Where would it be, and why? What do you think you’d miss most about where you currently live? I’ve wanted to ask this question for a long time.
At this point, I don’t think I’ll ever have the option of living somewhere else, certainly not somewhere outside the US. But if I did, I might want to try living in a European country that offers Alpine views and boasts a high “happiness” index. I’d like a safe country with democratic ideals and whose populous is, for the most part, highly educated. I’d like a place with a slower lifestyle where people don’t place consumerism high on their list of priorities, also one where individual equality and personal agency are highly valued.
I’d really miss America’s racial, ethnic, religious and cultural diversity though. I don’t think there’s anywhere in the world that matches ours in that respect. I’d also miss the generous-hearted attitude and open friendliness of Americans. We seem to do that really well. Of course, the ability to travel to just about any climate, terrain, or ecology without ever having to leave the country is fantastic. Lastly, I think I’d miss the blessings of the American system of government. Whenever I consider the genius of our very flawed founders, I feel awed. and thankful.
I periodically binge on watching YouTube vlogs of American Ex-Pats living in other parts of the world, finding them endlessly fascinating. I always end up asking myself if I might like experiencing life in parts of Asia or Europe. I’d love to hear of the experiences of CCers who’ve lived abroad or who currently do. Please share your perspective if you feel inclined.
I’d like to give Australia a try. Or somewhere in the British Isles, maybe Wales. TBH I’m not sure I’d miss the US. Our ugly side has been exposed, and I’d like to live someplace which doesn’t have gaping wounds which will apparently never be healed.
As I was about to type something in response, a giant barred owl ? landed on our deck just a few feet away. I turned to Mr. and said “I am not moving my butt anywhere else.” He nodded. We might have to eat PB&J for the rest of our lives to afford this place but dagnabbit we want owls to visit us once in a while.
I don’t think there’s any country that doesn’t have an ugly side. On the whole, I think our virtues still outweigh our vices, but I do understand what you mean about gaping wounds. I may be stupid to hope, but I think some of our more recent wounds will be attended to by the young who are rising in both idealism and socio-political awareness. I witnessed a lot of social and political change as a child growing up in the middle of the last century, largely because young people woke up and decided they had skin in the game, and that urgent change was necessary. I’ve been pretty discouraged watching our seeming endless tolerance of ever more frequent and extreme gun violence, but I am trying to convince myself not to despair. Just as young people in the sixties said enough war, enough racism, enough of women being treated as second class citizens, kids who are about to come of age will rise up in numbers substantial enough to take on the power elite and make them answerable. These kids will not be ignored. When the time comes, I just have to show my support and lend them my encouragement wherever possible. I’m done with mere hugs and prayer vigils, and soon, they’ll decide they are as well. Failing that, I’ll just die and get out the way, along with everyone else of my generation. There’s hope in that in and of itself. One way or another, the feckless always must move aside.
LasMa, have you ever traveled to any of the countries you mentioned? Australia ignites my imagination. What a fantastical country! Everything in the natural world there is supersized and extreme. That has to have shaped the people to some extent. They also seem a bit larger than life, and shaped by all the challenges a continent isolated at the bottom of the globe presented them over the centuries. I wonder how their cultural mindset differs from our own. I wonder if I’d fit in.
Of the places I’ve visited thus far, I could most likely see myself moving to Italy (particularly Tuscany - many great areas to choose from there) or Ireland for the combo of beauty and livability. IMO, they also provide this: " the generous-hearted attitude and open friendliness"
We are currently investigating Caribbean Islands. We love the water and water sports. We love the island vibe - friendly with a slow paced life, etc. They are closer to “other places” than Hawaii giving us the ability to still meander around when we wish, and some of them have buy in citizenship that is affordable.
What we’ve found so far is we want an English speaking mountain island with lower crime rate. We have more to check out, but soon we’ll at least be winter residents elsewhere. I love spring/fall on our farm, so we aren’t selling it right away. Summer is awesome in far northern NY or Canada, but my health issues no longer allow me to really enjoy a cold winter.
H wants to just live on a sailboat and meander. That’s still a thought, but he’s the one who loves sailing. I’m not sure my health issues will allow for it, but I love meandering. It’s another thing on our “to investigate” schedule.
Not sure I’ll miss anything “American,” but I enjoy our farm with its views, all sorts of critters (from fireflies on) etc. I also enjoy our friends/neighbors/church, etc, but I’ve found good people can be found anywhere.
