Do you ever just want to move out of the country?? (fit in, real estate)

[Tiger Beer]

Yeah, I did...and I moved to South Korea, Hungary, Brazil, Spain, Austria, and Japan.

The bulk of the years have been in Asia however.

[andreaspercheron]

Originally Posted by Mongohateswinter

You probably won't realize how good U have it here until U check out some other countries.....
Especially the ones where an American is a target....I see U ride horses... I used to ride them too, but I ride Harley's now cause horses are only ONE HORSEPOWER & U don't need a shovel.......Later

I totally agree with your points about the horses and that I do have it good here but, it's a need to just have a drastic change in life, get out to see some of the rest of the world and travel to some places I've only dreamt about. Would I move to another country? I think if the circumstances were right and it was a safe place for an American, sure, why not?

[Gerania]

Originally Posted by tijlover

But you DID reply quite well in your next paragraph. Living in one of the most spiritually bankrupt countries on this planet.

When I lived in Germany a number of years ago, our friendly neighbors were eager to show us their homes, pointing out that they cost the equivalent of a million dollars. The tour usually included a trip to the garage so that we could admire the sports car. At parties, all manner of goods were brought out for our inspection and approval.

Maybe it was the area in which we lived, perhaps because we were American. We lived in company owned housing and drove a very old car, so I doubt that was a motivation. None of these people felt embarrassed about their success or wealth. Why would they?

[Psyceed1]

I'm from Greece and i've been in a lot of countries around the world! I would like to visit and stay in Sweden to feel whats the winter there! I know that people in Sverige really enjoy the winter partying all night long!!

[AliveandWell]

Originally Posted by zaicheg

No. Been around the world, lived in 6 countries. US rules, hands down.

That is a really strong statement there! I feel that when it comes to convenience, the US is hard to beat. I have thought about living overseas on many ocassions but I think the US is so great and has been a wonderful place for me that it would be hard to move out of it. Sometimes it takes leaving even for a short time to realize how good the US is. Is it perfect? Of course not. I am now vacationing in China and miss the US in some ways already!

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by AliveandWell

I feel that when it comes to convenience, the US is hard to beat.

Actually that is my #1 complaint about the U.S. I find it one of the most inconvenient cities in the world to do things. Too car dependent, and without a car, you are just screwed. Because of the car dependence, most cities are deserted with nothing going on. Way too lifeless, and way too inconvenient for nearly everything. Zoned to death as well, you must work way over there, live away from everything, and shop over in another zoned business district.

[arctichomesteader]

Originally Posted by j_k_k

Indeed. Too bad it also comes with some of the lowest literacy rates, worst primary education, highest incidence of violent crime, most violent and dangerous schools, most expensive and wasteful healthcare, and unrestrained corporate kleptocracy in the fully developed world. By most general measures of living standards, except for the ability to indulge in the most conspicuous consumption and waste possible, my country gets paddled by its peers.

Europe, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Japan have us whipped in so many ways. However, it's possible for those with enough wealth to insulate themselves from most of that, as you are able to do. Canada has no Comptons. Sweden has no Miamis.

Plus, it is a society that knows only one barometer for human quality: how much money you have. Those who have the most are obviously the best, and those with the least are clearly the lowest. Even those with the least tend to embrace this concept in droves--gods know why, but they do. So you're one of the better people, and it makes sense that you enjoy that to the fullest. It certainly enables you to stay out of the Bronx.

You are vastly over-generalizing. The whole U.S. isn't like NJ or CA or FL. The literacy rate is quite good, schools reasonably decent, crime quite low, where I am (Northern New England, in Vermont, but NH and ME are similar). And no, wealth isn't as emphasized here as in, say, NYC, MA, CA, etc. Mainly because most don't have lots of money, mcmansions, etc. here. A very rural area. The U.S. has more to offer than wealth...vast, undeveloped wilderness lands to enjoy in several different climates, and a high level of freedom...can't get what I have in Alaska (remote land surrounded by millions of acres of wilderness, no taxes, no permits needed for anything...) anywhere in Europe, not even in northern Scandinavia (probably about the only area in Western Europe I'd go to if I were forced to live there). You sound to me like you want a nanny state...may I suggest the U.K.? BTW, they have a higher violent crime rate than the U.S...

