They moved to Scotland from California with their 3 kids. It’s safer, slower, and they have a better work-life balance.

• Zack and Annie moved from California to Scotland with their three young kids earlier this year.
• They say they like the slower pace of life and are less concerned about keeping up with the Joneses.
• Now, they have a better work-life balance and spend more time outdoors with their kids.

As much as Zack, 38, and Annie, 37, enjoyed living in California, they always felt that it was too fast-paced for them. After about a decade of living there, they decided it was time for a change.

Earlier this year, the couple packed up their bags and moved to Scotland with their three young children, all under the age of 10.

The couple asked to be identified by only their first names to protect their privacy.

The timing for their move was right, in part because their kids were still young.

“We knew if we were ever going to make the move, we had to move before our kids established true friend groups and got too far in their academics to where that transition would be difficult,” Annie told Business Insider.

Since Zach is originally from Scotland, and their kids have UK passports, Annie was able to apply for a spousal visa for her stay. This also made it easier for them to buy a house there.

The couple is part of a wave of people choosing to leave the US to live elsewhere, be it for reasons such as the high cost of living or the desire for a more relaxed lifestyle.

According to a 2024 Monmouth University poll of 902 people, 34% of Americans said they would like to live in another country, compared to 10% who said the same in a Gallup poll 50 years ago.

While Zack and Annie have only been in Scotland for a few months, they’ve already noticed some differences between their life in Scotland compared to California.

“We’re still getting into the swing of things, but it feels like we have fewer worries and are less concerned about keeping up with the Joneses,” Zach told BI.

“Roads are smaller, cars are smaller, houses are smaller. You can only fit so much stuff in these little houses, so you don’t want it to be overrun with stuff you buy,” he continued.

Less choice, more freedom

The couple says that life in Scotland is simpler — which is exactly what they were looking for.

Unlike in the US, where a lot of stores are open 24/7, stores in their area tend to close early on Fridays or not open at all on Sundays, Zach said.

This has helped them rethink their consumption habits.

“You’re kind of forced into this slower rhythm, where it’s like ‘OK, I have to wait for this thing now,'” Zach said. “And if I have to wait a few days for it, then it’s not that urgent, and maybe I never needed it.”

It’s a lot like the old days, he added: “Back when we were growing up, you didn’t just have things turning up in your door the next day. You’d have to get a catalog through the mail and sign away for it, and then two weeks later, maybe it would turn up.”

Living in a smaller town like theirs, there’s less decision fatigue.

“There’s not as much choice at the grocery stores. In the US, if you’re looking for a salad dressing, you have an entire aisle of dressing and then around the corner, in the refrigerated section, there’s more,” Annie said. “Over here, we went to our local shop, and there were three to choose from.”

Even so, the couple realized that it’s quite common for people to make things from scratch.

“We’re trying to reframe our mentality, and we have a bit more time now, so it’s like, why don’t I enjoy the process and maybe make my own dressing too?” Annie said.

Slowing down

Life in Scotland is slower compared to California, in part due to a better work-life balance.

It’s normal for some businesses to take longer lunch breaks and turn off their phones for an hour or two during the day, Zach said.

It’s also hard to reach people after work hours, Annie said: “I mean, you try to contact someone after 4 p.m., there are crickets until 9:30 a.m. the next day at the earliest.”

Zach now works in an online electronics company that his brother started. Unlike his time in the California Highway Patrol, where he was often on call, he gets to log off on time now.

“When he’s done at the end of the day, that’s it. The computer’s off, and he’s with the family,” Annie said.

Safer for the kids

In 2022, 48,117 people died by firearms in the US, per data from the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions. That’s an average of one death every 11 minutes.

With lower crime rates and stricter gun laws, Scotland generally feels safer than the US, which means their kids also get a bit more freedom here, Annie said.

“In California, I had different levels of comfort with our children, but I would never really let them out of my sight. You’re always close to someone that you probably don’t want near your kids,” she said.

Here, she feels quite comfortable letting her kids ride their bikes around, she said.

“As for speed limits, things are slower here, so when the kids are by the road, I’m not as scared about them getting hit by a driver,” she added.

They also spend a lot more time outdoors as a family — so much so that they don’t even have a TV in the living room for their kids right now.

“Until maybe when the winter comes, we’re trying to keep them away from that as much as possible and make the most of what’s around us outdoors,” Annie said.