this post was submitted on 23 Feb 2024
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If yes, where would you move to?

If no, why not?

I ask this as someone who has moved around a lot (5 states) for better working opportunities. I often hear people say they wish they could leave their current city/state/country, but money is often (understandably) an issue.

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[–] LopensLeftArm 64 points 6 months ago (4 children)

Absolutely. Ideally one of the Nordic model countries, but the issue there is more than just money, it's linguistic and bureaucratic as well.

[–] [email protected] 27 points 6 months ago (3 children)

I think I have both your problems solved. If money isn't an issue the bureaucracy is a nuisance but not inhibiting as you can pay someone to file all the appropriate paperwork. The language barrier is even easier. I have been to Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and Finland and did not meet a single person that didn't fluently speak English. Not saying they don't exist, but operating in most any western European country is very easy as an English speaker. Also you'll pick up the language over time. Immersion is the best way to learn a language, or so I hear.

[–] LopensLeftArm 22 points 6 months ago

Hey, sounds perfect to me! Now if only I could make that "money isn't an issue" thing a reality, I'd really be set!

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago (1 children)
[–] LopensLeftArm 9 points 6 months ago

Thanks gancho!

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[–] [email protected] 38 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I did this.

I used to live in Seattle. It's a pretty progressive city but the police are very bad there. Outside the pocket of liberals and progressives, once you start driving east or even west across the sound, things then to be more... Homogenous.... and even a bit racist. Plus the gun culture/violence is just too much for my family.

We moved to Taiwan during the height of the pandemic and during chap or whatever thing that the Seattle police was doing to the local people. We had enough and put everything in storage and left .

Living in Taiwan feels like how America used to be. Being a very young democracy, people here are hyper focused on freedoms. The government here is super focused on social programs that help people.

Things like, expecting mothers and families with kids under 6 have special parking in all malls and public parking. Breast feeding rooms everywhere. You get financial support for having kids, not just a tax break. Just a straight direct deposit into your account.

Universal health care. The medicine is highly subsidized(usually free)Ambulance rides are free. Shoot once you get to a certain age, the government helps pay for your stay at home nurse.

Things like this reminds me of the American 40-50s. When freedoms matter and people matter.

Obviously there are some drawbacks living here, but it's overall positive.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Was it difficult to emigrate from the US to Taiwan? Are there stringent requirements?

[–] [email protected] 13 points 6 months ago

Honestly it was quite easy. I came from the USA so YMMV. You basically need to get a Gold Card which is a green card from the United states. As long as you're making an income that is a certain level, you get it. I want to say it's 65k.

Or you can come here and work in the in demand industries like renewable energy. Those you don't even need to be making that much and you instantly get it. My friend works for a wind farm and got his gold card within a year. Even his wife, who doesn't even work, got the gold card.

I think after about 6 months, you get all the benefits I described.

College and schooling is very inexpensive. I know student visas are quite simple too. I have a friend from Jamaica that got his doctorate here and married a Taiwanese wife. He said he had zero chance to get this far ahead in Jamaica.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 6 months ago (3 children)

I would move from solid to gaseous state if given the choice.

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[–] [email protected] 25 points 6 months ago

In a heartbeat. I'd take almost anywhere in Europe with a proper democracy than the corrupt and authoritarian hole I'm in right.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (5 children)

Nah, California is pretty great. I'd say it would be the place I'd move to if money weren't an issue. As long as you can afford it, CA is an amazing place to live with widely varied culture, fantastic weather, and an incredible number of things to explore and experience.

You can find every biome across the state, and you can literally go surfing in the morning, drive up the Pacific Coast Highway and through beautiful, lush valleys, in perfect 72 and sunny weather, on your way to snowboard in the mountains for the afternoon, into a nice chilly overnight at the lodge, and back down the coast the next day, because the weather is perfect again.

