thing that can happen in life i suppose is death and no-one is going to die because of the decision i suppose. The main obstacle is that my drawings are not enough to cover our outgoings which means even if we lived in a house/property in Spain at half our current mortgage cost we still couldn't afford it. We have loans and credit card debt.
 

Jonathan Polley

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On the other hand, Spain is much cheaper than the UK. Your wife is out of a job, you are location independent, the kids are young... perhaps now is the time to go? Lotta people out their who sold their lives in one country and started a fresh one for the better in a new place.

This...

As I sit outside in Valencia right now, it's about 20c. Sure I am at my slowlane job. But it pays OK. Best of all it pays me well in time that I would never have in the UK. The pressures of work here are very different. I have spent the last hour doing things for my business.

But my wife is at home right now, not having to work a slowlane. Also working on the business. And we can afford for her not to work. Our rent for a four bedroom apartment with a shared swimming pool is 450 Euros a month. Bills/car/fuel are about 250 a month Food for a family of four is another 250 a month.

Leaving us with about another 900 Euros disposable income (or money to put into the business)

There is just no way we could do this in the UK. None at all.
 

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@Jonathan Polley

How good is your Spanish? Or how good was it when you first moved out there?

Language barriers draw me to the English speaking world when seeking the Sun. Any insight from someone living in Spain?
 
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MTF

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Language barriers draw me to the English speaking world when seeking the Sun. Any insight from someone living in Spain?

I don't live in Spain, but I travel there fairly frequently. Most people in Spain speak very little English or if they do, they don't speak it well. The only exception are tourist trap towns/regions heavily populated by British expats/big cities like Barcelona where some Spaniards will start a conversation with you in English right away because most people who live in those places indeed don't speak Spanish.

If you want to live more like a local, then Spanish is a must. But it's a very easy language, especially for a native English speaker, so language barrier is a weak excuse.
 

Jonathan Polley

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@Jonathan Polley

How good is your Spanish? Or how good was it when you first moved out there?

Language barriers draw me to the English speaking world when seeking the Sun. Any insight from someone living in Spain?

When we first moved here I knew a few basic phrases and words, but had next to no grammar.
My Spanish is now passable. I can communicate is shops and have basic conversations with people. I do struggle with some of the tenses and it's not helped that a lot of people here talk Valenciano to be no Castillano (which is what we refer to as Spanish) but as soon as they realise they always switch to Castillano.

My wife's Spanish is a lot better than mine and we would have struggled when we first got here without her ability to speak the language well. But after two years and no proper lessons I am just about comfortable. But they still speak far too fast.
 

MJ DeMarco

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"When you have no money, it's never sunny."

I have to disagree based on individual circumstances. I believe perennial sunshine got my biochemistry right and hence, it kept me motivated me to do what was necessary. Had I stayed in a poor climate, I would have just done enough to survive, not thrive. Kinda hard to improve yourself when your #1 priority is to stay in bed.
 
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When we first moved here I knew a few basic phrases and words, but had next to no grammar.
My Spanish is now passable. I can communicate is shops and have basic conversations with people. I do struggle with some of the tenses and it's not helped that a lot of people here talk Valenciano to be no Castillano (which is what we refer to as Spanish) but as soon as they realise they always switch to Castillano.

My wife's Spanish is a lot better than mine and we would have struggled when we first got here without her ability to speak the language well. But after two years and no proper lessons I am just about comfortable. But they still speak far too fast.

So you must have an English speaking job? Do you mind me asking in which field / role?

Like others in this thread I've only really considered the native English speaking countries as places to do a slowlane job due to only speaking English (for now.)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Jonathan Polley

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So you must have an English speaking job? Do you mind me asking in which field / role?

Like others in this thread I've only really considered the native English speaking countries as places to do a slowlane job due to only speaking English (for now.)


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I teach science in an international school. The kids are mostly Spanish but are learning in English.
 

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I have to disagree based on individual circumstances. I believe perennial sunshine got my biochemistry right and hence, it kept me motivated me to do what was necessary. Had I stayed in a poor climate, I would have just done enough to survive, not thrive. Kinda hard to improve yourself when your #1 priority is to stay in bed.

I wonder sometimes if it's "causation or correlation" of the number of successful people we know who moved from the Midwest to Arizona. Is it just Arizona? Or is it meeting people who have the same mindset.

