If yes, where would you move to?
If no, why not?
I ask this as someone who has moved around a lot (5 states) for better working opportunities. I often hear people say they wish they could leave their current city/state/country, but money is often (understandably) an issue.
Absolutely. Ideally one of the Nordic model countries, but the issue there is more than just money, it’s linguistic and bureaucratic as well.
I think I have both your problems solved. If money isn’t an issue the bureaucracy is a nuisance but not inhibiting as you can pay someone to file all the appropriate paperwork. The language barrier is even easier. I have been to Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland and did not meet a single person that didn’t fluently speak English. Not saying they don’t exist, but operating in most any western European country is very easy as an English speaker. Also you’ll pick up the language over time. Immersion is the best way to learn a language, or so I hear.
Hey, sounds perfect to me! Now if only I could make that “money isn’t an issue” thing a reality, I’d really be set!
If literally everyone speaks fluent English (which is true), then you will not “pick up the language over time” by immersion. There are a ton of Anglo expats in Scandinavia and the Netherlands who do not speak the local language, for just this reason.
But, for a country like Norway, I personally would like to continue to work as a Paramedic. That language barrier is a big deal. I’d need to pass a language test and then 3 medical exams in Norwegian.
Unless this post implies that I’d be so wealthy I don’t have to work after I relocate.
Same! And honestly, its looking like I should really put in some time to figure out what would need to happen for me to do so in a hurry. This country is…
Well, people need to vote. We should have a go fund me specifically for people who would to vote if not for their job/childcare etc. I know most people aren’t awful, but they don’t get out and vote and so I’m forced to worry about having to leave in a hurry.
Hah good username.
Thanks gancho!
I did this.
I used to live in Seattle. It’s a pretty progressive city but the police are very bad there. Outside the pocket of liberals and progressives, once you start driving east or even west across the sound, things then to be more… Homogenous… and even a bit racist. Plus the gun culture/violence is just too much for my family.
We moved to Taiwan during the height of the pandemic and during chap or whatever thing that the Seattle police was doing to the local people. We had enough and put everything in storage and left .
Living in Taiwan feels like how America used to be. Being a very young democracy, people here are hyper focused on freedoms. The government here is super focused on social programs that help people.
Things like, expecting mothers and families with kids under 6 have special parking in all malls and public parking. Breast feeding rooms everywhere. You get financial support for having kids, not just a tax break. Just a straight direct deposit into your account.
Universal health care. The medicine is highly subsidized(usually free)Ambulance rides are free. Shoot once you get to a certain age, the government helps pay for your stay at home nurse.
Things like this reminds me of the American 40-50s. When freedoms matter and people matter.
Obviously there are some drawbacks living here, but it’s overall positive.
Was it difficult to emigrate from the US to Taiwan? Are there stringent requirements?
Honestly it was quite easy. I came from the USA so YMMV. You basically need to get a Gold Card which is a green card from the United states. As long as you’re making an income that is a certain level, you get it. I want to say it’s 65k.
Or you can come here and work in the in demand industries like renewable energy. Those you don’t even need to be making that much and you instantly get it. My friend works for a wind farm and got his gold card within a year. Even his wife, who doesn’t even work, got the gold card.
I think after about 6 months, you get all the benefits I described.
College and schooling is very inexpensive. I know student visas are quite simple too. I have a friend from Jamaica that got his doctorate here and married a Taiwanese wife. He said he had zero chance to get this far ahead in Jamaica.
Probably Iceland. Try to get some land, plant some trees and start a forestry business or a small farm. Ideally close enough to existing geothermal networks that I could still take advantage of the dirt cheap hot water. Enjoy the rain and fog and natural beauty of the place. Would be lovely.
I’d probably pick Iceland too. But I wouldn’t do forestry because trees take too long to grow.
Instead I’d sit in a hottub all day, looking at the fjords and doing absolutely fuck all.
Nah, California is pretty great. I’d say it would be the place I’d move to if money weren’t an issue. As long as you can afford it, CA is an amazing place to live with widely varied culture, fantastic weather, and an incredible number of things to explore and experience.
You can find every biome across the state, and you can literally go surfing in the morning, drive up the Pacific Coast Highway and through beautiful, lush valleys, in perfect 72 and sunny weather, on your way to snowboard in the mountains for the afternoon, into a nice chilly overnight at the lodge, and back down the coast the next day, because the weather is perfect again.
That’s just one of the countless things to do in California. You’ll also get clean air, a comprehensive interstate highway system, better public services, a near infinite variety of food, and generally better quality of life than many other places.
CA isn’t perfect, but I can’t think of anywhere else that could ever match it for me.
I’ve gone wakeboarding in Morgan Hill and snowboarding in Tahoe on the same weekend. :-)
I lived in San Francisco for a few years and I do occasionally miss it. Granted, SF is a major city and not completely representative of the entire state, but I miss the food (the freshest fruit you ever had, even if you bought it at the corner store).
Well, Massachusetts has enough options to be similar. Awesome beaches. Then technically you could zoom a couple hours into NH or ME for skiing.
Bonus, zero strong earthquakes and very rare severe forest fires.
My home state. I never feel more comfortable than when I am back in Northern California. Last time I was there I came down through Donner and I started to smell the sage through the car’s vents, which lifted a burden from my existence. It may have been the fact that I had been driving for 15 hours and deep into sleep deprivation, but I felt a euphoric peace coming home. I love California.
That being said, I could never live there again because of economic and political considerations. It hurts me not being able to live where my home is, like missing a piece of myself. I miss looking in the distance and seeing topography. I desire the cool mornings and warm evenings. I ache for the smell of the ocean blowing up the valley when the wind turned just right.
