Hi.. wanted to pick your collective brains...


I have had an incredible 2.5 years. Rode from UK to Nepal over 4 months. Worked in Nepal for 8 months, and worked and traveled New Zealand for 16 months.


I have a three week trip back to the UK planned in a months time. I'm currently on a working holiday visa, and my job is fairly keen on getting me on a work visa next year, although it is not an easy task, the chap who runs the business really wants to keep me on and get me to stay. The wife on the other hand is a total nutter and we have a huge personality clash, she thinks me getting the visa is to many hoops for them to jump through. (It's a motorbike gear shop).


I am weighing up whether to call it quits for now and not to return to NZ. I'm 50%/50% at the moment. To add another spanner in the works, my motorbike engine big end is on its way out, so I'm here in the city without access to a working bike to carry on exploring


Pros of staying:
Summer coming
Never get the chance to get a work visa in NZ without totally retraining
Lifestyle here is a little cheaper, shorter commute, beaches nearby
Potentially have another year here- if I did 2 years, there is the chance of residency.


Cons of staying:
Risk that I might not get work visa and have to leave at short notice
Once on work visa cannot work second job, and pay is low
Will have to pay labour/workshop time to rebuild engine

Winter in UK, long commutes, having to look for new job
No bike to go on little adventures and no spare cash
No spare cash for emergencies/medical stuff
After March, I can no longer ride on UK plates and will have to register onto kiwi plates, more $$$.


Pros of coming home:
Can retrain/new career and save up for next big trip
Unlimited workshop space and help from dad on bike, can rebuild as and when budget allows
Miss my family terribly and can live with them - cheap rent
Feeling that I've been away for far too long and want to have some time back in my old community and rekindle old friendships
Shipping my bike back will not cost me a huge amount


Option 1: Come home in 1 month time
Option 2: Fly back to NZ, keep going with the job, open the motor up, see what the damage is, apply for visa, and if still no better situation and wanting to come home, go back to UK in March.


As the Nepali's would say, Ke Garne.. What to do?

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