Personally, I think that in addition to the sun, the lower cost of living lowers your stress. And a lower stress level, leads to more productiveness.

I did not have this same feeling living in LA. Yes, it's sunny, but the housing prices there did not make for a comfortable life.
 
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Everyman

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Weather is important - as a species we come from a climate where you can survive whole year living outside. It will be hard to find someone not affected by the lack of sun, cold etc...


I moved from Eastern Europe to Ireland. The weather here is 'boring' but not bad - shorter days are a bit depressing (half Nov - half Feb). Ok - the wind is annoying. The Italians and Spaniards are complaining but are still here ;)

I enjoy better air and water quality. I dream of moving to somewhere warmer and this is what I use to motivate myself. People aren't plants or trees and can move. The move here was more important for me than where I moved to. I feel a bit freer and responsible for my destiny. Had I stayed I would have been in the same situation probably - same friends, family (love them) I was 'born' in etc... would cause same results. For me it was a mental escape. Warm countries will follow and are important on the list.

PS "There is no bad weather, only bad clothing" we say in Ireland ;)
 

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I have to disagree based on individual circumstances. I believe perennial sunshine got my biochemistry right and hence, it kept me motivated me to do what was necessary. Had I stayed in a poor climate, I would have just done enough to survive, not thrive. Kinda hard to improve yourself when your #1 priority is to stay in bed.

I'm trying hard to motivate myself with the possibility of earning enough from my business to move or spend more time in a sunnier climate but it can be difficult.

I do the school run with the kids of a morning, i see the same guy walking the same stretch of road towards his place of work, I also see another guy back out of his driveway at the same time every morning. The guy who lives opposite has just pulled up like clockwork at 11.30pm after closing his takeaway. It's like the Truman Show only it's real life.

The thought of spending the rest of my life negotiating day after day like this fills me with dread.

To be honest it shouldn't really matter whether it's raining, windy or sunny tomorrow as I'll be sitting at my desk working away towards the fastlane. But it does. It does matter. At least I'm on the journey. 99% are not.




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I have to disagree based on individual circumstances. I believe perennial sunshine got my biochemistry right and hence, it kept me motivated me to do what was necessary. Had I stayed in a poor climate, I would have just done enough to survive, not thrive. Kinda hard to improve yourself when your #1 priority is to stay in bed.
I understand your point, and it's valid, but I was just trying to show the importance of having money and how it shapes one's outlook on life.
 
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I used to live in Southern California where the weather was perfect. I always felt energized and in a very good mood. The culture there is also different than it is here in Texas. Texas isn't so bad, but it can always be too hot to want to do anything. The heat also causes many people including myself to become short tempered and become easily irritable. I do workout and eat healthy which helps with my mood and motivation, but without it I feel like a different person. My mood can drop when it gets too dark and cold here in the later seasons.

I visit California about once or twice a year and I notice a dramatic upward spike in my mood and energy once I get here. The people are great, the weather is wonderful, I just don't ever want to leave! (I wouldn't if it wasn't so expensive). When I arrive back in Texas, I usually feel the post vacation hype for about a week or two and it slowly just deteriorates when I'm walking around in the heat or having to deal with irritable co-workers.

To move to and live comfortable in beautiful sunny region is one of the reasons I took the journey to get to the fastlane.
 

MJ DeMarco

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Speaking of climate and sunshine, this is a saying of mine that I like repeating to my 3 boys: "When you have no money, it's never sunny."

I understand your point, and it's valid, but I was just trying to show the importance of having money and how it shapes one's outlook on life.

Definitely.

However given a choice, I'd rather be broke and struggling in sunny Arizona than dreary Gary Indiana. One can be motivating to change your money situation, while the other, not so much.
 
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TTG SS

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I think everyone should move to somewhere they feel optimistic about and not just stick it out where they are because they feel obligated to stay.

Just the other day I was conversing with a friend about how much he hates the winter. I told him to move somewhere without winter, said "yeah" but totally didn't believe that it was actually possible to get up and move.
 

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"Has Moving to a Warm and Sunny Climate Made You Happier?"

YES - ABSOLUTELY!

