u/Huge-Order8685

I've been thinking about working abroad for years and never actually done it, and now I'm close to aging out of the working holiday schemes I qualify for, like the UK's Youth Mobility Scheme visa. So it's now or never. I've looked into eligibility and finance requirements on the UK Gov site. I meet the savings requirement, and I don't think there would be any hiccups in getting approved (no criminal record, no health issues, etc).

The process seems straightforward to me, but I want to hear from folks who made the move, for life or for a while, on why I should or shouldn't.

A bit about me:

• Single, no dependents, but there's a small dog coming with me, non-negotiable (yes, I know I can't fly into the UK with a pet in cabin, I'd go to France first and get all the paperwork sorted/EU Pet Passport etc).
• Almost a decade-long career in marketing. Not married to it, happy to work in service/hospitality to get by (and might actually enjoy the break, feeling a little burnt out)
• Been to Scotland exactly once. 36 hours in Edinburgh in a February many moons ago. Loved it, and, fully aware that's nothing to base a life decision on.
• Lived all over Canada, including Vancouver Island, so I've at least done the training wheels version of the weather.
• I regularly move around every 2-3 years. Not one for settling down (at least not yet).
• I like meeting new people, but also love alone time.

Things I'd love to hear about:

• Pet-friendly Scotland:
  • Is it genuinely hard to find a rental that takes pets?
  • And how dog-friendly is normal daily life in the cities?
• Finances:
  • The visa doesn't seem to cap hours/wages, so is there a range of opportunities/earnings or will it be seasonal work?
  • What's cost of living / wages like in the regions?
  • Tell me about groceries/rent/etc?
• Where to go:
  • What areas/cities do you recommend (and why)? Any to avoid?
  • Though I liked Edinburgh, I'd probably be more interested in smaller cities, though easier travel throughout the UK and Europe is definitely a draw.
• Connection:
  • How easy is it to make friends?
  • What's the "in your 30s" dating scene like? (Not a huge motivator for me, but I'm curious!)
• If you've done a working holiday here, be honest with me, glad you did it or do you regret it?

By all means, this is a laundry list, so any response to any of the above is helpful, no need to try to tackle it all! Thank you in advance!