Do you have ambition to live or retire abroad? (9 Viewers)

[guidomerkinsrules]

Can you see how this might come off a bit like: "*bleep* America and everything about that hole country, y'all need to escape.....unless you need some of the resources from there, then you can head back over for a bit" ?

So you’re saying MBS is treating Asia like it’s the suburbs?

 

[Icon]

So you’re saying MBS is treating Asia like it’s the suburbs?

Asia may or may not be his "LaPlace".

 

[Mr. Blue Sky]

But I can assure you there are plenty of places outside this country that doesn't require a $100,000/yr job and the stresses and responsibilities that come with.

I can't explain it. My kids got to see and feel it. My wife felt it. Unfortunately here, unless you are making 100k yr you aren't able to sit lakeside at 2pm on a weekday with contentment.

That $100k thing is interesting b/c it’s always been sort of a benchmark of success in America if you live outside of a large coastal metro.. ive had a few years where ive exceeded that benchmark, and many where i havent .. but i wonder- unless you have your house and cars paid off, and minimal debt- how far $100k or even above can get you in 2025 ?

 

[Mr. Blue Sky]

Can you see how this might come off a bit like: "*bleep* America and everything about that hole country, y'all need to escape.....unless you need some of the resources from there, then you can head back over for a bit" ?

1000% .


And guess what- i AM saying *bleep* America.. there is no ‘trying to say’ or ‘kinda like it sounds’….. i am GUILTY AS CHARGED .


Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way- America isnt all bad, not many places are all bad.. i am thankful for certain things that being born in America has afforded me.. but two things can be true- one is that being born in America wasnt a terrible thing.. another true thing is that, in 2025, the negatives of life in the US far outweigh the positives…. One example, is that we are talking about a country (the US) where a classroom of 3rd graders can get slaughtered and mass shootings can happen with regularity and almost nothing ever changes .

There is no perfect place .. bad things happen everywhere.. the difference is that, in most countries, if something terrible happens- it becomes huge news because it’s RARE unlike in the US where that stuff happens regularly .. and also, in most places laws get changed and efforts are made almost immediately to stop these things from happening again.. in America - NOTHING ever changes.. i think we can all agree 100% that no matter your ideological stance- the correct answer when some madman shoots up a mall is not to do NOTHING.. or to pass some stupid meaningless law against a specific type of weapon that changes almost nothing .. and i dont even have kids ! I cant believe that those of you with children arent 100% more pissed about this than i am, and unwilling to stay in a place like that, and i cant believe that yall are willing to share a country with people who are too lazy to do anything about it…. trust me when i tell you that im not interested in turning this into a gun control thread, that is just one example to me of how the bad outweighs the good in 2025 America .

 

[Mr. Blue Sky]

Asia may or may not be his "LaPlace".

That’s hilarious b/c i was actually born in Laplace, in a trailer park.. true story, im not even kidding .

 

[Mr. Blue Sky]

Deciding you want to live on a beach in Central America or a village in Italy because the lifestyle appeals to you and you can make it work financially doesn’t mean you’re crapping on the US.

I am crapping on the US, becuase in many many ways the US has crapped on us… Not in ALL ways, don’t get it twisted.. the irony is, becuase the US is where i was born and raised and have citizenship- i may - despite my best efforts- i may be forced, yes forced to return in a few months , for reasons that are too complicated and numerous, and frankly no one’s business - to go into here.. i am trying my best to avoid that though .

 

[CapitalCitySaint]

For me, Europe has several major selling points:
1) I enjoy history and can go all around and "get a feel" for what the people were experiencing.
2) Their history channel actually has history on it and is seen across 25-30 countries. They don't have anything like Duck Dynasty or Ancient Aliens.
3) Their food has somewhere around 20%-25% the amount of sugar ours does.
4) They bake bread daily (anything a bakery makes) and they don't use near the amount of Preservatives we.
5) I lose at least 20 lbs. every time I go. I need to go grocery shopping 3/Week and carry my groceries

While I don't have anything against America, my health improves over there.

The walkability to things is a HUGE plus. Not *needing* a car to get everywhere. Having subways and trains that are actually practical. The "tube" was so convenient to get around in when I was in England.

The general safety. Not suggesting that bad things don't happen in Europe - they do - but the chances of me being a victim of a violent crime while minding my own business there are far less than here.

I loved pub culture in London. Men and ladies dressed smartly in their work attire grabbing beers at the pubs after work was so nice to see - which leads me to my next point:

Fashion is better in Europe. People take pride in their appearance and don't go in public making you wonder why they are still wearing their pajamas & house shoes or if they are homeless even though they are not.

Everyone isn't fat as fork over there.

European windows....IYKYK

People are generally more cultured and far more educated than here and can usually speak more than one language.

It was cleaner. So much cleaner than here.

The sweets were not laced in pounds of sugar like they are here. I had an afternoon pastry of some sort from a bakery every day that I was in Germany for 2 weeks. They were some of the most delicious I've ever tasted.

Christmas is better in Europe. The decor is classy. In America, everything is all plastic corny fake sheet and over-the-top decorations and focused on a billion presents under the tree.

I hated all the cigarette smoking absolutely everywhere though and having to pay for using a public restroom.

ETA: I have been to England, Germany, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Norway, Czech Republic and Italy.

