Cloud Sailor,
I probably monitor APC more than my husband, so I've been reading about your dilemma. If I understand correctly, the issue is the U.S. mail contracts and it requires the 5 year US residency. It is a huge decision to be sure. Actually it has given us pause because as you know, mail contracts do shift and we could find ourselves in the same boat at UPS. It is just that US carriers are so bleak right now. I appreciate that Fedex and UPS run on the leaner side and one hopes it would mitigate any furloughs but sometimes I just wish our timing had been better. My husband was just unfortunate to have his pool entry time closely with age 65.
I can understand your wife's reluctance. I have moments of thinking we are nuts for even considering it but it could also be a great adventure and I guess you never know how something is going to be until you try it. But it is also a really big leap of faith to move this far away into a culture so different.