Second Inning - Diary of r2i-mumbai

[r2i-mumbai]

Second Inning ? Diary of r2i-Mumbai

Returning to India was always the plan and this forum convinced me that I wasn?t alone in thinking along those lines although when I look around I am in the minority. I was surprised to see that so many other people share similar experience and thought process as me. Now that our R2I plan is in execution phase, I thought of writing a diary. As I write this, our container is shipping in 2 weeks and we are flying shortly after on a one way ticket.

So why are we returning? If this was a multiple choice question I would have selected ?All of the above? because all of the most common reasons will apply to us. If have to pick just one answer then that will be ?mission accomplished?. Many of us came here to learn, earn and get experience of working and living in a developed country. True to the promise, we got plenty of that and broadened our perspective. I think we can go back with this perspective and a positive attitude and make some meaningful contribution to the country that built our character that a country that we will always be associated with no matter where we live. I always considered US to be a place to learn and earn. Workplace can not be a place to live otherwise you will only work and earn, life will happen outside.

One of the reasons why I chose to title this diary as Second Inning is that in cricket, in first inning a target is set and that needs to be beaten in the second inning to win the game. In our case, we have set a target for ourselves of starting and running a successful business in India based on what we have learned and earned in developed world and now we starting the second inning to achieve and beat that target. The other reason is simple. I am 37 and life expectancy is India for my profile is about 74 so this is the beginning of second inning.

Our story is the same old software engineer story not much different from numerous other diaries on this forum. So if you are wondering why I am writing my diary then I have two reasons. First one is I am writing to find out what I am thinking. We only make key decisions like this once in a while and only in hindsight we will know if the decision was right or not. Since hindsight is not foresight we have our share of wrong decisions. Although we may remember the circumstances under which these decisions are made, we may not always remember exact thought process that went into making those decisions. Although many of these key decisions are unique in their own way with their own set of circumstances, the thought process that goes into making these decisions is very similar and in my case for the ones that turned out to be wrong. I am hoping that documenting the thought process will help me identify the pattern that leads to making a wrong decision. I will share some of the thought process and that may help someone sitting on the fence.

My other reason to write this diary is to share my relocation experience with others with the hope that at least someone with find it useful. I certainly found various diaries on this forum very informative and emotional. These diaries offer a perspective on life in India from the vantage point of someone who lived in developed world for 10+ years after growing up in India. This is a very unique perspective that only an R2Ier can offer. No one else has that perspective. A journalist will add too much color; Bollywood will add too much masala and Hollywood will genetically modify the story. These diaries are certified organic with homemade taste.

One of the few TV shows that I watch are reality game shows where contestants face challenges and earn rewards when they overcome these challenges. These game shows offer contestants lifelines designed to keep them playing the game to try and earn a huge and unimaginable reward. Oftentimes these contestants fail to realize that there is an optimum time to take the winnings and quit the game but the cheering crowed and trained game show host keeps them in the game. The end result is predictable. Contestants stay in the game for too long, lose all the lifelines and are either kicked out or walk away with much less reward that what they could have earned had they walked away sooner. Life of a typical immigrant in US is like this reality game show except that it is little complicated than a simple TV show. We all faced numerous challenges, earned big rewards but as in the game show, the lure of American Dream keeps us in the game for a just a little more. For a typical R2Ier playing this game, the lifelines are 1) kids are still in preschool, 2) Parents are still active and 3) A once in a while job or business opportunity back home. The key is to walk away while you still have those lifelines otherwise the bigger reward won?t be as rewarding. You will not know what the optimum time to walk away is or was until after the fact, you only have to make an educated guess about what that time is. In our case, since we don?t have a GC so we can?t get back in the game where we leave and that makes it even more important to time the exit right. This forum has helped us to do just that. I think this is the right time so when America said Deal or No Deal we put our hand on the flashing red button and said DEAL!

[SetToGo]

Nice start. Waiting to read more about your journey!

[cf_r2i]

Nice perspective of lifeline. Absolutely true to make a deal without loosing these or holding at least one. Waiting for more commentary of your good play.

[MumbaiKaDon]

Good to see someone going back to Mumbai for a change. Not sure why, but I dont see too many on the forum from Mumbai.

BTW, if you wouldnt mind sharing (or already have plans to pen them in future posts) these:

1. Which part of Mumbai would you be staying at ?
2. Kids age & school ?
3. Got any job offers ?
4. Is your decision a result of "no GC" ? I mean would you have a different perspective of R2I if you already had one ?

Any other details that might help others...

Good luck on your journey and keep it rolling. ...

[appir2i]

[QUOTE]These diaries are certified organic with homemade taste.Great analogy. I agree with the statement above. Thanks for sharing your thought process in this diary.

[QUOTE]Hollywood will genetically modify the story LOL.

