Given the Opportunity, Would You Move to Europe?

[Mr. Ected]

I had that opportunity in 1998 and moved my young family to Germany. Later, we moved to Holland, and ended up living 8 years overseas, living in small communities with the natives, paying local taxes, subscribing to national health insurance, working for local companies.

For some odd reason, we decided to return to the States in late 2005.

I miss Europe. Sometimes I wish we'd never come back to America.

So I ask you, fellow DU'ers - given the proper opportunity - would you expatriate?

[glowing]

1. yes, if given the opportunity, without hesitation, I would leave and live in Europe.

[uppityperson]

2. Yes, it would be very fun to live in Europe for a while.

Not sure what I'd do for work, to support myself. But if that were not an issue, I would love to do the bi-cultural thing.

[supernova]

3. Yes, I would

I'm single and no kids and no elderly parents to care for.

I would love to live in Europe. I'd be quite happy there. French and German are a little rusty, but I could refresh quickly.

Clean, safe affordable mass transit, universal healthcare, decent time off from work. Great places to vacation.

*sigh*

Anybody need a technical writer over there? Please? Pretty Please? :-)

[DebbieCDC]

4. Me too

If I had the $$/job to live comfortably me and my dogs would be gone in a NY minute

[azmouse]

5. No. I'm happy where I am.

[ogneopasno]

6. If "opportunity" means a job contract for X amount of time and housing, I would strongly

consider it. I lived and worked by myself in Russia back when I was single; now that I have a family my kids are at the age where I wouldn't necessarily want to move them. It depends on the work and the country. Also, Mr. Ogneopasno's job can't move. So maybe not, at this point.

[onehandle]

7. My wife and I spent over a month in Europe last year.

Did not want to come back. Considering that her boss lives near Paris, and that she can live anywhere as long as she's near an airport, it is under consideration.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

8. Heartbeat.

[napi21]

9. Yes, without hesitation. n/t

[Kaleva]

10. Just for short stays.

[ContinentalOp]

11. Yes, absolutely!

If it weren't for family obligations, etc. I would do it in a heartbeat. I wish I had done it when I was in my 20s.

[Bigmack]

12. We tried to emigrate to Canada...

but we were gently and politely told we were too old and would just eat up the health care system.

I tried to explain that both sets of grandparents sneaked into the US via Canada, so that should give me priority, but they still said no.

Canada has its crazies, but they don't compare with the whackjobs in this country.

If I lived in Canada, I could watch those Canadian Navy 75 footers sail by my house instead of the multibillion dollar boomer subs that go by my house now.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

108. How very interesting.

[walkaway]

13. Yes, if I can bring the dogs and they don't have to be quarentined.

I could pack in a day.

[Solly Mack]

14. I'd have to say yes

hehe

[Fire1]

15. Absolutely!!!

[babylonsister]

16. In a heartbeat, if I could. At least for a few years anyway, to do

some serious exploring.

[Fire1]

45. babylon, I have a feeling the U.S. would never see you again! LOL!

[Blue_Tires]

17. yeah, i could use a change of scenery

[KamaAina]

18. Where in Europe?

Most places, yes/oui/ja/si.

Moldova? Not so much.

[Mr. Ected]

21. In A Hypothetical World, YOU Get to Choose the Country!

We will exclude Moldova from the realm of possibility.

[DemBones DemBones]

122. I know people who enjoyed living in Moldova.

American people, that is, as I expect the Moldovans generally enjoy living there.

[hobbit709]

19. In a heartbeat

[dmallind]

20. I HAVE that opportunity and do not

At least that is if you consider the UK Europe, which most people outside the UK do ;) (and yes I know legally I can live in any EU country just as easily as that of my birth).

Having been born there I can walk back in at any time. I almost did so a few years back for a specific job opportunity.

I am unlikely to do so though. Sure there are advantages, but there are disadvantages too. The safety nets are far less generous than many believe, poverty is just as daunting and just as likely a prospect as it is here. Health care is a sure plus, but not a differentiating factor for those of us here who do have reasonable insurance. The cost of living however is far far higher. My dad's 982 sq ft house with no central heat or air costs more than my 2800 sq ft with all the usual amenities, and is far from swanky or in a hot area. Public transport is much diminished from its heyday of decades ago, and is limited if you live off the beaten track or have odd hours. Gas is far more expensive and nowhere near balanced by more economical cars. Jobs are about as hard to find it seems as they are here, and pay scales for jobs like mine run about 30% lower even with the higher cost of living. Subjective concepts like community and liveability or more collective sociology are rarely apparent when you live there for any length of time. People may initially seem open, but there is much parochialism and limited outlook to be found (and this is not limited to the UK - spent a fair amount of time in Germany and France too).

That's not to say I hate Europe or would never live there. Nowhere is perfect, and there are advantages and disadvantages to any place. I lack the experience to comment on the Scandinavian nations which look very appealing on a statistical level, but I am sure there are bugbears to living there too. On the whole I'm better off here than any place I could realistically find work in Europe.

