If you had to move, where would you go?
 

Maybe because it is election time or maybe because I've been hearing the news, but I've begun to despair (again) about our country and any hope that it will turn out well in my lifetime.

I just don't see how any politician or president on any side could possibly create an economic climate in this country where people can survive, let alone prosper. The imbalances are so great, so beyond what even a Robin Hood-ish re-distribution of wealth could address, that I can only imagine our situation approaching the inflation Germany in 1939, or the menacing corpocracy/bureaucracy of Terry Gilliam's "Brazil."

But then I always end up with the same question:
Where would I go?

So, let's say for a moment that you HAD to leave and also for the moment that you wouldn't have any barriers to immigration, where would you go, and why?

New Zealand. Beautiful and varied landscape, isolated from many other countries so no border issues, and great people. Plus I've always wanted to travel the south Pacific island hopping.

I wouldn't go to any one place. I'd keep on travelling.

Australia.

For who would fardels bear, to grunt and sweat under a weary load...

I'm moving to foots house as soon as he moves

Well since you mention Terry Gilliam, Brazil is a lovely country... as long as you have enough money. Are we destitute as we arrive in this new country, or simply bearing American cash which is rapidly losing all value?

I think Bruce is right on both counts, but I need to nominate New Zealand as my back up.

I'd still be there as the source of most of my troubles regardless of government system. I'd like to find a hidy hole in the Adirondacks though. Canada is always my first consideration. They have a lot of the same problems we do but do decline to bomb other countries incessantly.

I considered Canada, but they have the French, sharia law, and my relatives.;)

Scotland - Outer Hebrides.

Or Iceland - even though their economy crashed, I respect a country that respects fairies and gnomes.

Me too re: Canada.

I'm not very exotic. I know a little French (I can order a beer in French, anyway.)

Or Switzerland.

If I had limitless cash in a reliable currency (pounds, US dollars, Aus dollars, euros), I'd go to Argentina (how hard was that to guess?) and take occasional trips to Chile. If having to work was still a consideration, then having lived in a number of places around the world, Australia would be my choice.

Hard question. You can't compare tourist experiences you have had in a country with what it would be like to actually make a life there. I've been to New Zealand, and it's very nice there, but I'm not cut out to be a sheep farmer, and I don't really want to work in the tourist industry. I don't like the public, and tourists are the worst.

Europe is expensive as hell, and there is no elbow room.

Maybe Canada? It's pretty similar to the US. Australia is pretty nice too.

Am I rich in this fantasy world? Or do I have to find a job?

Unfortunately I've never been outside of the country, so I can't really make a judgement. Out of places I can judge: I would move to Austin, TX (hopefully I will be for college) or Seattle, WA.

We're still keeping Oregon off limits for the Californians.
Come visit, spend your money, but then go home.

And I disagree with Ft3, the US is not going to hell in an hand basket.
It's the 24/7 news cycle where you just keep getting pounded with talking-heads
to fill their dead air time.
So the conservatives step in to tell you how everything is bad and getting worse.

So I'm staying where I am, and being very optimistic.

Canada, but I'd have to relocate it to the tropics.


Changed my mind. Jamaica. Ganja, warm, beaches.

Some clarifications:
No, this isn't a fantasy trip, you have to up and move with whatever cash you've saved, whatever skills you have and start a new life. The only fantastic part about it is that regardless of your age or skills any country will welcome you. In reality, most countries don't want you unless you can provide a much needed skill, or are young enough to be useful to your new country. Most countries aren't really open to 50 year old dishwashers immigrating.

And lamplighter, while I agree that listening to the news gives one a truly distorted view of what is really going on, I'm betting you are not looking for work right now and have a fairly reliable job or retirement provisions. The county I live in was recently chastised by Appalachia for being unfairly compared to it. As it happens, Appalachia's standard of living is much greater than Washington County's.

And that is one of the things Glatt point to. The tourist experience is not at all like living somewhere, particularly if you have to earn a living and negotiate their laws.

