"Nick Rees" <nick_rees@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:<41359393$0$22755$db0fefd9@news.zen.co.uk>...
> It seems that the whole transition will be extremely difficult. I dont have
> a lot of savings although I do have a property in the UK I could sell to
> fund  myself for a while. Im reluctant to do that just in case I dont like
> it. Ive been to Japan twice and love the place but that was my blinkered
> view from a tourist point of view. I haven't been in the rat race there yet.
> Im sure the motivation of being with my partner and other friends who I
> already know there will get me out of the UK.
> Many thanks for all your experiences and views. If you think of other ideas
> they would be gratefully received.
> 
It might be difficult, but it might not. The key is to not fall into a
rut (that's true about life in general, I suppose). Save money where
you can and spend it seeing the country; I know far too many folks
who've been to Japan but haven't seen anything except the immediate
area where they lived. Also, take your hobbies with you; for me it was
rock climbing, and finding folks to climb with made the transition
very easy.

Also, the word 'partner' typically refers to a homosexual partner. Not
sure if that's just a US thing, though. You proper-English-speaking
folks might now better.

John W.