But as I stated before in similar threads - not only has it made me happier day to day. It has also made me more driven and more focused.
Being more driven and more focused has directly and positively impacted my business and rate of success. Places I lived before with shitty and cold winters didn't prevent those things completely because a true, driven mind won't let anything get in the way. But they certainly slowed down my progress, I know that.

Like @Vigilante said - I don't understand why people choose to live through 4-6 months of winter hell, lol...
 
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This is something I've thought more about this year than anytime prior.

There's something about the sunshine that really motivates me. That sounds so silly typing it out, but it's true. Back when I worked in the city, I got to work before the sun rose, ate lunch in the office, and left after sunset, since the sun set so early. I didn't see sunlight until the weekend.

Being able to take a break and go for a run around the block, or head to the skatepark for an hour is the best way to blow off steam, which isn't really an option in the winter.
 

northerndough

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I used to live in Southern California where the weather was perfect. I always felt energized and in a very good mood. The culture there is also different than it is here in Texas. Texas isn't so bad, but it can always be too hot to want to do anything. The heat also causes many people including myself to become short tempered and become easily irritable. I do workout and eat healthy which helps with my mood and motivation, but without it I feel like a different person. My mood can drop when it gets too dark and cold here in the later seasons.

I visit California about once or twice a year and I notice a dramatic upward spike in my mood and energy once I get here. The people are great, the weather is wonderful, I just don't ever want to leave! (I wouldn't if it wasn't so expensive). When I arrive back in Texas, I usually feel the post vacation hype for about a week or two and it slowly just deteriorates when I'm walking around in the heat or having to deal with irritable co-workers.

To move to and live comfortable in beautiful sunny region is one of the reasons I took the journey to get to the fastlane.
Then can we say California is the location of choice? Weather, people, money, opportunities, etc. Would love to hear from others who've lived or are presently in the Golden State.
 

MJ DeMarco

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Then can we say California is the location of choice?

Weather yes.

For business, no.

CALI is a punitive tax state, not withstanding "exit taxes" and bunch of other harsh regulations.

Set up shop in CA and you're instantly targeted as another cow to be milked.

I'm surprised more tech companies haven't left yet, but perhaps attracting cheap H1B labor in a desirable climate is the offset.
 
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northerndough

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Weather yes.

For business, no.

CALI is a punitive tax state, not withstanding "exit taxes" and bunch of other harsh regulations.

Set up shop in CA and you're instantly targeted as another cow to be milked.

I'm surprised more tech companies haven't left yet, but perhaps attracting cheap H1B labor in a desirable climate is the offset.
Good points! Wouldn't be surprised if States just north and west of California will be benefiting (and I think already are) from companies moving out of the Golden State.
 

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Good points! Wouldn't be surprised if States just north and west of California will be benefiting (and I think already are) from companies moving out of the Golden State.

I believe the ocean is west of California :)
 

Everyman

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Definitely.

However given a choice, I'd rather be broke and struggling in sunny Arizona than dreary Gary Indiana. One can be motivating to change your money situation, while the other, not so much.

I will disagree slightly here (though I understand your point).

I think your character was carved in this process. I will use 'what if' or 'if' for a good reason. I believe that if you hadn't experience dreary Chicago weather (and all these 'inconveniences' in your life and MLMs etc...) you wouldn't have been where you are. I know it is a big 'IF' here. I think this feeling of misery created an urge inside of you, that you wanted the sun and warmth and to better your life. And it was so deep that even now when I read what you wrote I can feel it...

Maybe if you had been born in a sunny city of Arizona you wouldn't have developed this drive for change (out of comfort). Or you might have achieved it years earlier...
 
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northerndough

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I will disagree slightly here (though I understand your point).

I think your character was carved in this process. I will use 'what if' or 'if' for a good reason. I believe that if you hadn't experience dreary Chicago weather (and all these 'inconveniences' in your life and MLMs etc...) you wouldn't have been where you are. I know it is a big 'IF' here. I think this feeling of misery created an urge inside of you, that you wanted the sun and warmth and to better your life. And it was so deep that even now when I read what you wrote I can feel it...

