Simple Poll - Are you fed up enough to consider leaving the Island for good?

[Declan]

My life's here, family and friends. Plus it's my home and my history. 

But if my closest family weren't here, I would move. 

[Sentience]

2 hours ago, HeliX said:

If I didn't have family ties here I'd have smegged off to somewhere Scandinavian years ago.

In years past, anyone who was serious about leaving this once safe paradise of an Island looking for suggestions as where to go, I would have happily suggested Canada, a land of opportunity. Somewhere on the Pacific Northwest Coast, Vancouver Island for example. Another Island, yes, equally as beautiful in a very Canadian way, and although the size of Ireland it's population still has an Island mentality.

Now though I don't believe I'd be quite so positive, Premier Trudeau, unlike his Father before him seems to be doing to his population the same as our lot. Shame really, the Country and people are still basically the same, but it's leadership seems to have the same inadequacy as our lot.

Being a true representative FOR the people....and not for themselves and their political careers.

[The Phantom]

1 hour ago, Sentience said:

In years past, anyone who was serious about leaving this once safe paradise of an Island looking for suggestions as where to go, I would have happily suggested Canada, a land of opportunity. Somewhere on the Pacific Northwest Coast, Vancouver Island for example. Another Island, yes, equally as beautiful in a very Canadian way, and although the size of Ireland it's population still has an Island mentality.

Now though I don't believe I'd be quite so positive, Premier Trudeau, unlike his Father before him seems to be doing to his population the same as our lot. Shame really, the Country and people are still basically the same, but it's leadership seems to have the same inadequacy as our lot.

Being a true representative FOR the people....and not for themselves and their political careers.

It's actually quite difficult to get into Canada nowadays assuming you are doing it legally and and are employable etc. 

I know a guy who has actually just moved back here following 3 years in Canada.  He said as you have, their Govt is driving it rapidly into the ground. 

[Ghost Ship]

On 3/26/2024 at 9:56 AM, interestedman said:

I was in Birmingham last week and London the week before.  Everytime I get fed up I go somewhere else - and realise I wasn't so fed up after all .

Yeah but Birmingham and London aren't the only alternatives to living on the IoM.

Neither, fortunately, are Liverpool, Manchester, Sheffield, Rotherham, Leeds, Bradford, Newcastle, Hull, Hartlepool, Carlisle, Workington, Barrow-in-Furness and anywhere in Wales.

Parts of Scotland would be nice - but for the country's government...

[Barlow]

Local News

[Max Power]

I wouldn't go far I think, probably Belfast or Liverpool. Things happen there, despite the same moaning and groaning. There again, I could use my Irish passport and move to Italy or Spain, where things are not perfect but I could be compensated by the lifestyle. 

The island just has a feel that nothing is happening, or ever likely to. Things just get more bland and expensive by the day. Anyone who tries to do anything is blocked by a 'public consultation' or an MHK who has been pestered by a couple of constituents or a clueless civil servant who is out of their depth, nothing is done for the good of the island because it doesn't suit a vociferous minority who want to live in the 1900s, when ironically things were happening here.

[Exocet]

On 3/26/2024 at 1:58 PM, Declan said:

My life's here, family and friends. Plus it's my home and my history. 

History is the least of it at the moment.

We’re letting people with little or no history of this place actively destroy it for their benefit not ours. 

[Jarndyce]

3 hours ago, Barlow said:

Local News

Is it?

[Barlow]

No.

Not even General Chat.

[Amadeus]

Not leaving for good maybe but I’m planning to spend more time off island again to balance things. 

[NoTail]

We have a motorhome and have regular 6/8 week trips off the island. That seems to work well for us.

[asitis]

I have simple requirements just somewhere where the rain stops once in a while would be great ! FFS it's every day !

[TheTeapot]

1 minute ago, asitis said:

I have simple requirements just somewhere where the rain stops once in a while would be great ! FFS it's every day !

Its really getting to me now, as someone who works mostly outside. And now its about to be April, where the type of rain traditionally changes from the constant grey interspersed with storms of winter, into those sunny days where you think things are ok but then you get heavy showers ruining your work. This is the time of year to hate rainbows. Gods message to His creation that everything is OK? Fuck off, it means its bloody throwing it down. Again.

[Venus]

2 hours ago, TheTeapot said:

Its really getting to me now, as someone who works mostly outside. And now its about to be April, where the type of rain traditionally changes from the constant grey interspersed with storms of winter, into those sunny days where you think things are ok but then you get heavy showers ruining your work. This is the time of year to hate rainbows. Gods message to His creation that everything is OK? Fuck off, it means its bloody throwing it down. Again.

Climate change unfortunately.

[PeachTea]

Yes - I have previously lived on the island and left 14 years ago . I returned back to live on the island again a couple of years back as my family all live here ( I am not Manx).

Despite finding a job which pays me a fair wage for the role and being closer to my family I regret moving back. I do not believe the island has progressed in anyway since I left back in 2007 , if anything things have gone downhill.  The main areas I am struggling to tolerate include:-

• Cost of services/ - for example, telecoms, utilities 
• Living costs - rental costs have always been high on the island however they have spiralled to unacceptable levels. As i said earlier i earn a fair wage for my role yet i am still spending 40% of my income on rental costs and 25/30% of living ( ie bills, food, fuel, - the basics that i need to get by). 
• The state of the roads . I have been driving over 10 years now and since returning i have had to replace 7 tyres. 2 of which just  needed replacing due to wear and tear however the other 5 i attribute to the piss poor maintenance of the roads. 
• The 2% tax increase . This will have a negative impact on my income. I am really unhappy about the increase and despite what Allinson says i do NOT believe for one minute this is a temporary measure nor do i believe that this money will be ringfenced for Manx Care.  If i could be sure that it would be I would be unhappy about the increase but accept it is very much needed.
• Cost of the Ferry/ Flights and lack of reliability - Whilst i appreciate we have had some shocking weather this winter i cant ever recall the boat being cancelled as frequently. The costs for a car and a passenger are ludicrous . I personally think £300+ for a return journey is much too expensive. Given the SP are owned by the IOMG they should not be trying to profit. I also believe that residents should be entitled to a cheaper fare with residents providing proof that they are indeed a resident of the island. This could be done at the point of booking - for example uploading a letter with a name/address on or a driver licence ( the former could be shown at check in). it could also work in a similar fashion at the airport.  The Manxman is not fit for purpose. It seems to me that the ship will mostly be fine during the summer months when the seas are calmer which is great but not in winter. 

There are other issues which annoy me . (Appreciate that these may not factor for a lot of people but they add to the " reasons to not live on the island list)

• limited banking choices. I miss having a Monzo account. I like the set up and the option of having multiple "pots" to put money into. 
• Poor shopping choices. This is both groceries wise ( i miss Aldi/Lidl) as well as other shops ( clothes, shoes, electricals, home furnishing shops)
• Driving standards. I don't know why there seems to be so many drivers on the IOM that don't understand the basics of driving. Bugbears include: lack of indication, not using headlights in foggy conditions,  giving way to drivers on the left so everyone sits like a knob waiting to see who makes the first move, drivers who seem to have to overtake no matter what, drivers who just drive at 30mph and slow down to 15mph every corner. 
• Lack of other facilities - a modern cinema, bowling alley ( the one in Ramsey is rubbish and smells of chip fat), other indoor activities for when the weather is dire.