[KatyMan]

37. Agreed.

we've lived 6 of the last 9 years in the UK and in Ireland, and it's pretty expensive over there. We had an 800 sq ft flat 30 miles outside of London that cost us the equivalent of $400,000. It was a new build, had central heat, no a/c.
Public transport there is better than where we currently live, but eventually a daily commute of an hour and a half each way grinds you down no matter where you live. And the unreliabilty of the trains is a big factor.
Now that we're back in the States, we're back to stay. I'm more than willing to visit Europe, and would love to go as a tourist. If you live there, after the first few months, you tend to not visit places you would if you were a tourist. Hell, in one of my jobs I used to walk from Victoria station over to near St James Park, and passed Buckingham Palace every day and never gave it a second glance, and HATED it when it was tourist season and the changing of the guard thing went on and it would take me half an hour to get across the front of the Palace because of the crowds :)
I would certainly recommend it to anyone, though, because it seriously broadens your horizons. Even the little things about how people live, what they sell at grocery stores, where to get a bottle of aspirin at 9 o'clock at night, car tax, pub life, work life, sports, etc are all fascinating. For a while at least!
It was great to travel, but it's good to be home.

[LiberalFighter]

22. What would be the cost of living compared to the US? Taxes?

[nichomachus]

34. Taxes higher -- cost of living lower

[KatyMan]

46. Depends on where, I would think

In the Lodnon area (basically all of southeast England), taxes about the same maybe a bit hgiher, cost of living MUCH higher.

[anigbrowl]

91. Very much so. Any major metro area is very expensive

plus the sales tax across Europe averages about 20%. The US still seems surprisingly cheap to me in a lot of ways, and I live in one of the most expensive US cities.

now, there are a lot of places in Europe where the cost of living is a lot cheaper...but absent special skills, the chances of finding a job there are relatively low.

[LooseWilly]

110. Depends on where you're living in the US, methinks

Compared to the SF Bay Area (and New York, I would guess, and probably a number of other Metropolitan areas) the cost of living might be higher in London.. but I think the caps would have to be rescinded... especially in light of the recent price increases hereabouts that went hand in hand with the gas price spike last year... prices which, of course, have never dropped despite gas price drops...

[dmallind]

139. Not at all

Cost of many if not most regularly purchased consumables are higher - and that's not just in London or Paris. Housing is almost always higher than US unless you are comparing it to SF and NYC with some rural outpost on the other side.

[fuggbush21]

185. That's why the US Military gives it's troops in Europe COLA

or Cost of Living Allowance. It's a monthly stipend paid to US Military members stationed in Europe to help offset the higher cost of living that they have to deal with while being there.

[closeupready]

23. I lived in Paris a while back.

I loved it, but at the time, the US was where things were happening - this was during Clinton's first term, and I moved back. I still think I'm better off here in the US, but like you, I sure do miss living in Europe, the food, the joie de vivre. I could definitely do it, but circumstances would have to be right.

[Fire1]

43. OH!! THE FOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!! They can make a

simple salad taste MAGNIFICENT!! I didn't want to leave.

[closeupready]

74. Oh, yeah. Food is just far higher quality, all around.

Agricultural practices are healthier, resulting in tastier foodstuffs. Could live on French food with no pain ever. :D

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

59. I would rather stay here and put inplace the things I envy them for:

Great mass transit

Universal single payer healthcare

Free or subsidized higher education

Free or subsidized child care

Retirement with dignity

[T Wolf]

24. Absolutely. They are just so much more advanced and "civilized" than America.

If only I had some skill at foreign languages.

By the way - my choice would be Belgium. I've spent about six weeks there over the last ten years visiting friends and there is NOTHING I do not like about that country.

[TahitiNut]

25. Yup. I'd love to live in the South of France ... but not the Jura.

:party:

[Vidar]

26. Absolutely. Studied there thirty years ago & tried to return. Never managed it.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

27. Easily, if I could find a way to get a residence visa as a free-lancer

I even looked into ancestry visas, but in both cases (Norway and Germany) I'm one generation too far down the line to qualify. Norway requires you to have a parent born in Norway (I have two grandparents born in Norway, so no go). Germany allows you to qualify on the basis of grandparents, but unfortunately, my maternal grandmother was born two weeks after her parents arrived in America. (If only they had waited to emigrate--and I'm sure my great-grandmother, who had to cross the Atlantic in 1899 in the late stages of pregnancy would have preferred to wait, too.)

I'm good with languages, I've lived overseas before, and I feel increasingly out of touch with American culture.

[nichomachus]

35. I know Spain will give visas to "self-employed" people

[Lydia Leftcoast]

40. But I've never been there and have no connections

I'd have to visit first.

[LooseWilly]

111. Hehe... unfortunately I think I still owe on a hospital bill in Barcelona..

I don't know if they're like Canada, the most self-righteous country in the world... and it's only a matter of something like 5k pesetas (ok, it's an old bill I ran out on)... but what do you know of their policy with hospital bill dead beats?

[nichomachus]

159. I'd answer your question if

I could figure out the reason for the gratuitous slam on Canada.

[uppityperson]

72. Germany allows you to qualify on the basis of grandparents?

that is an idea for me then. It would be fun to live there for a bit, but would like to travel around the continent a bunch. Thanks.

[nichomachus]

158. I think Germany changed its immigration laws a few years back

They are much more stringent.

[Blue_In_AK]

28. No, I'm happy where I am.

[azmouse]

36. Looks like we're the only ones not interested.

I think it's a case of the 'grass is greener' for many.

