But this is absolutely not the reaction that my friends would have.  In fact, it is quite common among my group of acquaintances for people to go back to their home country.  I have an Indian friend who has gone back.  I have another Indian friend that is retired, and spends about 40%, he and his wife, of his time in India.  They have family there,,,it just is not at all surprising, and literally no one is sad for them, or thinks they've fallen off the cliff.  The same with Europe.  I have an English friend who thinks "America is the place to earn a living, because you're not caught up ina class system, and the economic system allows hard work to move you to the top", but, he says, "Europe is the place to retire,,,Europeans know how to live the better life, with the culture, etc."  We'll see on him--his kids are still fairly young, and they seem pretty American to me,,,,I'm not sure if he and his wife will want to be away from them, and the grandkids--down the road.

I would like to someday have a place in London, and spend a significant amount of time there.  It's my favorite city in the world--too bad about the prices.  -:}

I could continue with these examples, because I have many--and vice versa as well,,,Americans living in Europe and staying,,,others coming back.

It is just not accurate to generalise the reactions you describe to Americans.