[r2i-mumbai]

Good to see someone going back to Mumbai for a change. Not sure why, but I dont see too many on the forum from Mumbai.

BTW, if you wouldnt mind sharing (or already have plans to pen them in future posts) these:

1. Which part of Mumbai would you be staying at ?
2. Kids age & school ?
3. Got any job offers ?
4. Is your decision a result of "no GC" ? I mean would you have a different perspective of R2I if you already had one ?

Any other details that might help others...

Good luck on your journey and keep it rolling. ...

1. We will be relocating to Dadar West/Shivaji Park area.
2. Two daughters 5 & 2 (lets call them Thing1 and Thing2 from Cat In The Hat). School admission for Thing1 is a TODO. That's been a tough job so far.
3. Plan is to start a company. Already started the process with a partner. Taking an internal transfer just so that I won't be sitting idle while I ramp up my other activities.
4. Ah, no GC. I knew someone will think about that. Let me take this opportunity to share some of my thought process.

Since I never really wanted to live in US permanently, I applied for GC late just so that I can continue to extend my H1B. In fact it was my employer's lawyer who triggered the process. If I wait for few more years I will get it isn't it? Then some more years for USC and then R2I, the usual patten or the highway or plan B. The way I see it, even if I had an option to get USC now, how practical it will be for me to actually use it? That can only be a catastrophic insurance if I fail to survive in India correct? The known problems in India won't make that happen otherwise I wouldn't even go. Even if I were to go bankrupt it isn't going to happen right after I land. If at all that were to happen it will take at least a few years and by that time I will be in my forties with my IT skills depreciated and too discouraged to use my USC and start all over again with a job. On the other hand, not having a typical plan B actually made me work hard on my plan A to make it fail safe as much as I can. I know nothing is fail safe but then the typical plan B won't be either. That was the factor in deciding if this is the optimum time. I recall a story I read in my histroy books in school about a soldier in Shivaji's army who energized a small army to defeat an enemy much larger than him by cutting off the escape route. Sadly, the story ended where his army won but the soldier himself died in the battle. I hope my story doesn't end that way.

Another point is, most of my income will be capital gains that will be largely tax free in India and will be heavily taxed by Uncle Sam as a premium for offering the USC insurance. Doesn't feel too logical to me. In fact, the premium itself may become a factor in determining if I just survive or prosper. In short, I think USC is a good option for someone who is just out of college, inexperienced and unconfident about his/her ability to survive and prosper in Indian environment. For most of us with 15+ years of experience I think we can make a well informed decision if we can swim well before putting on the swimsuit let alone jumping into the water.

[clarence123]

All the very best with your move.. Greed makes us restless and lose sleep.. Life will be very good if we can say "enough" at some point with not so confused mindset.. Looks like you got a stable mindset and well supported family. All the very best for your move and for your business success !

[gurusw]

For a typical R2Ier playing this game, the lifelines are 1) kids are still in preschool, 2) Parents are still active and 3) A once in a while job or business opportunity back home.

I am going to call this 1-2-3 of R2I.

Great diary. Keep it coming.

[Man]

One of the few TV shows that I watch are reality game shows where contestants face challenges and earn rewards when they overcome these challenges. These game shows offer contestants lifelines designed to keep them playing the game to try and earn a huge and unimaginable reward. Oftentimes these contestants fail to realize that there is an optimum time to take the winnings and quit the game but the cheering crowed and trained game show host keeps them in the game. The end result is predictable. Contestants stay in the game for too long, lose all the lifelines and are either kicked out or walk away with much less reward that what they could have earned had they walked away sooner. Life of a typical immigrant in US is like this reality game show except that it is little complicated than a simple TV show. We all faced numerous challenges, earned big rewards but as in the game show, the lure of American Dream keeps us in the game for a just a little more. For a typical R2Ier playing this game, the lifelines are 1) kids are still in preschool, 2) Parents are still active and 3) A once in a while job or business opportunity back home. The key is to walk away while you still have those lifelines otherwise the bigger reward won’t be as rewarding. You will not know what the optimum time to walk away is or was until after the fact, you only have to make an educated guess about what that time is. In our case, since we don’t have a GC so we can’t get back in the game where we leave and that makes it even more important to time the exit right. This forum has helped us to do just that. I think this is the right time so when America said Deal or No Deal we put our hand on the flashing red button and said DEAL!

I cannot recall a better way of describing the r2i decision - lovvve it!!.... best wishes to you...with your true-blue Mumbai-kar attitude and flair I predict you will go far....

[essjay]

Very well written. The analogies with cricket and reality game shows are apt. Also, congratulations on a nice start. As they say, well begun is half done.

I am in the process of moving to Mumbai (Borivali) myself. Wife and kids have already been there for a few months now. I will be wrapping up stuff in US and make the move soon.