WHERE in the world would you move If you could go anywhere ? (house, place to live)

[coconutblue]

I am ready to pull my hair out....need some help here....
I am SO tired of researching the internet and books for information on the ideal place to live, and need more 'real people' to fill in the gaps - people who have lived or spent a lot of time in some of these places I am considering.

I can live anywhere in the world (within reason - nothing extraordinarily expensive) and want tropical, sunny, warm weather year round, friendly down to earth people, not a lot of natural disasters).... I am currently a U.S. citizen wanting to move out of the country. I find Hawaii too expensive, and don't feel the locals are too accepting of haole's (I lived there a while back)...
I have kids, so this is obviously a bigger decision than if I was a single vagabond.
Have any of you lived in any of these places, and if so, what are your thoughts on these (add any info. on ease of immigration, lifestyle, culture, food, shopping, air/water quality, weather, natural disasters, friendliness of the locals) etc.

If you have any suggestions, please add them. Here are a few in no particular order:

Fiji
Philippines
Australia
New Zealand
Vanuatu
French Polynesia
New Caledonia
Solomon Islands
Micronesia
Cook Islands
Aruba
Netherland Antilles

Thanks so much for your help.

[azoria]

Well just for starters, those are all foreign countries. Appealing as they may be to your plan, they all have immigration laws which may derail some of your designs.

You would do well to first investigate carefully the immigration law of any place you intend to go.

Most of those remote Pacific islands don't have much in the way of an economy, and can be expensive as everything but coconuts has to be shipped in from very far away.

Maybe focus your attention on the Philippines, Australia, and New Zealand. They all have easily googled immigration websites in English.

[LivingInExiles]

lol, nice poll.

[Jaipur]

I selected other, I do not really enjoy tropical weather, so I can't really help you. If I had to live on a tropical island there are a few that come to mind first, but I'd never actually move to any of them. I really enjoy weather that does not get above 80 or below 20 and is close to a "swimable" place (4 hours or less).
I guess if I had the means to move right now I'd go to someplace like San Francisco, but come to think of it, it would be nice to leave the United States, but I don't know anywhere else comparable.

[Scotslass]

I would love to live in Spain. I love the laid back lifesytle, the culture, food, people, climate and the beautiful countryside and beaches.

However I would permanently live in the US. Just fell in love with the place.

[pigeonhole]

However I would permanently live in the US. Just fell in love with the place.

The same for me.
Or in the Americas in general (but not "el cono sur" of South America, too europeaniezd or CND-too cold).
There is just an general atmosphere in America (be it the US, Mexico, Central America, Brazil...)...it's just so different from Europe..more relaxed and at the same time more thrilling...it's difficult to describe...there is poverty of course, but rarely dirt poor like in Africa...so an European can relate more (same Christian background) and at the same time there is a cultural shock.
Next time I land on the American continent, I'll kiss the tarmac, I'll be so happy!

[summer grace]

The Bahamas or Bermuda! I have distant relatives in Bermuda( from a sibling of my great great grandmother- and they once sent brochures for Bermuda- it is expesive, really expensive, at least judging from those brochures, but it is paradise). If only my ancestors had been bright enough to head there rather than the midwest!

[Scotslass]

Originally Posted by pigeonhole

However I would permanently live in the US. Just fell in love with the place.

The same for me.
Or in the Americas in general (but not "el cono sur" of South America, too europeaniezd or CND-too cold).
There is just an general atmosphere in America (be it the US, Mexico, Central America, Brazil...)...it's just so different from Europe..more relaxed and at the same time more thrilling...it's difficult to describe...there is poverty of course, but rarely dirt poor like in Africa...so an European can relate more (same Christian background) and at the same time there is a cultural shock.
Next time I land on the American continent, I'll kiss the tarmac, I'll be so happy!

Where are you from? I love the thrill of visiting different countries and experiencing all those colourful cultures. Its in my blood. I got the taste of travel when I was 2. I love Europe, like I said Spain stole my heart but I love the openess of the USA like the Dakotas, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Washington etc. I would live there for sure.

I wouldn't compare the 2 (Europe and the US) with Europe having so many cultures and countries you just overload lol. I love both.

[FinnishAmerican]

Wel, if you COULD; so I supppose it means i have a lot of money.


I would pick australia because of the weather, huge house and stuff like that. The location of australia is so isolated that it might be nice.

[moose1234]

I would never leave America and anyone who does is a TRAITOR.