I moved enough in my life to know that things are the same everywhere.

[Blue_In_AK]

77. I agree

and since I live in heaven already (assuming you exclude our politicians), there's no need to look any further.

[Broken_Hero]

106. Ditto....:) nt

[sinkingfeeling]

29. Yes, if the dollar and Euro are somewhat the same. I want to retire there.

[kctim]

30. Not no but hell no

Spent 8 years of my life over there and that was 7 1/2 years too many.

[travelingtypist]

31. Yep, probably will.

I'm single, no kids, 44. I lived in Germany for five years when I was 18 to 23 in the Army. Loved it.

I'd have to figure out what to do with my cat. I don't think he'd travel well. Also I'm responsible for taking care of my 65-year-old mom now. She's mostly healthy, but I have to stay here (Oregon) to take care of the things she can't do. I can't go anywhere until I don't have that responsiblity anymre, a thought I don't even want to think right now.

[Fleshdancer]

32. Yes

I lived in Asia for a few years. It would be nice to try Europe for a while.

[nichomachus]

33. In a fucking heartbeat.

I have a friend who has been living in Europe for the last year. He just came back to the US to visit his family and can't believe how wacky this country has become in just a year.

Europe isn't perfect -- nowhere is -- but the percentage of undereducated crazies is a lot lot lower.

[Enrique]

38. i've heard it's too old and cold and settled in its ways there

ah but California...

[Hannah Bell]

80. Factoid: "Carey" is now a Wall Streeter.

[LooseWilly]

112. Southern Europe isn't particularly cold.

In fact... Southern Europe has a "Mediterranean Climate". The same term that's used for California's climate. And... I can assure you, Europe's cities are at least as interesting as San Francisco... and, unless you're looking for work as an actor/actress/director... at least as interesting as LA... and the "downtown"s are far more interesting to look at than LA (SF has it's points in its favor), and sure... the strip malls in the suburbs are more or less comparable.
Some might also want to consider this: the neighborhoods a European might consider dangerous... tend to be (dangerous wise) comparable to a middle class neighborhood in California.
(I had a Dutch woman once warn me about how dangerous the blue light zone in Amsterdam could be... the zone where the transgendered hookers paraded in the windows... and then I wandered there... and found that the neighborhood didn't even begin to compare with San Francisco's tenderloin district... let alone East or West Oakland... or San Francisco's Mission district... in fact... the "dangerous" neighborhood in Amsterdam's blue light district felt like most relatively safe suburbs of San Francisco... like Hayward or Albany.)
California is far more strict and stubborn in its anti-tobacco enforcement though... so if you hate tobacco... this is the place for you.

[jtrockville]

39. YES. Primarily for "developed nation" style health care.

[medeak]

41. looking for apartment in Italy at this moment

how ironic your post is... just returned from Italy and thinking of returning for much longer stay. Europe knows how to live.

[Fire1]

54. I'M JEALOUS!!!!! TAKE ME WITH YOU!!!!

[medeak]

70. only 1000 euros a month

in siena...and looking at Venice for 1000 a week. Sure...coma alonga!

[LooseWilly]

113. really? only 1k euros a month in Siena?

Hmm... I'll really have to look into figuring out some way to get employment there... I'd love to live in Italy.
1000/week, not so much... though Venice is incredible. Is that for the "Centro" ( I can't help but use the Mexican term for downtown... not sure if it's applicable)

[ComtesseDeSpair]

42. Of course.

It's the ultimate dream.

[Lorien]

44. Yes. nt

[damntexdem]

47. Maybe in Spain. I speak Spanish.

I wouldn't like to live somewhere that I didn't speak the language -- like England. ;-)

[Mr. Ected]

53. That Ended Up Being the Greatest Impediment

Not that learning the languages was difficult or discomfiting.

But it was murderous when we had to have a parent-teacher conference with our young son's teacher and we could only cull about 50% of what was being said.

Any legal or financial transactions ended up being a leap of faith.

But on the plus side...the quality of life was much, much higher than what I experience in north Georgia. Yes, my earning power is much greater in America, but you can't buy inner peace.

[Odin2005]

61. LOL, 2 countries seperated by a common language, for sure!!!

I have a friend who took a semester at Oxford and he said the differences in vocabulary, accent, and even the GRAMMAR of the spoken language, made the Brits hard to understand.

[LooseWilly]

114. Heh... know anyone who did some years at St. Andrews?

Try deciphering a truly Scottish accent.

A friend did that, and I've come across Scots myself as well... wow... hard to believe they can get away with calling it the same language.

[Odin2005]

142. In fact some consider traditional Scots-English dialects to be a seperate language from English

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scots_language

[Mr. Ected]

152. When We Lived in Holland, My Wife and I Would Try To Guess Which Language Was Being Spoken

We once sat in...of all things...a Mexican restaurant in Delft. We could overhear Dutch conversations, obviously, and German and French ones, and Turkish, and Greek, and so on. But there was one table where the language was completely indistinct to us. Eventually, we stopped by their table and asked, in Dutch, where they were from.

"Scotland".

We were hearing "English", but couldn't identify it!

[Hepburn]

48. Yes....

...to Romania. My grandparents were born there and my mother was raised there. I speak enough of the language to get by immediately.

