Can you live between London and Australia?

Posted by DrNoGains@reddit | expats | View on Reddit | 9 comments

Hi All,

I'm a 30 year old male whose about to move to london early next year. Ive been to London and Europe many times in the past and i'm just planning to move there (for maybe 1 year or 2) as I love the close proximity to Europe.

My question is - I also love many things about Australia. I love the beach, proximity to SE asia, friends, family etc.

I guess my question is - has anyone successfully built a life living between the two countries? I'm not expecting to move back every 3 months, but maybe a few years in one Country, then a few years back home? I Just wonder what kind of careers I could work in that would allow this?

I presume i'd either have to find a job that I could do (irrespective of time difference) OR just look for 1-2 fixed year contracts everytime I shift between countries.

For context - my current job is an internal recruitment consultant.

Anyway - yeah, just wanting some ideas from anyone that's managed to successfully do this and what kind of career helped you adapt to this lifestyle?

Thanks

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smolperson@reddit

This is the reason so many Kiwis and Aussies stick it out for that sweet sweet PR. Yep there are heaps of self employed people or fully remote people that go between the two countries. I work with a few of the remote ones.

Short-Jellyfish4389@reddit

Per Gemini Bangalore or Bangkok are in the middle in between of London and Sydney.

Yes. It's possible to live in both places. /s

Successful-Map-9331@reddit

No.

Hutcho12@reddit

SE Asia is still 9 hours away from Australia. It’s hardly close (unless you live in Darwin). London is only 12. It’s effectively the same.

bebefinale@reddit

I do know one academic who has a joint appointment at a UK university and an Australian university. He spends half the year in the UK and half the year in Australia and has houses in both countries and is eligible for grants in both countries. It's a bit unusual and would be impossible to do with children, pets, or most careers a partner would have.

DrNoGains@reddit (OP)

damn that sounds amazing.

Yeah i mean i dont have kids (and am not planning on it) - I do have a cat but i might just have to part with him / give him to my parents.

My main issue is probably just finding the career. It's worth flagging i have full work rights in both aus and UK (Dual citizen)

ConsiderationSad6271@reddit

Also know someone in the same business who goes between Germany and the U.S. - basically his spouse can’t work but the uni pays for a lot of the infrastructure.

samuraijon@reddit

I'm slowly working towards this goal. My ultimate plan is to be in Europe in summer and Australia in summer until I get tied down. I've been in the Netherlands for 6 years now. It originally started as a 3 year contract, but I'm still here. I think the reason that's keeping me here is the cycling, I love going to the alps to go cycle in the summer, and in winter there's spain which kinda resembles like Australia in terms of the beaches, mountains and open landscape. I also like the infrastructure of the Netherlands, I like the public and active transport facilities. I don't want to drive everywhere - it should be to go on holidays and not to go to work/run errands. The downside is of course the weather, especially in winter. I can never get used to it. I think this is why I'd like to get the Australia gig working.

There's also a lot more competitive cycling in Europe and I'm doing loads more races than I would have ever done in Australia. I've been back in Oz a few times since I left (not every year), but for visiting/holiday.

I now have a remote job where it's a bit more possible to do this arrangement. I also don't have wife/kids so at the moment I'm fairly flexible, but I'm still spending more of my time in Europe than in Australia.

Captlard@reddit

Self employed stuff or run your own business type stuff. Why not set up your own specialist recruiting agency?

We have lived between two European countries for around ten years. Partner did a little language tutoring and I did executive education and coaching. Most of our work has been online for over 5 years.