Maybe if you had been born in a sunny city of Arizona you wouldn't have developed this drive for change (out of comfort). Or you might have achieved it years earlier...
If I may, based on MJ's proven track record, 2 things come up. The recipe for success then is a sunny climate and an awesome domain name. :smile2:
 

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I live in a cold country and each year suffer for up to 6 months because of the low temperatures, lack of sunlight, short days, and people with permanent scowls on their faces. I'm starting to wonder if it wouldn't be better to leave everything I have here and move elsewhere where I wouldn't live with anxiety, frustration, and stress for a half of a year.

To anyone who has moved from a cold, dark or wet climate to a warm, sunny and dry climate - has it made you noticeably happier and greatly improved your quality of life?

If you have family and close friends back in your cold state/country, do the benefits of living in a sunny and warm place still outweigh the cons of missing them and essentially having to build a new life from scratch?


Hello MTF and those of you who suffer from the winter blues or S.A.D.,

I can empathize with your situation. Since I moved to New England from France, I’ve found out that winters here are way more difficult to deal with than those in France (even in the Alps)...

However, since last year, I have gradually been able to turn things around with regards to my perspective about winter and I feel now that winter (and late fall) is about to become for me pretty much like any other season.

So, what did happen?

My understanding of this is based on what is called (unintentional) Anchoring in NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming).

Anchoring takes place when we form natural associations between feelings and external things every day, such as: a smell that may instantly transport you back to a particular time, a song that may bring back memories of a person long gone, and entering a school room that may trigger feelings of fear or happiness.

I remember one or two years after moving here, we had an extremely rough winter (we got about 3 feet of snow accumulation in a few weeks and the snow froze over) in conjunction with the season taking a toll (mentally and emotionally) on me that year. Ever since, I considered winter as the “season from hell". Every winter, I felt fatigued, anxious and sad. Did you see what happened?

Because winter became a trigger for feeling anxious, sad and lacking drive. Every year, I would condition myself by expecting the depression to take place and it became a self-fulfilling prophecy.

What happened in winter that year; does it have to happen every year? My answer to this question at this point of my life is clearly NO.

Only was I able to break that vicious circle when I made the decision to appreciate every season for what it is and reframe the lack of sunshine, etc. by focusing on the positive things about winter.

My goal for next year is to come up with a challenge for myself to make my winter even better and as enjoyable as possible by taking small but consistent actions, such as: taking walks outside more often, sitting next to a light box (w/ full light spectrum) for at least 30 min a day, going out with friends and going to the movies more often, helping people through Traditional Chinese Medicine for a small fee or free of charge and keeping a journal on a regular basis. Also, once I have saved enough I’d love to go on a vacation to warmer climates! :)

The bottom line of this is to weaken the negative trigger that winter has become over the last several years so that when winter arrives I don’t condition myself to be depressed. It’s just like any other season.

Also, I feel this winter blues situation could be addressed in a similar way as a successful entrepreneur would deal with failure or a challenge in his business: from a problem-solving attitude. In order to get anywhere, a road map is necessary and related beliefs need to be clarified and optimized. I'm curious to know what your take on this is!

Even though this doesn't answer your question directly, I thought maybe my experience could be beneficial to you (and others) as you seem split between moving to a warmer place (where you would have to build a new life, etc.) and staying in this country where you feel winters are dreadful but where your friends and loved ones live. Perhaps reframing what winter triggers in you could help you have a happier life in this season?

The more I read posts in this forum, the more I realize how supportive members here are. Happy to have found you guys! :)

Ending on this beautiful quote by Albert Camus: “In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.”
 
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MTF

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sitting next to a light box (w/ full light spectrum) for at least 30 min a day

Light therapy is by far the most powerful thing that has helped me function better during winter (after traveling of course).

I understand your point about anchoring, and while it can possibly work in certain cases, it's a different thing when your body physically craves light. You can't simply convince yourself that winter isn't that bad if you legitimately suffer from light deprivation.
 

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I purposely chose to live in a flat in London, with all of the rooms facing south/west and a big park down the balcony. Since I work from home last year, I complained much less about the weather. I got lots of sunshine during the majority time of the year, even in rainy days, the sun could sometimes get out of the clouds. The flat can get very bright and warm during the day(28 C even in Dec, Jan).

So my winter routine was liking running in the park in the morning with some sunshine, doing work while watching the rains in the afternoon... I quite like the weather now and enjoy whatever London as an international city has to offer.
 

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