[Cid_B]

49. Currently living here and I cant wait to get back to the US

Just a few more years...

I like it here but I am ready for home. Hard to describe but lots of things here are just.. well.. dumb.

Before everyone gets all huffy there is a lot of good stuff here too but there is no place like home.

[bvar22]

50. If I were independently wealthy, and...

....could afford a nice established vineyard & villa in the South of France then we might consider going.

..but the reality based answer is "Probably not".

My wife and I are pretty happy where we are now.
We sold everything, quit our jobs, and moved to very rural Arkansas (Ouachita Mountains) in 2006. We keep honey bees, chickens, and have a large organic garden, lots of berries and fruit trees. We are surrounded by National Forest, plenty of wild game, unspoiled environment, abundant clean spring water, low property taxes, low cost of living, low energy demands, no zoning codes or permits.

It would take a lot for us to consider moving.

[G_j]

51. yes,

though I'm sure I'd come back to visit. I deeply love the forests, rivers, mountains, beaches etc. and a lot of the people here.
Everything has gone too far to the Right.

[Odin2005]

52. No.

This is my home, despite it's flaws. I refuse to abandon my country. The farms, grasslands, lakes and forests of NW Minnesota I grew up in is where I prefer to live. I would love to visit Europe, but not live their permanently.

My ancestors came from Norway and Germany, but I have no "spiritual" connection with either country, my connection is HERE, I'm an American through and through.

[MichellesBFF]

66. Bien sur!

I'm a dual citizen and we may consider it sometime in the future. Possibly at retirement.

[treestar]

55. I would have before last November

Now I have some concept that sanity may take up residence here.

[Echo In Light]

56. Yes. We had the $ about 4 yrs ago to do so, but our various family connections prevented us

[bigwillq]

57. No.

I like where I live.

[Rage for Order]

58. No

My family is here in the states, and it would be cost prohibitive to come home two or three times a year for holidays, vacations, weddings, funerals, etc. Would I like to be financially secure enough to have residences in both continents and split time between them at will? Absolutely.

[Jack Sprat]

60. Yes, Switzerland, peace.

[Mr. Ected]

84. Got Married in Lucerne. Love Switzerland.

Adore it, actually.

[Jack Sprat]

89. Been to Lucerne myself.

It is beautiful country. No wonder the rich love it. You have to plenty of bread to emigrate there. I remember great looking farmhouses with neat stacks of cut logs. I remember a gorgeous lake at one location, but the name escapes me and I lost all my pictures to a hurricane. I remember expensive wood carvings, clocks, animal figures, and all sorts of polished hardwoods. Everyone looked healthy and hearty, too.

[Dappleganger]

62. Yes! We're about to move to Ontario...

but have looked at expat opportunities a few times before and decided a long time ago that it would be a good adventure for the family. Looks as if Canada is as close as it's going to be, but better than nothing.

I hate American materialism/imperialism.

[DireStrike]

63. I want to visit first.

I don't know if there is a country there that can feel like home.

However, it would be worth the adjustment to get away from the stupidity of the American public.

[michreject]

64. Hell no

After living there for a year, I couldn't wait to come home.

[LooseWilly]

115. Hehe... I was begging in coffee houses for a job

Unfortunately, I'm neither a lady nor very universally attractive... so I couldn't get any under-the-table employment in Amsterdam.
Shoplifting for food while living on the streets of Barcelona was neitherwise a long term living arrangement to my liking.

That said... I still didn't really want to come back home to the States.

Just forwarding an alternate opinion...

[a la izquierda]

65. Maybe, I've never been.

But I'd move to Mexico in a second. I loved living there.

[LooseWilly]

116. Orale pues... cual parte?

I love Oaxaca myself... but Veracruz had a nice radio show ("tropical" is good stuff).

I'm curious which part of Mexico draws you...

[a la izquierda]

135. Hmmm. I love the Yucatan

I'll be visiting Merida and Campeche this summer, along with Veracruz-which apparently I'm going to love (I love "son", it's great music).
But I really, really love Guadalajara and the coast of Nayarit. Amazing culture, great food, great people, mind-blowing scenery and access to whatever I could possibly need (I'm a vegetarian).
I can't stand Mexico City, but I love the area around it...honestly, I love the whole country.


So, I'll stay in this hemisphere. Many fantastic places to choose from (Argentina, Chile...the islands).

[ms liberty]

67. In a heartbeat or a New York minute...whichever is faster! n/t

[emilyg]

68. I come from Europe. No I wouldn't.

[anigbrowl]

92. Oh, you too huh.

[dmallind]

140. Amazing that those of us who originated there

often have a different answer to those who have been there very little if at all.

And again I don't hate Europe, it's not horrible at all, but on the whole my life here is better.

[emilyg]

154. You are so right. I can't imagine

living anywhere but the good USA.

[ellie]

69. No, I can't

leave my mom. She is nearing 80 and in declining health.

[csziggy]

71. No, I have a farm that I love. I might visit Europe someday, though

[Initech]

73. I just spent two weeks in Europe. I'd live there without hesitation.

Especially Belgium - that was easily my favorite place in the EU. I love the Delirium Cafe.

