I think there will he plenty of growth, mainly I'm motivated by terror, the terror of climate collapse and also the terrorising prospect of seeing out the rest of my working daze sitting in front of a computer in some god forsaken office.

cool that also being an electrician can secure you an adequate living standard to support your family. that's a sign of a well-developed economy. in a country like mine, I'd have to go for an office job, just because it pays more.

i'm so happy to hear that you have that option available... regardless of what you end up doing, having options/not being stuck is a great thing

as for the kids and all that... maybe first acclimate them to switzerland without actually moving there? take them there on vacations, teach them the language/culture, etc? then one day maybe you can see if you take the plunge? they have to eventually become european/international anyway, at some future (eventual) point in their lives, so a little early exposure goes a long way

there's a decision making method called "ooching." it's when you do a little bit of something, without committing 100% to it, not even 50%, not even 10% maybe. you just dip your toe in it, then maybe a whole foot, if things go well you go up to the knees in the water, hahaha. eventually you can decide to take a full splash and swim or walk back to the shore. it doesn't have to be all or nothing, not at first anyway

you've already established a connection to the alps. maybe just start using it a bit more, in a fun way, stress free?

then maybe consider what's your tripwire, what is the point where you would say "time to go", where the cost justifies the benefit. there's a long explanation for it but it's about metrics... better explained by someone else, see:

there's a decision making book by the heath brothers that explains this and many other techniques for good decision-making. i've mentioned it on this board often, i think. there is other related literature that's been published afterwards, but this book will help you tons, i promise:

https://heathbrothers.com/books/decisive/

read it, i swear by it. *i swear by it*

=

eta (later): i'm almost sure i've recommended you this book before haha
did you get to read it back then? if not, please don't postpone it, i beg you

Hey, I wish you all the best. In the end it should come down to where you think your kids can prosper and where your family would feel the most at home. The far right unfortunately has been gaining momentum in many countries as of late. I understand the concern.

It's not enough to support a family, neither are most office jobs. Both parents need to work full time to support a family.

No, I'm still in East London.

Before I started working where I am now I worked several jobs during lock down. I was lucky to receive a generous redundancy package because I had been in my previous job for many years, so I could experiment a bit. In order, I tried to work for a bank from home during lockdown (left, hated it don't like working from home), a meet and greeter in a restaurant in Chelsea (hated managers, money good, peeps I worked with lovely), obscure pub in East London (Loved the exercise of having to deliver food and drinks to customers, the manager was a lazy bastard. Left), Carpet company almost outside my house (lovely people, but in the meantime was offered a job in an art gallery), Art gallery for a Van Gogh immersive experience (the job was dull, the manager hated by everyone, but made so many friends with younger kids trying to make it as artists. Probably the best bunch of people I ever worked with.), META (admin stuff, impossibly stressful job. I hate staring at computers and corporate talk). META made me redundant because they were closing one of their sites in London, so I sussed out different options. I had fallen in love with someone I will spend the rest of my life with, so I thought I'd change my job in a way that would be a little more suited to who I am and gives me more time to dedicate to things I want to do. Less money than most of my previous jobs, but at least I don't have to commute to sheer horror every day.

Depends on the industry: An Electrician working Offshore/On could theoretically support multiple families. However, that would rule out sustainability, though it is improving with renewable energy technologies being utilised. My Brother has even worked in the poor economies of Cameroon and Romania and still made a killing.

Back in the day I thought I would follow in the family footsteps and become an Electrician. Ended up dropping out of my final year to pursue bohemia and beer. Fast forward two decades and I'm still chasing the dream from in front of a computer screen at home and dying daily from corporate spiel, but at least there's potential for beer on the job. Actually, It looks like I am living the dream after all. Let's face it, all jobs are shit (unless you're lucky enough to earn a living from pursuing a passion) and can be solely judged on how knackered you are after a shift. If you're too fucked to pick up a guitar or walk to the local offie (for beer) then it's game over and time to go work in Weatherspoons.

I hear stories about sparks who nave started their own business and rake it in but I've yet to meet anyone who has actually done it

And I'm many years away from having the kind of experience required to do that

Starting your own business would be amazing just for the fact of removing managers and their ilk from the equation.
My Father cut his teeth in London, starting out by shop fitting and it was decent money back then, not sure nowadays. My brother started out house bashing locally, specialising in domestic wiring but for less mular. Both jumped ship (pun unintended but I will take it) to the Industrial sector after a few years, became well-off and enjoyed half a year on annual leave, every year. Once you have sufficient experience the options for sparkies are abundant and the world becomes your oyster. Bastards :(

You Londoners are spoilt for choice. You've had more jobs in that time period than I've seen jobs advertised in my town. No lie. Mind you, It looks like you were living the dream for awhile in that bar, being amongst all that beer day in day out.

There are hardly any dreamers left in London. Mostly angry, disgruntled people looking for their amazon packages to be delivered. I want out.

by boat? ;)

So what town is that then?

A little old place called Bohemia gardens, found in the depths of beer county. Existing in the darkest recesses of the mind..and the norff..:))
If I was to tell the truth my secret would be out and Coco would have to go live her Dad, so I'm keeping schtum tickety bum. KG

it's all a hellscape

You need to douse the flames of hell with beer.

it'd be more effective to just drink it. Unless you're talking like Bud Light, which is pretty much water anyway.

I'm doing alright, just got over the flu so I'm going back to college today. I felt super isolated and lonely during this sick period, so last night I went to an open mic and it was really good! Just relaxing before I have to get back to the daily grind of college tomorrow.