Real interresting question.

It depends where the job is and what the lines of communication are like. If it was a nice place and good lines of commuication then yeah maybe if we didn't have kids. Now we have kids I wouldn't be all that keen on it.

had wondered about that with jobs in places like Dubai etc...

and DH kept being offered a job in Queensland but i would need to retrain to go over and so would actually be a step backwards for us for years..... so similar...

Depends...if money is awesome and would mean a small shortterm sacrifice for long term happiness or financial freedom then maybe....I mean the troops do it all the time - esp the american ones...and without the financial extras to come home to!

IF DH had to go to his head office overseas then he would probably go....would it be worth it??? that all depends on the situation....he would miss me and ella, but then it might be worth his while in other ways short and long term I guess....

BTW i cannot fathom any job as you outline giving one the opportunity to retire for life...Ive known men working in Dubai and KL etc on 100,000s of $$$ and still not retiring..why = because the work ethic that took them there was already in them...they didnt go JUST for the money....it may get you a step up...but unlikely to get you to be able to retire! Having said that - I have also seen the marriage breakups and cheattng in relationships that have come about due to a forced separation....

too many dependent factors I guess... I dont think I could do it though

Hehe, well my Dh is missing out on the birth of our first child and won't see it for up to 5 months due to army commitments. We do it because its his job and he's dedicated to it, but wouldn't it be lovely if he could retire afterwards!

I think we have to sacrifice enough and would like more pay! Maybe 100k would do I mean, we nearly had to cancel our wedding because DH got rushed off to Timor and we had no idea if he was coming back for the wedding!

In a perfect world, I would say no. But knowing I can cope and that children can too, I would consider it. Mind you, who wants to retire early? What the heck do you do with the rest of your life?

I just asked DF this question as well. He said, no hesitation, yes, because it means we'd be set for life and 3-4 years isn't a long time in the grand scheme of things, there's another 30 years to watch your kids grow up etc. In saying that, he would be quite happy not working, and going hunting as and when the desire arose, and supporting us that way financially.

For me, it's not quite so clear cut. If I was the one to go awaw, I think I'd feel too guilty missing all the firsts - yes there may be another 30 years, but you'll never get another first tooth, or step, or smile, or day at school. So I don't think I could leave my kids. If it was DF on the other hand...if we didn't have kids, then yes I'd say he could do it, because I could work to my heart's content (I love my career) and read as many books as I want etc. If there were kids, I'm not sure...I think I would need DF's support with most things, although as Becks suggested, it depends on the communication available. Nowadays there's video messaging, cellphones, the internet, webcams etc.

What a hard, thought provoking question.

no. Lewis was away from the kids in the early parts of their lives - jake was a month, and Taine was three months. He missed them terribly and Jake was noticeably upset while his dad was gone (the second time, not the first). Also their bonding was slightly effected.

a girlfriends dad did something similar to this, can't remeber why. anyway, when he was made redundant, about three months of being "retired", he and his wife broke up, It seems fifteen years of five months on, two weeks off - they coulnd't cope with all that "together time".

Not with kids - everyone would miss out on too much. Even if it is just for 3-4 years. If you did it before you had kids I wonder how the relationship would survive.

No way. DH would probably say yes though! The punk.

In saying that- we have taken our kids away from their extended family for 3-4 years basically for money

Hubby and me actually discussed it and he said never again. I went up for a month to stay with my dad while he was finishing his contract before we came over. Mind you bubs was only 9 months old. He said his child grew up so much and he missed out on a lot that he wont do it again.

Yip was talking about Dubai. We got offers when I got pregnant. IT field and we could have been set for life in about 3 years. But he had to miss out on birth and I could only join him after birth. So we did do the no thing already. He wouldnt really retire but have the financial security to start his own business.

If kids are small wont do it at all. They need both parents in my opinion. (I know this is not always possible) And when they are teenagers they need the influence of the opposite sex parent even more (although they might not think so)

Nope money is not that important to us I suppose. I guess it would be if we were starving or something or lacked in basic needs. KWIM?

Nope I couldn't do it!! I miss DH when he is at work during the day hehehehehe