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  #1  
Old 01-12-2007, 07:07 AM
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Am I mad?

Hi,

I haven't posted on here for a while, but I've been lurking and reading a lot of the posts.

About 18 months ago I moved to a little private island off the south coast of england called Tresco. It's a wonderful place with zero crime, better weather than mainland UK, it's very laid back, it's beautiful and although the wages are below average I get free decent, private accommodation, three decent free meals a day if I want, a good pension scheme and plenty of time off.

This sounds perfect - the only draw back (in my opinion) is a ban on cars (apart from the ambulance and tractors).

I'm starting to get MB withdrawal symptons and I'm seriously considering leaving just so I can buy another W126.

Here is where I live: www.tresco.co.uk

and here is what I miss:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/attachments/off-topic-discussion/27402d1120305812-post-your-w126-pictures-merc.jpg

I'm 25 years old, not sure what I want to do with my life and quite confused about this predicament.

Any opinions?

Thanks

Oliver

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  #2  
Old 01-12-2007, 07:24 AM
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Ollie! Great time to sit around and study guitar! Glad to see you around!
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  #3  
Old 01-12-2007, 07:26 AM
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Hey Kuan, good to see you too. I played guitart a couple of times in the hotel restaurant here but found it too nerve racking!

I've not touched it for about six months. Maybe it is time to start practising again!
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Old 01-12-2007, 07:31 AM
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Yep about time! I imagine you doing this..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPfZVflJdp0
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Old 01-12-2007, 08:00 AM
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now that's impressive!
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  #6  
Old 01-12-2007, 08:45 AM
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I would think any normal 25 year-old would be bored to death on that little spit of land. Its too early to retire, so go out and see the world and get that W126.
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  #7  
Old 01-12-2007, 09:03 AM
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one thing about life.....


as the great british philosopher jaggers said...."you can't always get what you want"

tom w
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  #8  
Old 01-12-2007, 12:04 PM
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true. I think the question is, do I sacrifice the safety, beauty and calmness of where I am now to go and get a material possesion that costs me quite a bit of money to run and would force me into living in a crime ridden city?

I suppose that question kind of answers the question itself really, but I still want the W126 real bad!
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Old 01-12-2007, 12:11 PM
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Is the crime rate really THAT bad in England? Move to the US. At least here you can buy a gun if you're that concerned about crime. Well, not in the Nation's capitol, but in most civilized areas you can.

Gas is cheaper, too. You can run that 126 for a lot less $$ here. Nice to here from you.
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  #10  
Old 01-12-2007, 12:18 PM
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Crime as a whole probably isn't too bad. But we've been burgled before, had a car stolen (a 2001 CL500 ) and I know plenty of people who have had the same. That kind of thing doesn't exist over here.

I'd love to move to the US - I've always wanted too but unfortunately the immigration laws are too tough

Funnily enough, the CL500 that was stolen had a tracker device fitted. The police still couldn't find the car - then a year later they found it about 10 miles up the road in a garage! I thought it would be in Africa or something.
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Old 01-12-2007, 12:57 PM
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Buy yourself an MB and keep it in a garage on the mainland. That's what I did. I had an MB motorhome which I kept in a barn just outside of Exeter. I'd come over and use it on the summer.
How often do you get off the island? Do you get free helicopter rides back to the mainland?
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  #12  
Old 01-12-2007, 01:02 PM
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I still have to pay the full price for the helicopter which is £148 return (for 28 miles, apparantly the most expensive public transport in the world - not sure if thats true). I can go on stand-by for a decent discount but that's no good if I arrange car hire and only have a certain amount of time off.

That's the other thing - it costs me almost £500 in travellingjust to go to birmingham for a week (helicopter & car hire). Who would pay £500 to go on holiday to birmingham?!?!? I went to New York for £250 return!

I'd like to have a car on the mainland but I'd constantly worry about it (just sitting there, maybe it's been stolen or maybe it's rotting etc).

Whatever happens I'm going to stay here and save. When I've actually got enough to buy a decent W126 (or even W140!) I'll think about it again.

Oliver
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  #13  
Old 01-12-2007, 02:43 PM
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Can't resist. Maybe the solution is to raise your career ambitions above those few options available on a small island. Move back to the mainland and find a way to make enough income to not worry about the cost to instead vacation on this small island.

Based on the family car list, it appears your parents are quite successful.

Steve
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  #14  
Old 01-12-2007, 02:54 PM
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Definitely. This is the grand plan, but I came here with a few outstanding debts (sillyness when I was a little younger). I've managed to clear these debts now.

When I got myself into these debts my dad helped me out in a big way (£20k) and I wanted to show my parents that I could survive on my own without their financial help so I moved here where I get free accommodation and I've cleared most of my debts and have some money in the bank.

If I moved back to the mainland I would either live with my parents (which I don't want to do) or struggle to rent somewhere (buying is impossible here on the average wage at the moment if you're single).

I'm working in IT over here. I am part of a two man team that support the island's IT systems. They are paying for me to go on courses and I am learning more valuable skills - so it's not as if I'm here making beds and dossing.

yes, my parents have done well. Although my dad didn't start to make serious money until he was 40 and he has predicted that this will be the same for me (i.e. I won't find a chosen career path until I'm older).

So I think I'll stick it out here until I've got more qualifications, apply for a few good jobs on the mainland and see what happens.

Where I am from in England, a one bedroom flat in the city centre costs about £120k, so I'm pretty much stuffed unless I land an amazing job or start a succesful business.
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Old 01-12-2007, 03:20 PM
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Nice. If you play it right, island IT can become your specialty. You can capitalize on their particular disaster recovery, power, and telecom needs. Island-hop to all the vacation hot spots, and its all funded by the lucrative tourist trade.

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