The Native Iowan

Or is it Emigration?

What is difference between immigration and emigration?

Emigration is the act of leaving a resident country or place of residence with the intent to settle elsewhere (to permanently leave a country).

Conversely, immigration describes the movement of people into one country from another (to permanently move to a country).

I am a serial Emigrant… I confess… I left the country of my youthful residence and settled in the Solomon Islands. The important word here is “permanently”. I left Iowa in January of 1981. Never returned, permanently. I received my Solomon Island Citizenship in 2007.

I never really planned or prepared for retirement/ old-age, but it did come and I found myself “retiring to Australia”. I have been a legal resident here for 4years. Grace had been a legal resident (as caregiver to two grandsons in school) since 2010. In 2016 I received a limited Residence in Aus as a retired old fart. I was and have been allowed to live, come and go, invest, and enjoy that which Aus has to offer. I could not though ever become a dependant of the Common Wealth. I had to pay my own way.

We were required to pay some very hefty fees, buy expensive insurance, and place a huge bond. All just for the privilege to live here in Australia. The retirement visa required renewal every 4years. You had to pass the acceptance tests every 4years. And pay the fees…

Immigration is, understandably, a very long, drawn out, frustrating and exceedingly costly process. Checks and controls are important, when the “Residence” is valuable. A Citizen has every right in his/ her home land. A Resident will have some rights but controls and prerequisites stay in place. Your residency can be revoked. Not so your Citizenship.

Why do folks pick up and Emigrate? Leave that which is known, not knowing when or if you shall return. Language, food, currency, legal systems, support systems shall be different, shall be challenging.

Sometimes for Adventure. Sometimes for Love. Sometimes for socio-political reasons. Often because of drought, famine, pestilence, war, et al.

Sometimes by mistake, misfortune and sometimes, damned good luck…

The winter of 1979/1980, I was going no where. In and out of school, choosing to do courses that had nothing to do with my declared Major. Playing the long forgotten game of “dropping in”. Attending lessons you were not enrolled in because you’d heard the lecturer was good or the subject matter interesting. Deciding to go on long hitch-hike trips… skipping exams… A lot of time wasting.

Then… equivalent to “living in your parents basement”, but mine was ‘living in granny’s trailer-home”. Working seasonal jobs, not willing to do another “winter on unemployment benefits”. Hanging out with the same people I’d been hanging out with for too long…

I managed to “Get-Out” by becoming a Peace Corps Volunteer. I applied and they took me. Gave me a job in Solomon Islands.

Pure, unadulterated, damned good luck.

I’d rather be lucky than good looking…

I chose to be an Emigrant. Not that it was panned, maybe preordained, but I never planned much when I was young… but, I never returned, permanently, to the US, or Iowa. I sold my Triumph for 500bucks. It was all conscience. I chose to build my future in The Solomons. I Emigrated…

Peace Corps… suppose to be a 2year gig. In and out, then back to my ‘71 oil-in-frame Triumph. That wuz deplan…

“Life is what happens when you’re making other plans”

And now, here in Aus, I have emigrated yet again.

Grace and I were granted Permanent Resident status on Thursday. It’s been a long, costly exercise with never, ever a guaranteed outcome. You can spend heaps of time and $$$ only to be refused. It’s the way it is.

But we jumped through every required hoop, like good poodles, paid the fees and ancillary costs, AND are now hapi Permeant Residents in the fine and hapi Land of Aus,

And the beat goez on… Angelo’s 18th Bday this eve… DJ Sasquatch set up and cranking…

Smilez