[scarletwoman]

75. No, I love the physical land here way too much to be uprooted from it.

I'd love to visit Europe again, had a wonderful time living in France for a month many years ago.

I am irrevocably tied to this piece of the planet. I've done numerous cross-country road trips, and lived in several different states at various times in my life. I'm totally in love with every acre of this country; the mountains, the oceans, the rivers, the plains, the forests, the deserts -- I could never leave it and not return.

sw

[NYC Liberal]

76. No WAY, I like where I'm living now.

Nice to visit - but my home is here.

[TheCentepedeShoes]

78. If I were to win the Lotto

I would purchase a nice sized (not mega, just roomy for me, Mr 'pede, the dog and crew) yacht and cruise the Mediterranean

[depakid]

79. If the choice were a European country- or the US, it'd no doubt be Eurpope

Fortunately, there are other choices.

[Stinky The Clown]

81. Yes

[Sultana]

82. Yes, but only to France

cuz it is where my bf (& future Zawj) lives.

England, meh....pass (way too expensive at the moment and the people are so damn rude; not classy) I am currently studying here :D

[stevedeshazer]

83. Absolutely not.

This is my home.

Europe is a nice place to visit.

My dad and my uncle fought a pretty big war over this.

I'll bet your dad, grandpa or <insert ancestral relative here> did, too.

Stay here and fight for what we deserve, my fair-weather friend.

[LooseWilly]

117. And this is a presumption I'm sick of...

Your dad and your uncle fought a big war over... what now? over your living in North America?-bzzzt:incorrect.

Your dad and your uncle fought in a big war over whether or not fear mongering, rabid lying to the public and corporate dominance of the economy in unison with the state would become a dominant model for societies throughout Europe, and presumably in the US as well. AKA Nazism.

That war had nothing to do with whether or not any of us chose to live in Europe (unless, that is, you're talking about... what?... the Revolutionary War? the War of 1812?...)

Ironically... it seems to me that the Bushies embodied every single aspect of the NAZI state organization....but I don't recall any troops levying to fight them (and their 8 years outlasted the 6 or so that Hitler managed),
Just saying...

[stevedeshazer]

138. Bullshit.

If you think that war was fought for Bush and FOR Nazism, you are wrong.

This is a perfect example of the insulting cesspool the DU has become.

You know, if you disagree, you could just say so and why without being insulting.

Being crass doesn't make you look any smarter, pal.

[LooseWilly]

176. I think you're conflating two points into one

... and thereby turning what I said into gibberish, and then responding to that gibberish.

I said the fight against (description of Nazism) aka Nazism had nothing to do with whether one wanted to continue to live in North America. Hitler never actually threatened the US... he merely threatened Europe and the World Order which was then dominated by a democratic power, ie Britain.
I then said that the Revolutionary War, and the War of 1812, in contrast, did involve Americans lives in North America, and proceeded to express doubt that your father and uncle actually participated in those wars.
And finally, I concluded by noting the similarities between a Nazi run state and the US under the Bush administration, and then pointing out the irony that the Bushies had seemed to be trying to turn the US into a fascist state (hyper inflation of Christianity, Patriotism... prioritizing the corporations and the military over rights of citizens... lack of transparency in governing... flagrant violations of the rule of law...).

If you insist on taking the first point, and stirring it well with the third... then you reach the conclusion that WWII was fought FOR Nazism and Bush... and if that was what I had said, then I would indeed be an idiot.

What I was actually saying was that WWII seems irrelevant when considering whether or not to live in the US now. I am also saying that that war, at least the European theater of that war, did not do anything material in terms of changing the quality of life in North America (unless you are actually trying to say: stay in the US, enjoy the world hegemony we fought so hard for).
And the point of the ironic comparison between Bush and Hitler was to suggest that in many ways the last 8 years we had here in the US everything that your father and uncle fought against... which would in fact argue for moving to Europe 2 years ago...

[LanternWaste]

164. I thought our grandfathers fought...

I thought our grandfathers fought to allow us choices (and we all deserve choices, yes?), and to prevent some dogmatic, nationalism from taking over... at least that's what my grandfather told me he fought for (CCB, 10th Armored Division from August '44 - April '45) :shrug:

edited: sp

[lilyreally]

85. I keep going back to Paris.

I'll be there again in three weeks.

Could't leave my family with a perm move, but I'd love to have enough money to go back yearly for at least a month.

[ShortnFiery]

86. Yes, if given the opportunity, I'd move to Spain - in a heartbeat. nt

[Forkboy]

87. Given the opportunity I'd give almost any country a go.

And that has nothing to do with any negative feelings towards America, just a huge curiosity about how other cultures really live day to day.

[Tashca]

88. Nope

I love where I live. I've lived in many places in this country and wouldn't trade this for anywhere else.

I've never even really thought about living in Europe. But now thinking about it I can honestly say I see no reason. As far as visiting...perhaps. I've got much of the U.S. to see yet and I'm fine with that.

[New Dawn]

90. Yes.

Yes.

