My other half has been offered a posting in Korea. We have lived apart before, mainly due to schooling issues. However, this is different, the kids are now settled. Our "family" consists of 3 dogs and a parrot. It is just too difficult to move them to Korea, particularly as the assignment is short term.(approx 15 months).
So even though we found a lovely house to rent near the beach, we have decided I will stay home. I would like to go, but it seems impossible. I talked to a pet shipper, it is too difficult. No direct flight (two changes). Then we have to think about getting them home at the end of the posting. Eldest dog is almost 10 now. Oh, and did I mention money? Company policy does not pay for the relocation of pets. Ouch!
I have been asking myself, do I resent having pets? No, but they tie you down. You just never know what will come your way and pets really do limit one's options.
Only an animal lover would understand.
If you're considering cost, surely maintaining two homes, plus visiting each other will be far more than shipping pets? A professional pet shipper should be able to get this done with minimum stress to your animal - if you get a full service, door to door shipper. Your family is moving! Lots of stress, but if it were me, I'd keep the family together.
I am still wondering. What are the difficulties to travel them there? My cat was already an old lady when I brang her from Canada with 2 flights.
Her vet assured me she was in good shape for the trip and it went all well.
Did you get an idea of the cost? This is such a great experience to live, you might considered all other option including baby, oups, pet sitting!
I wouldn't accept the job in Turkey if I couldn't bring my cats and dog. I am glad I could but yes, it was pricey!
Good luck!
Well, I certainly understand.
As pet owners, we have to make decisons with our animal's welfare in mind and sometimes, unfortunately, that means that we have to make tough choices.
The mutts and I have moved around the world trailing after my husband, normally a new adventure is something I look forward to. But there have been several times when my husband has been offered a dream assignment that would entail relocation, and - Murphy's Law - the offers came at times when one of my mutts was not healthy enough to make the move. So I could not go - I had a duty to the critters I had promised to care for 'come what may'. But at the same time, I could not/would not deny my husband the chance to pursue something important to him.
So - we've lived apart, several times. It's tough, no doubt. I understand how difficult this choice is for you.
But - in 20-odd years of marriage, I've found that with a little flexibility and creativity one can make just about anything work. When living apart, we visited one another as often as possible - actually it was rather a fun time, come to think of it. We were able to mostly push the mundane day-to-day stuff to one side during those visits - I think we had more 'quality time' (I hate that cringe-worthy term) together during those years of separation. I certainly learned not to take my husband for granted!
The way I kept sane during those separations was to keep reminding myself that no decision is irreversible. We make choices based on what is best for now - but who knows what the future will bring? I've learned to keep everything under review, keep options open. Down the line - a few months, a year - things may change... and I always keep a suitcase and dog travel kit packed, just in case.
Chin up - this time will fly by.
Wishing you, your husband, and the critters all the very best.
And, at least you'll have the pets with you.
It is a really tough choice, and I hope you will be able to visit as often as you like.
I really don't have a lot of experience with these sorts of separations. When my husband took the job here, he was originally coming in January, then I would follow in June with the pup. A sick parent and a detached retina killed that plan.
It ended up that he came in June and I came in August, so it was only a little more than 6 weeks. He was in the apartment with an aerobed and 200 boxes, I was in the mostly empty house in the US, but I had Lily and I was the lucky one.
And while it's no subsitute for being there, you can use skype, or other technologies and speak often - as soon as you get the time difference down.
I hope the 15 months will fly by, though and all will go well for your family.
Arghh Mrs D, that sucks.
I hate to use cliches but 15 months will pass in a wink of an eye. I agree with your decision not to move and stay behind - cost wise aside, I personally wouldnt uproot my pets halfway around the world and bringing them back again just after 15 months - especially you've mentioned that there is one who is 10 years old.
Pets tie you down for sure. The number of times I've cancelled holidays in the past year because I couldnt find someone in time. Also, I've not managed to go back home in two years, partly because since home is 13 hours by flight away, I want to make full use of the time that I am there (ie long stay - two weeks at least) - and not that my dog will notice but I cant quite bear the thought of him spending Christmas without his human family.
Housing in Korea would be paid for. Shipping the pets is approximately 20,000 chf round trip. There are issues with returning home (pets must be on the same plane as the owners) and there are quarantine issues for the parrot. But the real issue is the cost. It is either separate the family or not go. Both are options we are considering.
What's the housing situation in Switzerland? If you rented out your property/didn't pay rent for 18 months, you'd recoup more than 20k chf I'd assume. That's without an extra set of bills etc.
Thanks to all who replied and for your support.
Hubby has decided he is not going. He can't bear to be away from me.
Actually I think it's the dogs. Their noses sticking to the glass panes near the front door watching and waiting for him to come home, those wagging tails as soon as he opens the door. The parrot on the other hand, she waves and says "Bye Papi" at every opportunity.
Awwwwwwww. That's so sweet. I totally understand that.
Ah, the things we do for the love of our furry and feathery friends...
And you never know - something even more interesting (and animal friendly) may be just around the corner.
Yes, our pets complicate our lives. But this is what makes it all so very worthwhile.
All's well that ends well! I'm glad your hubby has decided to stay put, and I support you in your original decision to stay here.
Murphy my dog has flown Australia - Switzerland and heaps of internal flights and will soon be heading off to Dubai with us.
I would say look at this from an animal perspective. It doesn't understand the concept of flying and as far as the dog is concerned, its in a crate that is moving around a little bit.
When we moved Murphy to Switzerland, she had three different flights with a stop over in Bangkok (36 hour travelling in total). When I picked her up at the airport, she was as normal as anyone can be after flying 36 hours....
Take the dogs and don't break up the family.... Its important for all concerned.
well, there go the plans for all those girls nights out
nice to have the men home though..
No worries, he still travels quite a bit.
Yep...definitely the dogs....