Anyone ready to move to another country?

I have pondered this for the past few years having gone so far as to work up a budget, research specific towns in various countries, made a list of "must haves" and even visited a few of the places. Of course, COVID, inflation and geopolitical unrest have upended all of this, not to mention changes in my life including a health issue. And, yes, my family factors heavily into all of this, too.

So, while I won't be making a permanent move, I do hope to spend months at a time each year in another country. How and when I will actually do this remains to be seen. As long as the cancer I was diagnosed with last year (I don't claim ownership of it so I have stopped calling it "my cancer") remains in remission, I'll feel better about an extended visit to another part of the world. I can only hope and pray.
 

I have visited 18 countries plus some other places that only qualify as colonies or territories. I was not born here, but Florida is my home.

Canada is nice, but they need to do something about their winters. A lot of Canadians spend the winter here in the geezer ghetto where I live.
 

Manatee said:
I have visited 18 countries plus some other places that only qualify as colonies or territories. I was not born here, but Florida is my home.

Canada is nice, but they need to do something about their winters. A lot of Canadians spend the winter here in the geezer ghetto where I live.
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With global warming, winters in Canada might not be so bad in a few years. So, we, in fact, are doing something about it. 🤣
 
Manatee said:
I have visited 18 countries plus some other places that only qualify as colonies or territories. I was not born here, but Florida is my home.

Canada is nice, but they need to do something about their winters. A lot of Canadians spend the winter here in the geezer ghetto where I live.
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I agree about Canadian winters, but since I'm only a Lake Erie away, I doubt it would be much different! But the downside, no manatees there! I adore manatees and grieve over their injuries from propellers. So, if you get the chance, send my love to the next manatee you meet!
 
No. Ask me this question any time between December and March of next year and my answer might be very different. We did some snowbirding and should have done more when we first retired. Many Canadians exchange winter homes with Australians who love our ski hills. I really did love Australia. English as the first language is an imperative now.
 
Not now at our age. I specify "our" because that kind of decision is something we both would have to agree on. Then there is the potential of needing to learn the language of wherever that may be. Not knowing what locals might be saying isn't very comfortable. I know for sure that when dialing up a service we might need being asked to dial 2 for English would be strange to adapt to.
 
I'm not going anywhere. The country could break out in civil war and it probably won't affect me much other than it might be hard to get certain types of food and a few other goods. I'm just a quiet old guy who doesn't bother anyone and keeps to himself. Only maybe a dozen people in real life (not including people on the internet) know my politics, so I'm not going to get attacked, and I'm not going to join a militia to fight for either side. I'll just watch it on the news.

So I'm just going to live out the rest of my life here in the land that time forgot. The neighborhood where I now live probably doesn't look much different than it did 50 years ago. There aren't any new houses around here. My house and most others around here have been remodeled but as far as I can tell, there hasn't been much new construction.

My old neighborhood was getting all gentrified. The intermediate sized ranch houses were getting razed and giant homes that took up the entire lot were going up in their place. In some lots, they crammed two houses with just a few feet between them. It was hideous. I expected the people who bought my old house to tear it down and build something new, but I rode by there the other day and they were painting it, so I guess they're going to live there.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
I was born and raised in Massachusetts with its cold winters. Years later I was stationed in Cuba for 18 months. It was always sunny, warm in the day, cool at night. I missed the seasons changing. And it's heresy to buy a Christmas tree, while wearing only shorts. You need snow. So, now, I'm planted In Pennsylvania.
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I was raised in a beautiful part of West Virginia, but visited my aunt in Williamsport Pennsylvania every summer and just loved it. It's hot during the day, but still shady and green in the evenings. I lived in Georgia for a few years and the heat was 24 hours a day and, just like you, it was Christmas shopping in a t-shirt that got to me.

Now I live in southern Ohio and it also has four seasons, none too extreme. I'll be staying right here in this small town with it's nice aging population, a house for the three of us, and a yard so I can have a dog.
 
Someone mentioned that some Americans are renouncing their citizenship, after becoming a citizen of another country. It is possible, if you are serious about it. This can only be done at a US Embassy outside of the US, and as I said the applicant must already be a citizen of another country. The cost is about $3500, and the applicant has to actually stand in front of the US Ambassador and swear that they wish to renounce their US citizenship. Once they do that, they can still enter the US BUT they will do that using the passport of their other country. The most obvious reason for a American to renounce their US citizenship is to be free of US taxation. The US is one of only 2 countries in the world that taxes it's citizens regardless of where they live in the world. For some people its about the money, but for others its about US Government policies, domestic and foreign. JimB.
 
Bella said:

"Anyone ready to move to another country?"​

Heh. The way things are going in this world, I'm ready to move to Mars! 🥴
Mars mission: NASA scientist says Martians can help humans live on Red ...
Bella✌️
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Did you ever read The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury. ... it could happen
All about earthlings who settled on Mars after Earth was wiped out by nuclear war.
A three part series was made for TV.
Fascinating...wish it would come round again.
 
jimintoronto said:
Someone mentioned that some Americans are renouncing their citizenship, after becoming a citizen of another country. It is possible, if you are serious about it. This can only be done at a US Embassy outside of the US, and as I said the applicant must already be a citizen of another country. The cost is about $3500, and the applicant has to actually stand in front of the US Ambassador and swear that they wish to renounce their US citizenship. Once they do that, they can still enter the US BUT they will do that using the passport of their other country. The most obvious reason for a American to renounce their US citizenship is to be free of US taxation. The US is one of only 2 countries in the world that taxes it's citizens regardless of where they live in the world. For some people its about the money, but for others its about US Government policies, domestic and foreign. JimB.
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For me, it would have nothing to do with tax policies. I don't think that our system of government works anymore. The balance of power is off-tilt. PAC's have too much influence. I'd like to see us go to a simple system where issues are decided by popular vote. I think the way the Supreme Court works is outrageous. And representative government is so flawed because of districting. Sheesh, I'm grumpy today!
 
No, this rural county has been my home for most of my life, my family are all here. Yes, there is much wrong with the world around me, and I do worry about the future of my grandchildren, but not a hella lot I can do about it so I'll live my remaining years right here and hope that intelligence and good prevail.
 
No, never! The USA is by far not perfect! I have traveled extensively as part of my work life. I know that this country is the best for me and my family, based on what I am looking for in a country.
 

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