[cliffordu]

93. Yes I would. Immediately.

[cherokeeprogressive]

94. NO. I've been to the top of Mt. Whitney, and to the bottom of Death Valley. Visited 37 states.

I was blessed with Grandparents who were possessed of a Traveling Bone. Luckily, they passed it to my Parents. I've been to Sequoia, Yosemite, Yellowstone, The Grand Canyon, The Bayou, The Everglades, and The Smokey Mountains, to name a few. I've listened to Niagra, and tasted ice cold mountain spring water straight from the source in Idaho during the summer. I fished for and caught King Salmon on the Puget Sound. I've rafted on the Colorado River and dune buggied in the dunes of Southern California. I once even flew in front of Mt. Rushmore in a small Navy turboprop at eye level (their eyes) to within about a quarter mile. For it's faults, it's still the most wondrous place I've ever seen. And for all the things I've seen, there are so many more that I could never get to them all. That doesn't mean I won't try. I won't even list the places you can go to in Canada from here, like Lake Louise in Alberta.

Europe may be great for all it's history, I DID love the Parthenon and the Tower of London, and Nice was nice but the courtesy people showed you was directly related to the number of Dead Presidents you had in your wallet. Paris just struck me as dirty. I'll take this country over the historical things I've seen in Europe any day of the week.

You all should move. It might make for less traffic for those of us who still prefer to live in the land of their birth.

[LooseWilly]

118. Heh... I'm sure that once I manage to find a way to move, traffic will be better for everyone

... but mostly, I can't help but think about your comment " the courtesy people showed you was directly related to the number of Dead Presidents you had in your wallet."

Uhhmm... maybe it's just me... but that sounds equally, if not moreso, relevant to my experiences here in the States...

Funny how the whiskey I drink, the cigarettes I smoke, and the clothes I wear on the street- all seem to have more to do with the dead presidents I have in my wallet, than... err... my brand value as a foreign dignitary?....

[Crunchy Frog]

95. Yes. n/t

[MasonJar]

96. What a joy it would be to be in a world where culture lives at every

corner and the Republican liars are held accountable and are seen as the scum they are. My family and I are going to Provence and Paris this summer. If it were not for them, I'd stay.

[ejbrush]

97. NO! MY country, right or wrong...

To be KEPT right, when in the right, and to be MADE right, when in the wrong. If someone else wants to leave, fine, but I'm staying put. I ain't leaving all the heavy lifting to those who still believe in "the better angels of our nature."

[Qanisqineq]

98. I'm dealing with that decision right now

We currently live in Korea. We moved here when my husband was in the military and after he got out he became a contractor on the military base. We are considering moving to Europe this coming fall/winter and he work at a military base there. Or maybe Australia. Or maybe just move back to the US?

I would love, love, love to live in Europe. I have wanted to since I was a kid but I am struggling with the fact that I spent years in college, got an MS, and now haven't put it to use because I live here in Korea. (it doesn't help that I hear about it from my parents all the time either) If I moved to Europe that would be more time where I felt bad about not using my education.

[Irish Girl]

99. Lived in Europe and it was lovely.

I lived in Europe for over five years and really miss the leisurely pace of life, exotic cultures and delicious cuisine. I'm destined to always be a vagabond but being an expatriate for so many years really made me appreciate the unique beauty of the States as well. For those with the yearning to travel, go for it! But don't be surprised if one day you're suddenly filled with a deep longing for your home land. :-)

[TexasObserver]

100. No, I'm happy here.

[kaygore]

101. Yes! I am tired of being the citizen of a country that

sees its citizens only as pawns of big business and serfs to the wealthy. In Europe, people get weeks of vacation a year, not one or, after years of employment, two!

I was in London for several months last year and loved every minute.

I even had an opportunity due to an emergency to use their heath care--top of the line--for free!

Why we don't take to the streets like the French, I will never know. Why we don't hold our elected officials accountable to us, I will never know.

I only regret that when I was young I didn't know what I know now: Had I, I would have left the country for good!

I fear it is hopeless. We are not a republic but an oligarchy and a military state.

[JCMach1]

102. It's the economy that keeps us expats... there are negatives everywhere

Yes, even in Europe...


One odd effect of being an expat, I love my home much more than I did before I left.

[quiller4]

103. Travel - yes; move - no. n/t

[davepc]

104. I've sent weeks at a time with my family in the old country. There's a reason my ancestors left

Europe isn't as tidy as we like to think. Not to say it does have its good parts.

[bridgit]

105. "expatriate"? Not necessary, we're moving to Barcelona all the same

[LooseWilly]

107. In a hot fucking second...

Hell, I'm still seriously thinking of moving to Mexico... or Guatemala. Europe, without hesitation.

[medeak]

109. k&r again! n/t

[Sisaruus]

119. yes - to Finland

My sister and I are thinking about retiring to Finland.

[MrSlayer]

120. No. I'd rather move to Hawaii.

EPCOT is fine for me if I want to visit Europe. There is too much of this country I want to see yet. I've only been to 15 states and D.C. so far.

[eridani]

121. Way too tied down here with family, friends, community

And too old to start over.

[Maeve]

123. To Ireland, yes

Because visiting there felt like coming home. Financially, it will probably never be feasible for us, but if we won the lottery...in a heartbeat.

[Mr. Ected]

124. Any thoughts on Northern Ireland?

I have a dear friend pleading with me to transplant my family and move there...coastal location, not Belfast...

