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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Lifestyle

I don’t want to be an expat any more, but my husband has to stay for work

Private Lives 15 May 2017

I am a long-term expat wife, and have lived in the Middle East for more than 10 years. Expat life is glamorous at first, but it soon becomes normal. I am in my early 60s, and feel I have given up too much already. I want to go home to the UK, but my husband has four more years of working life. He isn’t a workaholic and would prefer to work less, but it’s not really possible, for financial reasons. However, I feel I will be over the hill in terms of my age, and my job prospects, if I delay returning by four years; I would like to work, whether it’s paid or voluntary work. What do I do? Do I stick it out, or tell him I want to start my life again? I don’t want to be without him, and the love is still there, but the thought of four more years is killing me.

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