A complex and sometimes emotional subject for people moving overseas is what to take with them. Some people are almost tempted to take the proverbial kitchen sink.
When moving abroad, whatever you do, don't try to take too much with you, as you will usually regret it. There are a few exceptions, i.e. if you really do decide that living on a desert island is for you. However, the few people that make that decision probably do it in order to get away from countless material possessions in an attempt to simplify their life. Those people will already have visited their tropical paradise on at least one occasion and will have spent some time in checking on the local availability of necessities.
Others - if they are wise - will also have done their local research and will probably have discovered that in many parts of the world, the most important things are readily available. If you do need a special High Tech device, then you should include it as an exception on your list of things to take. You can forget the printer though, as they can be bought almost anywhere.
Books are very dear to many people, including the author. I have made the mistake of shipping my whole library with me though and I rarely picked up a book. For the odd occasion that I did, it would have been much cheaper to have had a new book sent to me than initially paying the cost of shipping the entire library.
Some people might be lucky enough to be sent to work abroad by a company that pays for all of their removal costs. Do ensure though that you negotiate in advance for the payment of the removal back home. You don't want to lose your job and discover that you have a very expensive bill for the return of all your personal possessions. Do remember, especially if shipping anything valuable, that there is no guarantee that it will not be damaged or that you will not encounter problems with the customs authorities, even for spurious reasons. As overseas removals can be very expensive, you could possibly negotiate to be paid out that amount by your employer. If you study prices on your reconnaissance trip, you might find that it would more than cover a household of furniture made locally.
Besides, who wants to ship furniture designed for a New York apartment to a wooden pole house in Tasmania? The local furniture would be so much more fitting and more fun for you too.
Even clothing can usually be bought locally and possibly more cheaply than in your own country. You will look more the part wearing local garments and you will make a few friends by becoming a customer of the local tailor or outfitters. At the outset of your venture living overseas, any friend can be a useful contact and local business people are often the most knowledgeable.
So try to limit yourself to 2 suitcases and maybe pay for just one extra case as overweight baggage - but ONLY if needed. You will thank me in the long run!
Other tips on moving and living abroad can be found here.
