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I agree, and I usually point out to Americans that not having to worry about being sent into bankruptcy, by huge medical bills, goes a long way towards explaining our happiness.
A second point is the much lower crime rates in my country, as a whole. We are not afraid of our neighbours, and it shows.
I read about how Americans are buying homes in "Gated Communities ". In Canada, there are no such things. We also don't have "home owners associations", that can dictate about what colour your garage door can be painted. We do have ratepayers associations, but their sole reason for being is to represent a certain neighbourhood, at city council. They have no power over their members homes, or local building standards.
I read about how Americans are buying homes in "Gated Communities ". In Canada, there are no such things. We also don't have "home owners associations"
To be fair, I would venture to guess the vast majority of Americans don't live in gated communities or HSAs, either. To be sure, I don't have either within at least 100 miles in any direction...
It seems that drugs, gangs, and a plethora of evil people are out to ruin our country and they are winning. Until the attitude about crime changes, I guess this will continue. As for me, the rural thing is out. I'm sure I'd be very safe in the northern midwest, but its too cold for retirement there. The rural south is very questionable, so I guess I stick with the suburbs.
I agree, and I usually point out to Americans that not having to worry about being sent into bankruptcy, by huge medical bills, goes a long way towards explaining our happiness.
A second point is the much lower crime rates in my country, as a whole. We are not afraid of our neighbours, and it shows.
I read about how Americans are buying homes in "Gated Communities ". In Canada, there are no such things. We also don't have "home owners associations", that can dictate about what colour your garage door can be painted. We do have ratepayers associations, but their sole reason for being is to represent a certain neighbourhood, at city council. They have no power over their members homes, or local building standards.
Where you live in rural America makes a difference. I live in an Ag county where there is a greater chance your ammonia tank will be stolen, than a chance your house will be burglarized. 14,000 in 700 square miles is not a populated area so the pickin' is slim. It does not mean we do not have services, because we do. I just means it might be 10 miles.
You can't escape drugs and crime, or the dregs of society; it's life. As far I am concerned I never lived in any community that was pure as driven snow that did not have a bad seed element. The difference is the degree of anger. Sometimes its internal in families and gangs, and sometimes it is organized. Most of the stuff in my community is the former and not the latter.
14,000 in 700 square miles is not a populated area so the pickin' is slim. It does not mean we do not have services, because we do. I just means it might be 10 miles.
Just how far "far flung" actually is ... depends upon where you are in the county in relation to where you want to go. A township is 6 square miles. My seasonal farmers market is 15 miles, and my satellite bank is 23 miles, but if I want to go to a BIG town to do my banking and some shopping, or do a little gadding about (because I can), then it's a 120 miles round trip.
It seems that drugs, gangs, and a plethora of evil people are out to ruin our country and they are winning. Until the attitude about crime changes, I guess this will continue. As for me, the rural thing is out. I'm sure I'd be very safe in the northern midwest, but its too cold for retirement there. The rural south is very questionable, so I guess I stick with the suburbs.
I agree. Drugs are a big problem. Poor people don't steal because they are poor but because they are on drugs and need a fix. In SE KS, illegal drug is pretty much ignored and the welfare rate is high. You can watch the drug traffic start to move after the first of the month comes around, watch thefts rise after all our tax provided dollars have been spent on drugs. Yeah, it is reported but it is an industry the best I could tell. Stealing metal items is popular because they sell it easily and for a pretty good price. There are jobs but you can't get a job if you don't pass the drug test. Being in a rural area is more risky because it takes forever for the sheriff to arrive if they do or at least that was our experience. We have been really surprised across the US that police/sheriff just shrug about the crime and explain how it is to be expected. What can you do? They say all you can do is try to discourage them but if someone wants to take something, they will find a way.
Just how far "far flung" actually is ... depends upon where you are in the county in relation to where you want to go. A township is 6 square miles. My seasonal farmers market is 15 miles, and my satellite bank is 23 miles, but if I want to go to a BIG town to do my banking and some shopping, or do a little gadding about (because I can), then it's a 120 miles round trip.
My nearest shopping mall (in a town of 20,000 people) is 150 miles away... Our county is 1000 square miles and has 2500 people. Positively overcrowded compared to some of the places I've lived.
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