It's like a drug!

[Ian]

I can't stop thinking / planning (17 months to go) and longing to go back to Turkey - Gill says it is close to being obsessive!

Is that how you all felt before you quit the rat race???

Just some pictures all taken on Christmas Day that make the North West look pretty grim!!!

[Karennina]

Hi Ian
Yes I am exactly the same Derek loves it there too, but he thinks I am obsessive about wanting to be there all the time, roll on five years time when we will be going out either to live or at least for a long period of time.
Booked flights for our next trip in April last night and it seems like ages away!
Regards Karen

[Ian]

Karen - it is really odd because it is like "wishing your life away" but I have had enough of the same old routines in the UK and long for my own "gap year" to start with at the age of 56!!!

I have 4 children who all went through University and they all had gap years - so now it's my turn!!

[Karennina]

Hi again Ian
You are quite right it is like wishing your life away! Sometimes I think I wish I had never gone to Turkey in the first place,because I want to be there all the time!I went for the first time 15 months ago and found myself buying an apartment 3 months later (I have never done anything so rash in my life!)the thing is I want to be there all the time, but can not at present due to my children and work, I too am going to definetly have a"gap" year in 4 years time!

[Ian]

Karen - we were exactly the same - in fact NEVER wanted to go to Turkey but went to look at what for us was "affordable property" and I thought well lets go and then discount it!

We got there and absolutely loved the place and the people.

Booked for March - May (when we get married in Fethiye) - August and waiting for January 2009 flights to book then - so my 17 months has some "highs" in it!!!

[Karennina]

Ah that is lovely getting married in Turkey good luck with the wedding.
I only went to visit my cousin who lives in Calis for four days and by day two I was saying I wanted to get a place out there.
It all went through and we became the owners in May like you said we just love the place and the people and the slow pace of life in Turkey.
Good luck with the wedding plans I hope it all goes smoothly for you both.

[Diverbaz 1]

We were looking at three and a half years still till we could make it permanent, six months ago I decided to see how my pension would change if I retired early. I got the figures and they were ok, so house was put on the market and 6 months later here we are.

Been here just over 2 weeks, opened bank accounts and got tax numbers on Christmas day and have bought a place (we will live on our boat until it is finished in about 3 weeks time) also bought a car. We are now furniture hunting.

Have been waiting around 11 years now to take this step, but once our house was sold everything has happened so quickly, and we are enjoying every minute.

Baz

[Ian]

Baz - really pleased for you - it sounds like you were getting to the edge of a steep drop and then decided to jump!

Can't wait to join you - but unfortunately my 17 months is set in stone - a few weeks ago it was 3 years - then after some re-jigging it became 2 years and now May 2009.

As much as I try even I can't cut / save a penny more to make it happen sooner [!]

Enjoy your new life to the hilt  

Ian

[davewalsh]

Go for it. We sat down and crunched the numbers 18 months ago and now my resignation is going in tomorrow (3 months). We will do four months in Turkey from the end of April and then we are off to NZ and China in 2008/9. Back to Turkey in 2009, and then who knows? All the furniture has been sold/ given away/ thrown away, books, ornaments and pictures in my sisters loft and we are now living in a one-bedroomed flat following the house sale in November. I don't like the thought of wishing my life away but the next three months will be a struggle!

[heatherhanum]

Wow how fantastic it's so good to hear of others who have similar plans we have been going to Turkey 3 times a year for the past 13 years. 2 years ago we bought our place near Calis and we dream of making the great escape I will take a career break from work, when our house sells and we will be off to our place in the sun for initially 3 months whilst we think of the long term plan. Some family and friends say we are being irresponsible but hay it's our lives and life is too short . I don't want to get to 80 and talk about what I wish i had done. Good luck to anyone who takes the plunge. We had someone view our house a few weeks ago and as they left they said we are really interested in buying your house. Well me and hubby lookedc at each other and said S##t its giong to happen....Bring it on