I would love to have my very own tropical island. One that is diverse in flora and fauna, and that is also deep enough for protection against hurricanes. A (not to high) mountain in the middle would be perfect. I would definitely bring my husband along so that he could hunt the fauna, while I harvest the flora.

No, you may not. The flora is off limits.

Well that cinches it...YOU are not invited.

Sure you have... Texas. :haha:

You must be my guest when you visit.

I don't watch the news, but I do see quite a few people with 'I'm homeless' signs.

I would like to live in Canada just because I like the people. It's too damn cold though.

Heh, sorry, my best child-hood friend has dibs. She has a bedroom just for me (as soon as she tosses out her MIL's stuff).

Heaven! :D Oh but wait, I'd have to die first, huh. :haha:

wow, way to be a total buzz kill. I guess that limits my options then to moving to a different county in northern WI, away from all the familiar freaks but surrounded by similar ones, where my physical condition would almost guarantee me 3rd shift janitorial work at the company of my choosing.

Other wise I'd take my savings, supplemented with a 2 month high risk high reward crime spree, and move to the place where they filmed the Shire, I'd buy all the hobbit houses, and live there, alone.

I'd probably get along anywhere in the British Isles. But I've actually been to Scotland, so I'd probably give that a shot. I found Edinburgh to be very pleasant. I've even driven a stick shift there. :eek: So I'm pretty good to go.

Back in 1994, I seriously considered staying in Argentina as a permanent move and got a fair way through the negotiation of the visa side of things while living on $400 US a month which was the wage I was earning. A couple of brushes with immigration (one at the border post in the middle of the Andes) and the tax department as well as the fact that my degree wouldn't be recognised made me decide that perhaps Oz wasn't so bad after all.

I'll be in Edinburgh tomorrow Pete, I'll take a picture for you.

Looking towards Leith with the Forth and Fife beyond.

Taken from Calton Hill, it's a nice place during the day, even nicer at night - particularly if you have a fondness for mugging and male prositutes (my chosen path back to my car had me to wading knee-deep through used condoms and packets of anal lube).

The photo also shows that, contrary to popular belief, that it doesn't always rain in Scotland. It's raining now though!

http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/a...n/IMAG0020.jpg

I've always loved Scotland. :) Nice photo Rhia

Why all the buggery? Is that very common?

I was living in Seattle when I visited Scotland. So I wouldn't have noticed a difference. As I recall, though, we had fairly nice weather -- and this was the first week of December.

Thanks for the pic.

Bahamas, if I had to bring my wife.

Alaska, if I was by myself.

Trouble in paradise, Merc?:D

Montana or Alaska. Or my own island, rest of the world is too crazy and full of foreigners.

If you had your own island, wouldn't everyone be a foreigner by definition?

"Why don't you guys come over Friday night and we'll throw something on the grill?

Oh, and here's the visa application you'll need. It's $50 for processing."

Southern Bohemia or Alaska

Toronto seems like a nice place.

It's funny. All my life I've been trying to get away from the city, believing that happiness = lots of room. Now I find myself really missing it. I miss the neighbors (I hear that some are actually nice though I haven't met many of these theoretical characters), being able to bike or walk to what you need, cultural events, diversity, and just, well, being around interesting people.

But it would have to be a really *great* city. I'm afraid that Dayton and Cincinnati don't really qualify.

I've heard that Cleveland rocks. :D

Rhianne, the buildings in the foreground seem to have a huge enclosed courtyard. Is that the backyard for the people that live in the buildings surrounding it, or is there a way for the public to access it, like a park?

naw, just a difference in our ideas of paradise. She likes it warm and naked. :D

It won't be a public area Bruce. From experience, they vary between tatty and well kept gardens and are usually subdivided between the properties. Despite their appearance only a small percentage of the properties are actually homes with most (certainly the part facing us) being 'executive offices' and the like.