Lifestyle Choices

Sorry I've been on the inactive list. I have just had a few interesting days. An old friend came to visit me in Taiwan for the last few days. R. is a Taiwan English-teaching veteran. He worked here for three years, met a wonderful English girl here, and convinced her to stay for one more year in Taiwan, making some more money.

They went back to England almost three years ago. Then last week, I got a cryptic e-mail that my friend R. would be traveling here in the next day or two. When he finally arrived, he told Tim and I this basic story:

He went home and decided to get his teaching license, and his girlfriend decided to get a graduate degree. Then, after all his teacher-training, he realized that teaching at home was a miserable job. In addition to the endless lesson plans that needed to be prepared for each class, there were also hours of daily paperwork and very little money. So, since then he's been trying other things, being very unhappy. Finally, his girlfriend recently finished her degree, and got a job, but it was in another town, so she had to move out until she gets her driving license (unlike the USA, it's not a given that you'll get one at 16 or 17) and can drive herself to and from work. In all this time, he has been working to support them while slowly draining the savings he earned from his work over here. Because, let's face it: Even in America, if you're earning $50,000 a year, you'll never be able to save over $1000 a month, like you can here.

So, he's found another job that will start in a few weeks, and he needed a break from England. He told Tim and I that we are certainly not making a mistake by staying here as long as possible. He loved Taiwan when he was here...he only left for his girlfriend. He said that it's nearly impossible to get your head above water back in England, where the taxes are killer, the services your taxes pay for are getting worse and worse, and the convenience of a 24 hour country are just a distant dream.

Tim and I are hoping to go back to Canada next year and make a go of it, but his words were a warning, albeit an unintentional one. From where he's sitting, Taiwan is really just about the only logical option if his new job doesn't pan out. From where we're sitting, it's time to leave, assuming the immigration people take me. We both know we can't stay forever, but the fact is that here, we're well off. At home, we'll be poor, and if we can't sort something out, we'll also be miserable. Money is important, as everyone knows. One doesn't need a lot, but enough.

Now, we're conflicted with all these questions...about staying or going, about quality of life, about the uncertainty of relocating versus the certain paycheck and 2 income household we've been maintaining here for almost 5 years.

I guess today's discussion question is: are you making enough to live where you are? to be comfortable? The extra-credit question is: If R.'s new job doesn't pan out, would he be making the right decision to come back to Taiwan, leaving wonderful girlfriend and miserable English lifestyle for financial security and a better lifestyle? Keep in mind he's been trying his hardest to make a go of it for nearly 3 years. How long until you can fairly give up?