Millennial Couple With Kids Left California for Slow Life in Scotland

• Zach and Annie moved their household from California to Scotland for an easier life.
• The couple, who’ve three younger children, cherished California however felt that it was too fast-paced.
• They are saying life in Scotland reminded them of their very own childhoods within the ’90s.

Zach, 38, and Annie, 37, packed up their lives and moved their household from the US to Scotland earlier this yr.

That they had been dwelling in California, the place Zach — who was initially from Scotland — was working with the freeway patrol.

Due to his job, the couple and their three children needed to transfer regularly all through the state. Though that they had an opportunity to dwell in locations akin to Sonoma County and round Silicon Valley, life all the time felt “extraordinarily fast-paced,” Annie, who works in healthcare, informed Enterprise Insider.

“Life simply appeared to be work — or college for the children — slightly break after which repeat. It appeared arduous to slot in loads of high quality household time or enjoyable little adventures,” Zach informed BI.

The couple, whose kids — two sons and one daughter — are beneath 10, requested to be recognized by solely their first names to guard their privateness.

They needed to dwell an easier life with their children, away from the rat race and the strain to always sustain with the Joneses.

Annie had all the time needed to dwell in Scotland, and late final yr — after a decade of dwelling in California — it lastly appeared like the suitable time for his or her household to significantly contemplate taking the plunge.

Making ready for the transfer

In a means, the transfer felt prefer it had been 10 years within the making.

“Ever since I met Zach, I’ve needed to dwell in Scotland. It is simply been me slowly sporting him down and making an attempt to get him to come back again,” Annie stated.

The timing for his or her transfer was proper, partly as a result of their children had been nonetheless younger.

“We knew if we had been ever going to make the transfer, we needed to transfer earlier than our youngsters established true pal teams and bought too far of their teachers to the place that transition can be troublesome,” Annie stated.

The couple knew they needed to be within the East Lothian space simply exterior Edinburgh as a result of it was close to the place Zach grew up. It was additionally a spot that their children had been acquainted with.

“We made an effort just about yearly, aside from throughout COVID-19, to journey again to Scotland,” Zach stated.

Familiarity apart, their children had been additionally excited by the transfer as a result of they’d made loads of good recollections on their previous visits.

“They love Scotland as a result of they have been right here so many occasions, and each time they arrive over they assume it is magic as a result of their grandparents spoil them and take them to the entire finest locations,” Annie stated. “So after we stated that we had been shifting to Scotland, they had been all for it for essentially the most half.”

Whereas Zach and their children had UK passports, Annie needed to apply for a spousal visa, which she stated took about two months to be accepted.

Then got here the thrilling half: on the lookout for a home. Fortunately, the method wasn’t too arduous, regardless that they had been nonetheless dwelling in California on the time.

“Annie’s passion is taking a look at homes all around the globe, she’s always searching for enjoyable,” Zach stated.

When the itemizing for a comfy three-bedroom home got here up, the couple jumped on the chance.

“When it popped up, I assumed it was ridiculously underpriced,” Annie stated. “It was really the one home that Zach’s mother and father went and toured for us.”

At Zach’s mother and father’ encouragement, the couple determined to place in a proposal for the home and ended up getting it.

They most well-liked to maintain the precise quantity non-public however stated they paid about 15% greater than the unique asking value of round 200,000 kilos, or $340,000.

“Finances-wise, our purpose was all the time to attempt to not have this enormous mortgage hanging over our head. It was one thing we felt we had within the States, particularly in California, the place home costs are loopy,” Zach stated.

Getting settled into their house

Zack and Annie are a part of a wave of California residents who’re selecting to go away the state.

Between 2021 and 2022, 817,669 folks left California — making it the US state with the most individuals shifting out.

A number of former residents that BI beforehand spoke to stated rising crime charges and the excessive value of dwelling had been elements of their resolution to go away California.

Zack and Annie closed on the home in February, however solely arrived in Scotland with their children in Could.

Because the couple purchased their home with out viewing it in particular person, they had been slightly involved that it might really feel too small for his or her household of 5.

“We simply moved from a pretty big four-bedroom home that is a minimum of 2,000 sq. toes within the States to about 950 sq. toes in Scotland,” Annie stated. “That is an enormous change. However after we walked in, the rooms had been all actually properly sized, they usually simply felt proper.”

They spent about two months renovating the place whereas dwelling with Zach’s mother and father. It wasn’t till late July that they lastly moved into their new home.

“The children by no means noticed the home unfinished. The second they stepped within the door, their room was embellished they usually had their beds arrange with all their toys on it,” Annie stated. “They stroll in they usually assume the whole lot’s stunning after we really shed blood, sweat, and tears making an attempt to make it a house, however it was undoubtedly price it.”

It is also very easy for the household to get round their neighborhood on foot. The principle avenue of their city — the place there are cafés, outlets, and a grocery retailer — is barely a 10-minute stroll away, Annie stated.

“We now have trails simply exterior our doorstep the place the children can go discover. There are seashores not too distant,” she stated, including that there is not any want for a automobile until they’re driving the children to their grandparents’ place.

“It is a course of to get each youngster loaded up in a automobile, so we needed to scale back that as a lot as potential. And now we simply stroll to the whole lot we do, and I really feel we’re more healthy for it,” she stated.

In the event that they’re ever feeling up for a small journey, they will simply drive 20 minutes to the assorted small cities round them, Zach stated.

“Whereas within the States, if we needed to go do one thing completely different or exterior our little space, it is most likely a 45-minute drive after which it turns into extra of a day journey,” he stated.

A easy life

The couple says that life in Scotland is less complicated — which is strictly what they had been on the lookout for.

Although they’ve solely been right here for a couple of months, the couple says they really feel extra content material with life in Scotland — a lot in order that they even began a YouTube channel documenting their adventures within the nation.

Though the couple loved dwelling within the US, life in Scotland reminded them of their very own childhoods.

“Seeing what the youngsters may get by being over right here was form of nostalgic. It introduced us again to the ’90s childhood we had,” Annie stated. “You exit and play till the streetlights activate, and we simply felt this sense of peace and security in Scotland.”

Have you ever just lately constructed or renovated your dream house? If you happen to’ve bought a narrative to share, get in contact with me at agoh@businessinsider.com.