RE: 14 years an ex-pat

That's a long time to be away from home. I spent four years working on the continent, but managed a trip back down under on average each year.

I didn't not enjoy living there (there was lots I loved about it), but I never felt at home there and couldn't see myself living there for ever (I had nieces and nephews being born back home and felt I was missing see them grow up). Most of my colleagues who stuck it out longer term had local spouses. So, I decided after four years not to renew my work permit and came "home".