[seabeyond]

125. no. i like u.s. wouldnt want to live in any other country. still think it is the best. n/t

[H2O Man]

126. I haven't.

My wife and I considered moving to Ireland when Bush-Cheney took office after losing the 2000 election. But we decided to stay here.

[Papagoose]

127. Yes, but not as a political statement

I've traveled through parts of Europe and liked it very much. I felt a kinship with the people that I don't feel much here in the US. It is not a patriotism issue for me, and I can't really pinpoint what attracts me to the idea of living in London or Paris, but it is definitely something that I think about from time to time.

[sendero]

128. A year or two ago...

.. yes, now, not so much. Europe is facing problems almost or possibly more difficult than ours. There is going to be a lot of unrest.

[annabanana]

129. sigh. . Yes. For the healthcare.

I am terrified of being old and poor in this country.

[TBF]

130. 15 years ago I had a close friend who suggested London, and I

couldn't imagine living anywhere but the US. Now I would jump at it. Maybe not London given the current situation, but elsewhere in Europe yes.

[CBR]

131. I really enjoy Europe

particularly the Netherlands; however, I always find myself missing the US. The Caribbean on the other hand -- I definitely would make the move for a period of time.

[Romulox]

132. Absolutely. nt

[harun]

133. If I could get a job, hell yah. The Health Care situation in America is just too dangerous

for my family.

[Raineyb]

134. Absolutely!

I spent a few summers in Luxembourg growing up. I probably wouldn't move to Luxembourg but I did rather enjoy spending time there. And considering the health care situation here? I wouldn't think twice about it.

Regards

[GoneOffShore]

136. Yes - If the lottery hits - we'll be in Paris - cats and all

And most likely not looking back.

Even with Pres Obama and Dems in the House and Senate, I'm not overly fond of the direction this country is taking.
And there are far too many wingnuts here.

[stlsaxman]

137. Single, no kids... only a few loose ends needed tying up... so yeah- in a heartbeat.

toured with a blues band in 1999 and loved it. took a solo trip for three weeks of The Netherlands, London, Wales and Switzerland and fell deeper in love.

Now that Obama has begun raising our status in the world again, even more so.

[earth mom]

141. I would go in a Nano Second.

But my hubby wants to stay put until he gets his retirement-9 more years! Yikes, life is too short to wait that long!

My dream is to live somewhere in Europe, but I think I'd have a hard time choosing a place so maybe we would caravan around instead.

Can you tell that Hubby's the cautious one and I'm more the free spirit?! O8)

[4_TN_TITANS]

143. Oh so tempting....

to move my family to Bavaria, Germany where I visited as a teenager. If I could afford it, I'd visit in a heartbeat, but my daughters have really benefited from growing up with my family close by.

[4_TN_TITANS]

144. Oh so tempting....

to move my family to Bavaria, Germany where I visited as a teenager. If I could afford it, I'd visit in a heartbeat, but my daughters have really benefited from growing up with my family close by.

[Peacetrain]

145. No... love Europe, but this is my home

[bikebloke]

146. Definitely and in a flash.

That was my goal, after my first visit to Europe in the late 70's. And I certainly tried, but didn't have much luck. Sometimes I regret not marrying one of the women who made the offer, even though I knew it wouldn't be a wise pairing. I fit in better with Europeans better than with americans.

[Arugula Latte]

147. I daydream about that all the time, but itt's hard when you have older parents in the States.

Still, I wish I'd been born in Europe, definitely.

[rucky]

148. Albania? Not so much.

but most of the rest of Europe.

[MattSh]

149. In Europe already. 3.5 years.

Love it.

OK, it's Kiev. That's a hell of a lot different than west Europe. Only for the adventurous types.

I thought I might return to the states for a visit this year. But why?

[Mari333]

150. oh hell yes. nt

[La Lioness Priyanka]

151. yes

[smirkymonkey]

153. In a second!

I lived in Vienna in College and have traveled through Europe extensively since then. I always hate coming back here. I am so relaxed over there - especially when I lived there and didn't have to bother with being a tourist.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

168. I feel the same way in Japan

Japan has its problems--I could probably think of problems that you don't even know about--but somehow, I just love being there.

Unfortunately, they require self-employed people to have a year's income cash in hand in order to get a residence visa. :-(

[dysfunctional press]

155. doubtful- global climate change is not going to be kind to the continent.

i've got an acre of land in a secluded subdivision nestled among mature oaks, hickories, maples, and pines.
my roots and friends are here. the great lakes are here.
if we were to move anyplace, it would be to the county of hawaii, in hawaii.

[bunkerbuster1]

156. How long's a heartbeat?

That's how long I'd wait.

I've thoroughly enjoyed my visits to Europe, and while I'm happy with the political progress we're making in the USA and proud to be an American, I'd love to have a chance to live there.

And mind you, there's a whole lot of the continent I've still never seen--I've been to the UK and central Europe, never to the east, never seen the Mediterranean.

[ProfessorGAC]

157. Nope

Been there many times. Nice countries. Nice people, but home is where you make it. It's fine right here.
GAC

[readmoreoften]

160. Yes. I like just about every country I've spent time in over there. /nt

[Gemini Cat]

161. Give up baseball and popcorn?

No way.

