moving back to the US

B_thickjohnny

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Well guys. After 16 years in Prague I've decided to move back to the USA. Can't put a finger on it exactly but I just feel a need to go home. Might be because business is so slow here. Might be because I've more or less given up on love after being cheated on after a 4 year relationship. Might be I'm just tired of the people here and the stress and strain of not being fluent in the language. Might be because I'm older and want to spend time with family.

In any case here are some options and I would appreciate your thoughts.

I'm originally from New Orleans but I lived in Atlanta for 7 years before coming to Prague. I've been in corporate real estate since 1981 (I'm 54) and got into real estate brokerage in Prague because the market was white hot and I could make a shitload of money selling houses and condos as well as leasing office space to companies like Coke, IBM, HP, etc. I also did loads of work for the State Department.

Atlanta - I know it well and still have lots of friends there. I also now have a brother there, married and two teenage sons. House in ATL and a lake house near the N Carolina. I thought I would find work there without a problem especially since I have 7 years of experience with the FDIC and RTC from the S&L debacle back in the early 90s. Some say yes it's possible but at much lower salaries than before. Still, others say it sucks and that there are literally stacks of resumes from people who have lived in ATL and never moved away. I have a GA real estate license so I guess I could get into that if need be.

South Florida - I was thinking that I could get my Florida license and move to Miami Beach. I could hook up with an agency there and devote my time to getting Europeans to buy in Florida.

New Orleans - only because it's home and always will be. Several people have told me it's doing much better than other places and that going into either brokerage of asset management might work there better than anywhere. I was also told my name might help me there - typical South LA French name. I might also get on with a firm that does asset management for banks etc.

I've sent in numerous applications to the State Department after an Ambassador here recommended that I do it. He even gave me a letter of reference. Of course he was a Bush appointee so maybe it went nowhere. In any case, I have been rejected five times. I can't figure it out. I was thinking that maybe I need to live in the US to apply for the jobs even though it's a realty specialist position which requires international travel and hey, I have 16 years of foreign experience and willing to relocate at my expense to DC. I guess that doesn't count. Maybe I need to have my resume professionally written and geared to government positions?

Guys, I would really appreciate hearing your thoughts on all of this. I'm very conflicted at the moment and sometimes I think I should stay in Prague, enjoy the "easy life", sell a house once in a while and not have the stress that living in the US might bring.

Thanks for your time....
 

psguy64

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Under personal and professional stresses, suggest a vacation far away to
some paradise location to 'unplug', recharge, rest and play to clear the head
for however long you choose as long it is longer than the travel time.
 

Hoss

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Book a flight, plan an extended vacation going to 2 or 3 of the places, get a better idea what they're like now compared to 16 years ago. Make a decision, stick with it.
 

B_thickjohnny

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^ Yeah. That's what I was planning to do. I'm actually giving myself 6 months to figure it out. Thankfully I have saved up instead of pissing away money on bullshit. I learned the first time we had a crisis to "owe no man". I'm a cash hoarder.
 

Bbucko

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One of the few real regrets I have in my life is that I left Paris much too quickly following the death of my partner there in 1992. Given the choice to do it over, I'd have stayed and figured out how to make it work. But that's me, and after 15 years, you've certainly "done" Prague.

I don't know anything about New Orleans or Atlanta, but I've lived in South Florida since 2003. If there's anyplace down here that is unique and readily identifiable as a special place it's Miami Beach. It holds a cache that is absolutely different in that it's international, upscale and both urban and urbane. However, it's no longer the gay mecca it was 15-20 years ago; everyone's moved north to Ft Lauderdale, which lacks practically all of SoBe's charms. SoBe's not not gay-friendly, but much like Key West it's become a very small pond from a gay perspective.

It's also worth remembering that our real estate market down here is still basically in a state of collapse, with a ton of inventory and a very, very tight money situation. I know that talent enjoys a challenge (I generally do) but this is an awfully big mouthful to chew on right now.
 

B_thickjohnny

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Thanks Bucko. I'm still thinking this through. The good thing is I'm on a free "miles" ticket which can be changed at any time. I have it returning me to Prague in six months but if things look bleak I can get on a flight back any time.

I love my home town of New Orleans - of course not everywhere, just certain pockets like the Garden District and thereabouts. I also like parts of Atlanta and as you said, I love SoBe. I spent almost two weeks there a few months back and have friends that say the same thing - it would be a challenge but maybe something worthwhile.

As someone once said "the valley is where the lilies grow".
 

B_thickjohnny

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Damn, now I'm hearing that even Dallas is tough for job searchers. Plus I'm hearing more and more that because of my age and the fact that I've been away for 16 years, employers will put me to the back of the line. I'm wondering if I should just stay in Prague, relax and unwind. I can always go to the US to buy some property for myself and have that as second income (or retirement income).

Some facts:

- my car (2007 Audi) is paid for and runs like a champ
- housing is fine in Prague and I have reserves for the mortgage and can even pay it off if I want
- I have socialized medicine that costs very little. A doctor visit is about $2.

Going to the US permanently I'll

- have to get health insurance
- buy a car (I'll sell the car here)
- find a place to live and try to rent my place in Prague
- pay all the moving costs to the US which is estimated at about $15,000.

So what do you think?
 

B_subgirrl

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What about going to some other part of Europe? Or maybe another part of the world altogether? (Don't come to Australia though - the property market is crap at the moment).

I really think it would be better for you if you could put some distance between yourself and your ex.
 

B_thickjohnny

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I know, I know. Someone suggested just taking off and traveling. I'm not a good long-term vacation person though. I need to be busy. I have friends in China and Thailand so maybe I can just take off for a month or so.
 

Hoss

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I see in your profile you're now in Atlanta. Welcome back to the U.S. hope all proceeds nicely for you.:smile: