We Are Living in London, England!

We did it!  We’re currently living in London!  Not permanently, the plan is to live in London until the end of the year.

We’ve been talking about this for precisely 147 days since we were all forced into an endless staycation. Like most other people, in March we cleared our calendar, canceled holidays, and held out hope for summer to happen. We lived and breathed the news cycle, and gathered information on how the US planned to handle the pandemic. We held our breath waiting to see how the 2020/2021 school year was going to look.

After receiving notice that our high school would be taught 100% online, we decided to be opportunistic and plan our move to the UK. When else would we EVER have the opportunity to work from home in any location, and our children be able to continue school from any location? After self-isolation for 14 days on the other side, we’re able to visit our British relatives and friends. We’re excited.

I’m a planner with something to plan!

The boys and I are dual citizens and at this moment in time, the UK is one of the few countries allowing American’s to enter. Based on that, Hot Hubby left early August to set up a flat in London, and self-isolate for 14 days. He’s the only one in our family with just a US passport… and UK borders could close to US citizens at any time.

I stuck around to get our older son situated into his sophomore college year, take care of details for a four month overseas move, and followed later in August!

Now we’re here all together!  Living in London!

Europe is slowly starting to open since they managed the pandemic very differently in March. We figured if things change and begin to open up in the US, we can be fluid and return. We’ve shifted our work schedules to New York hours, and we love it! Our mornings are slow and leisurely, we take care of any errands, and begin work mid-afternoon. We eat dinner European style, typically around 8.30pm, and take our meetings late into the evening. We love our new schedule! We’re excited to visit family (it’s been 20 months since I’ve seen them), and we’re excited for this new family adventure.

I’ve never felt more liberated and simply have NO clue what the next four months has in store. Worst case scenario Europe completely locks back down and we can move back to California. Best case scenario we make the most of this unique situation and embrace city life and all that London has to offer!

Either way feels more opportunistic than how we have been living since March. Frankly we’ll not miss watching the US election circus play out either! And don’t worry… we know it’s more important than ever to vote in this election, and have secured our mail in ballots and voting plan.

Moving overseas is often a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and one that takes careful consideration. With many countries implementing travel restrictions and mandatory quarantines, closing borders, and prohibiting non-citizens from entry with little advance notice, it’s important to do your research.

Before you lose yourself in the excitement of being in a new place with a different culture and language, do your research, check your passport, then follow your dreams!

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So, throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain
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Are YOU thinking of moving to a new location during Covid?

Are you living in London?

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