Hi Boulderjen,

regarding your coming to Germany: "
Hello! We have agreed to come to Germany! ......
Boulderjen "

Did you make it to Germany ? If so what was your experience ?

We moved to Germany in 2008 and are still here. We had the same questions you had before we moved. The majority of answers received in this forum are good answers. Especially the one regarding the Euro conversion and loss of value when compared to the DMark. Germany before the Euro is different economically for an American than after the Euro.

However, if you look at the statistics and the studies done of "successful" expat experiences vs "who threw in the towel and came back home" it is interesting to note that the cost of living is not main factor. The main factor is "support network". However,cost of living is the topic that brought me to this forum because it is extremely important to your lifestyle. As a family of 4 people, 2 children ages 10 and 6, we find in 2011/2012 that we cannot live the same lifestyle in Germany that we had in America on the same salary. Your point about working long hours might not be worth it if you cannot afford to travel is a valid one. We found ourselves in that situation. I normally work 50-60 hour weeks and we cannot afford to go on trips for more than 1 or 2 days away from the house per year. The poster above who mentioned traveling for the price of a cup of coffee made a very misleading statement unless you include hitchhiking and sleeping on the side of the road. Therefore it would be interesting to understand how your experience was in moving to Germany if you made it. Perhaps in the end you did not make it.

Poolhouse (as in a house with a swimming pool, not a billiard parlor)