We discuss this with our kids frequently. Hubby and I have travelled the world, including several African countries and Indonesia. With our kids, we’ve been to China, Thailand, Morocco, Canada, Mexico, Japan, and many European countries. Our experience with South America is lacking because neither of us has spent any meaningful time there.
So with all that, the only place I can see myself truly feeling happy and peaceful for the rest of my life is probably somewhere in close proximity to the Oregon coast, perhaps living on a river, or in England on a winding country lane, also perhaps living on a river. I think England will win, because we have a lot of family there.
What a complicated question! I love traveling, I love learning as much as I can about other cultures and experiencing them, but I really have no desire to reside anywhere other than the United States. (I can think of at least one prominent politician who I wish would go live someplace else, though.)
I do sometimes fantasize about living in Barcelona. I spent 10 months there as a teenager and adored it, and adored it again visiting with my family. It’s the place my wife says she would like to live. If we could afford it.
I could also seem myself living in Kyoto, if I could bring myself to learn Japanese.
On a more practical level, if I couldn’t live in the U.S., I am really comfortable in Canada. I spent lots of time in Ontario growing up, and we have relatives in Toronto and Montreal. I have only spent a few days in Vancouver, but it sure seemed livable, too.
I haven’t traveled much out of the country to be well enough educated about where I’d like to be…but after traveling France, I wouldn’t turn down any offered time to live in the South of France!
We do have a cottage in Canada and I have to say, I love the vibe of Canadian people.
@poetsheart I’ve never been to the countries I named so it would probably be wise to visit first. I have been to Victoria BC, and I’ll add that to my list. It reminds me a little of Seattle before it got discovered.
Another thumbs-up for retiring overseas. But “highly educated” is over-rated. I wouldn’t require the denizens of whatever place I lived in retirement to have any particular education or training. Also “un-educated” usually translates to them having numerous practical skills.
I lived for 3 years in Switzerland before I was married and would love to return for an extended period. As a young person it was a bit stifling and I was glad to leave, but as old age approaches I realize how accommodating the country is to the elderly. The rail/bus system makes cars unnecessary and the whole country is covered in a network of walking trails. The central location is also perfect for travel to other European countries. Switzerland also has a very liberal euthanasia policy, which is important to me having watched my mother languish with dementia during her final 3 years.
We’ve thought about this frequently. There are many tempting places: Mexico, France, Italy, Spain, Nepal. But I always go back to the thought that I don’t want to live so far away from my children. They have no interest in emigration. Plus, like @poetsheart, I do have faith in this country - still. And in its young people. So extended stays to really get to know the countries/area: absolutely yes. But a permanent move overseas? No.
Our kids like us scouting things out. They are seriously considering joining us if we find what we like, as long as it’s not the sailboat option. Their skills job-wise are useful anywhere, so if buy in citizenship is an option, different places could work well.
One might be able to tell we’ve been seriously researching this for a bit! We still have a couple years left to contemplate and explore.
I could live anywhere for a few years. I grew up in the foreign service and lived in Thailand (don’t remember it), Japan, Somalia and Tanzania (summers only). I took a gap year in lived with a French family in Tours, France. I spent five years in Munich, Germany. Last fall I spent two and half months in Hong Kong. (Loved it but it was frustrating as I speak no Chinese - and no from having tried to learn it many eons ago that I cannot hear or produce tones well at all.) Everyone speaks English, but you know you aren’t really part of the culture if you can’t speak the native tongue.
I would not want to live as an ex-pat, so Australia kind of appeals as it is also a nation of immigrants. I have the impression it also has all the same issues that plague us.
I think of all the places I’ve been on vacation the one that speaks to me the most is Scotland. I love the landscape. That said, I’m sure it’s not nearly as nice in January as it is in August! I wouldn’t mind going back to Germany or France, or Italy (I know a little Italian and it’s pretty easy to pick up if you know French.)
If younger son is in the Navy - he could be anywhere. We’ve lived in NY since 1989, and I am always surprised at how often I feel like a newcomer here!
I adored Ireland and in particular, the small town where my dad’s father’s side came from in Co Tipp. I loved New Zealand even more than Australia, as incredible as that was to me, though Adelaide and the countryside towards Kangaroo Island were also stunning. As part of S2’s sojourn in former Soviet republics, we went to Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Stockholm last summer (not on a cruise, except for the Tallinn-Stockholm ferry). I could seriously deal with Sweden and Latvia.
My dad was in the military and we lived in Germany for three years as I was growing up. That experience changed me forever, as we camped and museumed and Sunday-drove our way through a dozen countries and countless castles. Travel is just in my blood.