[Mr. Ected]

162. Baseball, Yes. Popcorn, No.

Things I missed in Europe:

Baseball
Football
Mexican Food
Barbecue
Buffalo Wings
Friends and Family

Not necessarily in that order. :-)

[all.of.me]

193. My doctor's son plays pro-ball in Italy & Australia. nt

[Homer Wells]

163. YUP!! nt

[Hawkowl]

165. Yes.

If I could emigrate permanently I would. America is a very hard scrabble country. If you grow up poor and make even the tiniest mistake in healthcare, or education or employment it is an unrecoverable catastrophe for most.

If I was 18 today, instead of back in 1984, I would not be able to go to college and lift myself out of abject poverty and despair. It is criminal what we are doing to our young people today.

[LanternWaste]

166. Although I respect and admire...

Although I respect and admire all the European cultures, for better or for worse I've made the U.S.A. my home.

When I actually did live abroad (Cancun, MX) it was the most exciting, wonderful time of my entire life, and I wouldn't give up memories of the people, the work, and the experiences for anything-- but it wasn't *my* home.




Having said that, I'd love to spend *all* my vacations in Wales-- but American lower management positions don't make enough money for that kind of extravagance anymore... :P

[OneBlueSky]

167. nope . . . this is my home, always has been, always will be . . .

I'd prefer to stay here and fight the good fight to try to turn things around . . . and they will turn around eventually as the realization dawns that only progressive solutions make any kind of sense in the real world . . .

the only question is -- will it happen before a total collapse occurs? . . . stay tuned . . .

[guitar man]

169. Amsterdam

Hell yeah :evilgrin: :smoke:

[Fire1]

170. I loved it there, too. Food? Not so much. Beer? Best I've

ever had.

[NNN0LHI]

173. Best beer I ever had was from a microbrewery in Marquette Michigan upper peninsula

This place:

http://www.thevierling.com/

When I was there you couldn't pry me out of the place.

And I am not a big beer drinker either.

Man, I can taste it now.

Don

[NNN0LHI]

171. Most the Europeans I have known and I have known a lot of them wish they could live here

True story.

Don

[Political Heretic]

179. What. The Fuck. Ever.

:eyes:

Most Europeans I know and I know a LOT of them absolutely do not want to live here.


And why would they? They kick our ass on most quality of life indicators, where we usually rank dead last.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

184. I know Europeans who DO live here and

are working hard to find a way back home.

[librechik]

172. I would, to a place with good corn tortilla chips

so many great expatriate places don't have them--and I must!

[Rockholm]

174. Not now.

Had McSame won the election, I would have gone to Canada, maybe London. Not now. I love America again.

[Terry in Austin]

175. Lived there when I was a kid; would move back if I could

I've been back for a couple of visits in my adult years. I liked Italy especially.

Immigration is pretty tough, though, generally geared to the rich and/or famous. Basically a financial issue for me.

If the opportunity arose, I'd go for having a little place in a village in Tuscany, in about a heartbeat.

Ah, civilization... *sigh*

[Political Heretic]

177. I would but not because I hate this place. I just long to explore the culture.

[Zynx]

178. No. I love this country. For all of its faults, I think we have contributed on a net basis

more positively to the rest of the world than most of those countries.

[Political Heretic]

180. The idea of "loving" a country is so strange to me.

I love people... love my tribe, love my community. I'm not sure what loving a "country" even means.

[Zynx]

182. There is an "American Idea" that we fall short of, but it is something that I love.

It's intangible and somewhat difficult to define and it means different things to different people as we found out during the Bush years. However, I view a country as more than just its borders. Those can change pretty readily.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

186. There are very few things in which American offers advantages:

1. The landscape. No other country in the world has such variety in its landscapes and natural environments, from forests to plains to snow-capped mountains to deserts to tropical swamps to Arctic tundra.

2. Second chances. In many countries, your fate is set in your teens. By age 16 you are either a winner or a loser, and only exceptional individuals can overcome being marked as a "loser." Our system is set up so that someone who was a complete slacker and dropout in their teens can earn a G.E.D., go to community college, and learn a trade or even do well enough to transfer to a four-year college.

[depakid]

187. Then again, there are countries where tradesmen are well respected, well paid and

and tend to be better informed and much more civic minded than most American college graduates

[InvisibleTouch]

190. Also I have found...

...that it's easier to make your own way in America than in Europe. At least in Germany, with which I am most familiar, you're pretty much expected to follow certain courses in life, and if you deviate too far, there's just not much of a place for you to make a living or be a member of society. I feel like there is more leeway in the U.S. to step out of the bounds of expectation and do your own thing.

[NeedleCast]

181. Nope

[chatnoir]

183. In a heartbeat

The time I did live there when i was 21 was among the happiest of my life by far.

I was heartbroken to have to return but had little choice and still feel it was one of the worst mistakes I made.

[Mudoria]

188. No.. would never consider it

[InvisibleTouch]

189. Probably not.

I have lived in Europe, I have lots of fond memories and lots of affection for it, but the truth is, it's easier for me to live the life I envision in the U.S. than there. That's not a "better or worse" judgment, that's a choice based on my own needs and preferences.

[Tesha]

191. 'Faster than you can say 'I'm packed'! (NT)

[all.of.me]

192. Expatriate, absolutely.

To Europe, maybe, maybe not.

[tammywammy]

194. No n/t