Job Discussion Forums

[donfan]

Related to this idea of settling back in that i started a thread on below, do you think that there is an age when you need to say to yourself "I'm too old for this working abroad"and have to start thinking about things like a family, a career in your home country, buying a house, saving for retirement?

I am 36 and I have nothing behind me in terms of money or assets. I am just about to head off to Russia again where I won't be earning much, at least not to send home. When I was younger, up until about 4 years ago my parents were very supportive of me going overseas. Now, however, they are encouraging me to stay in Australia and settle down. This may be as much due to their own sense of mortality as they are both in their early 70s and may be worried how much more of me they will see of me during their lives.

I'm thinking I will do this overseas thing til 40 and then settle permanently back in Australia. With a current retirement age in Australia of 65 this will give me 25 years to work in Australia until I retire. I do have the advantage that I will inherit a considerable amount of money at some stage in the future. How easy would it be but to find a career at 40 yrs of age in Australia? I am a primary school teacher and have kept up my registration but jobs are very competitive and having spent most of my working life overseas may count against me I fear.

The thing is that I have done what most people want to do in their retirement. I have been to 30 countries and there are not many more that I haven't seen yet that I really want to. Therefore saving up for a retirement may not be as big an issue for me as it is for some people.

Can anybody give me any advice or suggestions, only if so I can give my parents some rational reasons for why I am setting off overseas again at 36 years of age?

This probably reads like a stream of consciousness novel(though not on a par with Virginia Woolf) which it probably is. I'm just jotting down my thoughts and feelings knowing that there is a group of people on this forum who have been, or are going through very similar, feelings and decisions. Anyway if you have made it this far thanks for taking the time to read the ravings of a lunatic. Too much time spent in Russia I fear, and I'm hoping to go back for more

[Magoo]

You're far from insane, at least in your concerns over the future (choosing esl as a career is another matter). You (and I) are at that age; mortality and taxes really are the 2 certainties in life. I'm now looking at investment possibilities, as my current earnings preclude returning to Blighty a rich man of leisure. Look at the contributions to the investment question below. Thelmadatter's link looks promising (if you have the initial investment money), but, more interestingly, research Moonraven's recommendation. Don't just count on your inheritence, although. if you have the intelligence to post this question, you're obviously not. If you see what I mean. I promise that I am an English teacher, but I have spent all day celebrating my niece's wedding.

[kev7161]

When I return home next year at the ripe old age of 44, I could go back into teaching, but I don't think I wanna! nyah! My aunt and uncle are my parental figures and they are both in their mid-60s with no children of their own. I know they hope I'll stay around after my adventure in China. I'm hoping to start a small business and try to enjoy life in my little corner of the world.

[Ben Round de Bloc]