I did my engineering in Hyderabad and immediately after Bachelors went to US for my Masters in 2002. After graduation, I worked in Lab Robotics and non-IT field with a successful, fulfilling career. I'm grateful for life in US - professional and personal development, lifelong good friends. There was never a moment where I felt "why did I come to US." Life was great. That's where I spent majority of my adulthood. So then why did we move back to India?

Two Important Points Before the Reasons

1. Environment Matters for Your Priorities

As life changes, so do our priorities:

• When young: You want to explore, grow your career, take the world
• Starting a family: Stability and raising kids become priority
• Getting older: Focus shifts to connection, community, and purpose

The environment you choose to live plays a significant role in supporting these priorities. For instance, if you're starting a business, being in Silicon Valley or Bangalore is advantageous because the ecosystem supports entrepreneurship. For us, moving to India aligned better with our long-term goals as a family.

2. Not Having Regrets in Life

"Sometimes life is comfortable and it's tempting not to rock the boat. We had a very comfortable life in US. But one of the biggest lessons I learned is the importance of living without regrets. As we get older, we often wish we had tried something, taken the leap, explored that opportunity. Instead of living with unanswered what-ifs, we decided to evaluate our options. It wasn't easy but it was worth it because we didn't want to look back years later and wonder what could have been."

Reason 1: Empty Nester Concerns

One of the biggest factors was thinking about our future as empty nesters:

"Fast forward 20 years when our kids grow up and are in college or outside the home - how does life look like abroad? I felt it would be lonely and hollow. Even though you have great friends and great neighbors, the lifestyle makes everyone busy with their own lives."

In India, we see a different possibility - a more dynamic life surrounded by family and community. That's why we wanted to move while kids are still young. It allows them to adjust and it's a decision that's fair for them too.

Reason 2: Nuclear Family vs Extended Support

"Living abroad often means being part of a nuclear family - you, spouse, and kids. It's wonderful in many ways, you get to spend lot of time together evenings and weekends. However, time with extended family is limited."

As we get older and eventually pass on, who is there for kids? Is it siblings? I personally think having family support is invaluable.

In India, kids get opportunity to spend more time with:

• Cousins and distant relatives
• Grandparents
• Extended family on regular occasions

These bonds create a support structure that's hard to replicate. The time grandkids enjoy with grandparents - seeing my parents pampering the kids, sharing stories, just enjoying time together - is priceless. It benefits both kids and parents, and this is something that can only be done when kids are still young, creating memories for a lifetime.

Reason 3: Kids Development

"Life abroad is very structured and organized which has its advantages, but kids raised in such environment may find it harder to adapt in India later in life. On the flip side, kids growing up in India are very adaptable - they can survive in India or anywhere in the world."

Skills Kids Develop in India

I personally feel kids in India get more opportunity to spend time outdoor - playing soccer, cricket, basketball with friends in the community. This is the lifestyle and childhood we want our kids to experience as they grow up.

Kids Abroad vs Kids in India

Reason 4: Lifestyle Choice

Yes, things like traffic and pollution are better abroad. But for us, having a support system is more important.

"If I get sick or my wife gets sick or worse both of us are sick, we still have to get up, take care of things, get kids ready, drop them to school. There isn't a support structure abroad - I'm sure friends help but it's different dynamics. In India, the support structure is much more conducive and helpful in these situations."

The Support System Difference

Services and help are more accessible in India. This frees up a lot of time to focus on important things that are much more valuable. It's like living a luxurious life for the money you spend. It's a choice between:

• Organized but isolated lifestyle abroad
• Dynamic lifestyle with support, services, and help in India

Reason 5: Financial Flexibility

"I wanted financial flexibility to leave the corporate world and have the option to follow passion, experience life, and not work just for money. This gives a lot more flexibility and experiences in life."

What Financial Flexibility Enables

India provides a wide variety of lifestyles where your money can stretch a lot. You can choose the lifestyle you want based on your preference. As part of the move, I decided to leave the corporate world and have a lifestyle where I can follow passions, do different things, and experience life.

In Summary

These are the reasons why we as a family decided to move to India - to provide an environment that aligns with our priorities as a family and not to have regrets in life.

I hope this is helpful and gives some insights into our thought process. The channel brings different stories to make you think through these different aspects of priorities and how life abroad versus India compares - so you can make an informed decision for yourself.