"It does surprise me also, how many people emigrate and yet have never visited a place in advance (as was the case with the couple above), so have no idea about the cost of living, the price of housing or even how much a litre of milk costs. If you are planning to move to the other side of the world, so far from everything and everyone you know, surely it would be a good idea to go and have a look at it first and find out whether or not you can actually afford the cost of living there?"
Good comment! We came out here without doing a Recci first & I can honestly say I don't think I would have come back(for many reasons)....but what i would say is that your vision whilst on holiday is completely different to actually living in the reality of it all and the important thing may be overshadowed by this. We are a family of 5 and the cost of a Recci a posed to using that money to come out here and getting started, I do now wish I had done the Recci.......we have only been here since June and for us it has made us realise how important ageing grandparents and family are important in our children's lives, and what we had wasn't all that bad! It's a lovely post by the OP and a very realistic one for many of us. I would never say don't do it and honestly believe if you have an itch scratch it. You can do as much research as u like but nothing will prepare you for the emotional feeling you go through, throughout you journey.....