[arctichomesteader]

Originally Posted by andreaspercheron

Hello All... I've long been fantasizing about just selling everything, packing a couple of bags and moving to Costa Rica. I'm planning a trip for a week or two at the end of this year and can't wait. I just feel like I'm destined for something like this - a big move.

Do any of you ever feel the same? Have any of you ever just sold everything and moved to another country?

If you did, was it a good move, are you glad you did it?

Any adventurous sorts out there who feel the same as I do??

I must confess I'm not one who likes travelling much, I hate travelling, despite enjoying some of the places a person can go...

I'm not tempted to leave the U.S. unless it becomes absolutely necessary. I'd rather an area breaks off the U.S. if it comes to that, than leave.

Be careful if you do this. The grass is often greener on the other side of the fence...until you live there.

[silviodante2]

To j_k_k and others claiming the America is towards the bottom of the "first-world." I realize that your opinions seem intuitively correct given over a decade of barraging from the likes of Michael Moore and other media sensationalists, and while we have our problems, two major facts remain:

(1) The US is nowhere near the bottom of the first-world and continues to lead in a whole host of quality-of-life indicators, surpassed only by countries like Iceland, Denmark, and Norway with very small and very homogenous populations-- and amazing accomplishment for a nation of 307 million people from all over the globe.

(2) Unlike a small, compact country like Denmark, the US is way too large to pigeonhole as being towards the high/low end of the first-world. If you live in a slum city on the Texas-Mexico border? Okay. If you're living in suburban Connecticut? Definitely at the top by any indicator.

To shatter some of your preconceptions:

Crime

Many European countries have far higher violent crime rates than the US. Yes we have a higher death-by-firearm rate-- but there are other ways to be victimized. And, most of our violent crimes occur in very isolated areas that the general public hardly ever ventures in to. For myself, and most of the people I know, having lived around large cities here almost all my life, I have yet to be the victim or even witness of a violent crime.

The most violent country in Europe: Britain is also worse than South Africa and U.S. | Mail Online

As this article shows, the US isn't even in the Top 10 of industrialized countries for violent crime rates. At 466 per 100,000 (cited below the graph in the article) we have a rate far, far lower than the UK, more than half that of Sweden, Belgium, and even beloved Canada!

Or check out this article from May 2009 in the Economist about how Vancouver, British Columbia has seen a dramatic increase in gang-violence and organized crime (Drug gangs in Canada: British Columbia or Colombia? | The Economist)

Quality of Life

There are many indicators of quality of life, but by far the most comprehensive and widely accepted is the United Nation's Human Development Index. (Human Development Index - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

In the current year, the US has slipped to 15th place, but as recently as 5 years ago it was 6th. And if you'll notice, the difference between the US (.950) and Iceland, the top ranking country (.968) is pretty miniscule compared to the drop-off once you get past Germany (.940). Even as this list currently stands, the only "major" countries (i.e. more people than Ohio) ranking higher than the US are Canada, Australia, Japan, and France. Italy, New Zealand, the UK, Germany, all rank below us. Nonetheless, the group between Iceland and Germany is so close that one can conclude life in these 23 "developed" countries probably differs more based on the individual than what country you live in.

I could go on and on, and maybe you haven't travelled much, but I have yet to see a country that truly makes me say "wow, this makes the US look so subpar." A lot of them are pretty mediocre. While some of the downs in the US may be lower than in those the less populated, homogenous countries, the highs are also much higher. It's like choosing between living in Vermont or California. Sure Vermont has the better stats-- its safe and clean as a whistle. But if you want any kind of variety or excitement or opportunity in your life, I'd hardly say Vermont is the place to be. Which is why I will stick with America and not, say, Denmark. And if I want a place with virtually no crime, all white people, and a socialist government-- well, heck, then I don't even need to leave the US-- I can just go to Vermont.

[Visvaldis]

Originally Posted by Fleet

I don't know how to reply to someone who hasn't posted one fact!

I guess I'm doing quite well considering I live at the "lowest tier of the First World." Three cars, a 2618 sq. ft. house I own, a very good area of town, many choices for shopping and entertainment, etc.

For those who move their money around in wheel barrows America is a great place. One can afford all security contraptions, receive healthcare, be able to walk the streets after dark, etc.
I wouldn't want to retire in America, be wholly dependent only on retirement pay, and then develop a health problem, or need medication.
Materialism is fine, but I think living (quality of life) is much more than possessions.
BTW: Originally from Chicago, I spent 18 years in Germany, not connected to US military.