Living not at home

In two previous posts I discussed how an elective migrant may sustain their separateness from the country where they're resident. Another separation is the one between the elective migrant and the country that they left.  I've heard versions of this separation from many migrants. Most were from the UK but also from the US, Germany, Holland. The description usually forms part of a narrative of progress: the country the migrant left is cold, deficient, failing, terminal; the country they are in now (Portugal) is an improvement, a step up, a warmer and more affirming place. Location as self-fulfilment.  ‘The rest of Europe can't take the UK seriously any more.’ ‘I don't miss it. I only go back to see friends. I wish they could all move here; I keep encouraging them.’ ‘I only go back now for funerals.’ ‘It was our home but we weren’t really at home. The good ‘ol boys and their politics. It’s so divided.’ ‘I realised that people in Germany are just unfriendly. In the street...