 

[BayouSAINTJoe]

I think about faking my death and finding a non extradition country to restart...that count?

 

[superchuck500]

I am crapping on the US, becuase in many many ways the US has crapped on us… Not in ALL ways, don’t get it twisted.. the irony is, becuase the US is where i was born and raised and have citizenship- i may - despite my best efforts- i may be forced, yes forced to return in a few months , for reasons that are too complicated and numerous, and frankly no one’s business - to go into here.. i am trying my best to avoid that though .

Sure - I didn't meant to suggest that people aren't also crapping on the US . . . only that it isn't a necessary coupling. It can be part of it, it can also not be part of it.

 

[superchuck500]

I think about faking my death and finding a non extradition country to restart...that count?

Yes, I think that definitely counts.

Countries without Extradition 2024

worldpopulationreview.com

 

[SystemShock]

Well, after 40 years in the U.S., I came back to my birthplace, Merida, MX. It wasn't really my idea, it was my wife who wanted to leave the U.S. I was cool living in the Carolinas (although, I had thought of New Zealand as a place I wanted to move to.).

Being here, it's 50/50. There are lots of things I miss from the U.S., and lots of things that I hate here, but the opposite is also true.

I think that a lot of people look to living in other countries as being better than living in the U.S., but without fully understanding what's like to live in those places, as they detach themselves from the social and political environments of places abroad, plus having the benefit of having the U.S. to fall back if the sheet hits the fan. I see it here among the large number of U.S. and Canadian citizens who live in the peninsula and other places in MX.

The way I see it, mostly revolves around finances. U.S./Canadian pensions go a much longer way, and medical costs are way lower (although, ironically, housing/medical prices have gone up in certain areas depending on the population of U.S./Canadian citizens who live in the area).

 

[Mr. Blue Sky]

Being here, it's 50/50. There are lots of things I miss from the U.S., and lots of things that I hate here, but the opposite is also true.

For me i think it’s more 80/20…. Outside of missing friends/family (technology like FaceTime has made the world a lot smaller and easier to communicate)- i miss my Jeep and driving and taking long road trips…. I have no desire to operate anyhting with a motor here in Asia, so i only get around on the Skytrain or in an Uber, or if not then i am hoofing it.. to the point where im averaging over 7,500 steps per day according to the fitness app on my phone .. some days like yesterday i put over 13,000 steps .

I think that a lot of people look to living in other countries as being better than living in the U.S., but without fully understanding what's like to live in those places,

I agree, i would advise anyone thinking of moving overseas to try it for at least a couple of months, and try 2 or 3 different places .. the problem is that most peoples’ American jobs dont allow that type of flexibility and time off.. i was lucky (not really luck but a lot of planning) that last year i had a unique work circumstance where i was able to visit Asia for the first time in my life, and for six months.. it made relocating here one year later much much easier and put me way ahead of the game in terms of figuring out which city i wanted to base myself in, as well as dealing with things like visa issues, immigration, condo owner/landlords, internet and cell bills and on and on .

as they detach themselves from the social and political environments of places abroad, plus having the benefit of having the U.S. to fall back if the sheet hits the fan.

See , i differ with you here. I think many signs are pointing to instability in the US, and very soon… i think what you might be feeling is a false sense of security in terms of the US.. i hope i am wrong, and i hope that youre correct.. im not planning to denounce my citizenship or anything, so i really really hope youre the one who’s right…. I think though that the correct answer lies in , if you can , finding someplace that has shown significant peace and neautrality .. @efil4stnias mentions Switzerland often, and of course we all know of their reputation .. i think emigrating there would be a good move.. or, the place i live- Thailand- is called ‘the Switzerland of the East’, becuase they are typically neutral and i think they are the only Asian country never to be colonialized .

I see it here among the large number of U.S. and Canadian citizens who live in the peninsula and other places in MX.

Mexico, to me , might as well be the 51st US state .. it is obviously SO close geographically.. and my understanding is that something like 1/5th or 1/6th of the population of CA has already moved, or is planning to move soon to Mexico .. i feel like it would be far easier to move there ‘unprepared’ as it were; simply catch a quick flight back home or a short drive to get what you need … the main problem where i am is that the 27 hr flight (w/layovers) almost kills me each time, and i would do almost anything to never have to do it more than once per year.. which makes it hard to go back for anything, tie up loose ends, etc .

 

[KiwiSaint]

Forget about New Zealand, there’s nothing available.

 

[Mr. Blue Sky]

I think though that the correct answer lies in , if you can , finding someplace that has shown significant peace and neautrality .. @efil4stnias mentions Switzerland often, and of course we all know of their reputation .. i think emigrating there would be a good move.. or, the place i live- Thailand- is called ‘the Switzerland of the East’, becuase they are typically neutral and i think they are the only Asian country never to be colonialized .

Apologies for quoting myself, but i double checked and yes it is true:


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Apologies also for using the word ‘colonialized’.. i believe the proper word is ‘colonized .’


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Another interesting factoid (at least to me)- is that Thailand follows its own ‘solar calendar’ that predates the calendar the rest of the world uses by somehting like 543 years…. It started when Thailand was known as Siam…. So last week we celebrated New Year’s at around the same time, but instead of welcoming 2025 we welcomed what is now the year 2568, true story .

 

[Taurus]

"Someplace warm, with no memory"