Sometimes I walk into a house that is done in the California bungalow style, see a radio tower disguised as a tree, or meet a fellow Cali refugee and we trade stories of what we miss so dearly and the longing to be back home burns so deeply that it hurts.
I can’t live where my heart is and I am incomplete in my existence because of it. Colorado and Utah were so close to scratching that itch, but I know that no place on this Earth will be close enough for me to feel as complete as I do when I am home west of the Sierras.
Yes. I live in Texas, and the heat makes me sick. I’m literally planning on being too sick to work or anything three days next week because its going to be unseasonably warm, and the central AC hasn’t been kicked on yet.
Also, whatever the fuck is wrong with our state government. We made abortion illegal BEFORE Roe was overturned.
In a heartbeat. I’d take almost anywhere in Europe with a proper democracy than the corrupt and authoritarian hole I’m in right.
I’d move to a country without a US military base.
You trying to get drone striked??
I’m trying to escape association with a nation that seems to be actively looking for enemies.
I wouldn’t move to a different state.
I would move to a different area in the state.
In general, I like where I live. However, when I moved here about 5 years ago, it was a peaceful quiet area. my back yard was a couple acres of minimally touched nature (little cluster of trees, massive green field of mice, spiders, gophers, grasshoppers, and the occasional deer).
I loved it. Then the city decided to turn half of that field into a community center whose entire side facing my house was glass, leaving me to feel like a zoo exhibit.
That wasn’t good enough though.
The city claimed the remainder of the field, bulldozed and chemically treated it, and put in annex parking for the community center right up against my fence. Mind you, my backyard is TINY. Maybe 40x20 ft. Slightly more than you would expect from an apartment. They literally paved paradise and put up a parking lot.
In between the annex parking and the community center, they put in a playground. Now my once peaceful, zen, soul charging slice of heaven is constant mobs of screeching children and idling cars during the day and rotating groups of 16-23 year olds drinking, doing drugs, selling drugs, and all around loudly and aggressively delinquenting by night.
If I could, I would just like to live somewhere quiet and private again.
Why does it seem like the US is highly allergic to underground or multi story parking?
Is it that exotic?It’s expensive.
And maintenance.
Portland is full of parking structures. And they are crumbling.
It’s low key terrifying to park in them.
Don’t see this issue happening in Germany? Maybe some parts of the US should use the materials used for parking garages what they use for skyscrapers instead of cardboard /s.
I would move from solid to gaseous state if given the choice.
Instantaneously?
Definitely. I’ve been farting up a storm for years now and have made very little progress.
I dream of being in New Zealand or a Nordic country, but I’m a broke American loser who’s too poor to even go visit those countries, and so they don’t even want me there in the first place. I will keep dreaming, and die with my dreams unfulfilled. Maybe next life.
@shadowSprite surreal to see this comment.
New Zealand is on one of its periodic kill the poor phases at the moment, the government has made massive cuts to welfare and intends to give retrospective tax cuts to landlords.
It’s also scrapped all its environmental protections.
That’s why I’d only go there if money wasn’t an issue :) otherwise I’d rather be in a Nordic country. It’s a shame to see countries look at the US and think we’re something to emulate.
@shadowSprite in NZ’s case we’re emulating ourselves circa 1986.
Idk I’d rather be somewhere where they treat people well even if it doesn’t affect me personally.
New Zealand is very weird for an American. Its miles away from everything and the cities are tiny, of which there aren’t many.
The culture seems to be quite grating for Americans. It’s hard to get a lot of things and stores and such close early, doesnt fit well with American consumerism.
People are nice but not terribly friendly or social even in small towns. A lot of people do quiet activities like solo hiking.
I’ve reconnected with extended family in Norway. I’m in the U.S.
Norway is difficult to immigrate.
I looked into it. I personally would like to continue working as a Paramedic and I’ve actually been on a Norway ambulance for a ride along.
In order for me to work I would be required to do all of these things:
-
Pass a language test
-
Pass 3 separate medical exams that are all in the Norwegian language.
Unfortunately, I’m not motivated enough for all of that.
Luckily, I’m in one of the best states in the U.S. and see zero reason to relocate for the remainder of my time on Earth. Which, climate change may make it just a few more years. Or, even possibly WW3.
What state? Asking for a friend who lives in Florida.
Massachusetts consistently ranks very high. Unfortunately, it’s very expensive.
There are pockets of areas that might have low enough cost to buy, but, significant distance from Boston.
-
I’d love to get out of this city. It’s a car addicted hellscape with a lot of personal baggage in it. A fresh start would do me so much good. I dream of living somewhere not so fucking car brained.
But if it’s just enough money to move, then no. I moved states when I was younger and I can’t live again knowing if anything goes wrong I might be homeless with no local support network. At least here I have some family. If I was rich, sure, but not if I have to work to keep a roof over my head.
If money was not an issue, I’d buy an island & live on it.
Dream is Colorado or Illinois. Despite the insane teacher shortage and my ample qualifications, Oklahoma doesn’t think queer people deserve to exist.
Unless you have multiple incomes or a high-paying job, Colorado is getting super expensive
Oh I know. Teaching pays nothing so I’m pretty fucked. Basically just waiting for them to mandate detransition, than I’ll probably just kill myself.
Come to Kansas. We’re slightly better.
Where I live in germany there is a saying: “Anderswo is auch scheiße”. Literally translates to “Other places are also shit”. So I’m currently not considering moving into another country. Though I often ask myself, what I would do if germany goes the nazi route again. The AfD is real scum.
The grass is always greener on the other side…
