UK, Ireland /
From Hertfordshire, UK to Śląskie, Poland - Are we crazy? [35]
Hi Mac, I think Polish citizenship would be important to consider if you intend to buy land or property in Poland.
Once you get out of the cities, Poland is still like a bit Ireland in the 1970s. In our village, everyone goes to church except us! And local politics is rooted in clientalism and deference.
Context: I am Irish, wife Polish (UK citizen), we are living in UK for a decade. We are also considering moving to either IRL or PL for similar reasons to yours. Wife currently in PL (mother ill), we have house there which we bought a few years ago [so no worries on the mother in law front!]. We drove over in the car first, back in April - 1,800 km, and left the car there.
I am now a Ryanair frequent flyer - was in PL two weeks ago, heading over again next week for 2 weeks and a bit. 7-months net UK, 4,5 months PL, 0,5 months IRL, that's my deal for now. It works, but you need to plan it. Short frequent trips are better than longer less frequent trips. Flying is cheap. Hopefully this winter's covid won't shut everything down again.
I am just about literate in Polish, though very rusty (was a bit better 10 years ago), having studied it intensely in the noughties [when all those people with a funny language began to come to Ireland! Great stuff!]. If you have any in to Polish, you will pick it up as you go along - I find mine improving each time I go. I was in Mrówka (a hardware chain like Woodies) a couple of weeks ago buying nails or something, and I learned the word for receipt - paragon, the hard way [they ask you if you want one, and expect the customer to understand them, heh]. They speak very fast, with a funny accent in rural PL, and there are no English speakers. Second time I was in the shop, I replied 'nie', instead of 'nie rozumieum' :D
Also, very important: watch your 183 nights in UK. Add a few days as a buffer, and remember to subtract any nights you may spend in third countries, Ireland visiting rellies for example.