That's just one of the countless things to do in California. You'll also get clean air, a comprehensive interstate highway system, better public services, a near infinite variety of food, and generally better quality of life than many other places.

CA isn't perfect, but I can't think of anywhere else that could ever match it for me.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago

I lived in San Francisco for a few years and I do occasionally miss it. Granted, SF is a major city and not completely representative of the entire state, but I miss the food (the freshest fruit you ever had, even if you bought it at the corner store).

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[–] [email protected] 21 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Probably Iceland. Try to get some land, plant some trees and start a forestry business or a small farm. Ideally close enough to existing geothermal networks that I could still take advantage of the dirt cheap hot water. Enjoy the rain and fog and natural beauty of the place. Would be lovely.

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[–] [email protected] 20 points 6 months ago (3 children)

Where I live in germany there is a saying: "Anderswo is auch scheiße". Literally translates to "Other places are also shit". So I'm currently not considering moving into another country. Though I often ask myself, what I would do if germany goes the nazi route again. The AfD is real scum.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 6 months ago (1 children)

The grass is always greener on the other side...

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[–] [email protected] 16 points 6 months ago

100% I don't want to live in the USA my whole life, big world out there.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 6 months ago (4 children)

As an American, fuck yes, absolutely, 100%.

As a Texan, fuck yes, absolutely, 1000%.

The wife and I are already considering leaving the state. Prices for everything are rising to ridiculous levels.

An apartment I could have afforded on my own a decade ago would require three incomes, and the neighborhoods are no less violent and crime ridden. Food deserts, lack of health care options, lack of gainful employment in that geographic area, all deterrents to paying more than I do now for a mortgage.

If I thought I had the skills and wherewithal to strike out and homestead I would. Alas, I do not.

I long to leave "the grid," but require medication to function as a normal human being. As such, I am beholden to the system. I must cooperate against my better interest to attain medication to live. I am, for lack of a better term, a slave to it.

Before anyone comes in calling a race card play, or any other shit, I am a cis het white male. In theory, I am the problem, and yet I suffer the same.

I decided at the age of seven that life, as we know it, was not worth living. 30 some odd years later, that has not changed.

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[–] [email protected] 15 points 6 months ago

Yes. I live in Texas, and the heat makes me sick. I'm literally planning on being too sick to work or anything three days next week because its going to be unseasonably warm, and the central AC hasn't been kicked on yet.

Also, whatever the fuck is wrong with our state government. We made abortion illegal BEFORE Roe was overturned.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 6 months ago (4 children)

I wouldn't move to a different state.

I would move to a different area in the state.

In general, I like where I live. However, when I moved here about 5 years ago, it was a peaceful quiet area. my back yard was a couple acres of minimally touched nature (little cluster of trees, massive green field of mice, spiders, gophers, grasshoppers, and the occasional deer).

I loved it. Then the city decided to turn half of that field into a community center whose entire side facing my house was glass, leaving me to feel like a zoo exhibit.

That wasn't good enough though.

The city claimed the remainder of the field, bulldozed and chemically treated it, and put in annex parking for the community center right up against my fence. Mind you, my backyard is TINY. Maybe 40x20 ft. Slightly more than you would expect from an apartment. They literally paved paradise and put up a parking lot.

In between the annex parking and the community center, they put in a playground. Now my once peaceful, zen, soul charging slice of heaven is constant mobs of screeching children and idling cars during the day and rotating groups of 16-23 year olds drinking, doing drugs, selling drugs, and all around loudly and aggressively delinquenting by night.

If I could, I would just like to live somewhere quiet and private again.

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[–] [email protected] 13 points 6 months ago (2 children)

I dream of being in New Zealand or a Nordic country, but I'm a broke American loser who's too poor to even go visit those countries, and so they don't even want me there in the first place. I will keep dreaming, and die with my dreams unfulfilled. Maybe next life.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (4 children)

@shadowSprite surreal to see this comment.

New Zealand is on one of its periodic kill the poor phases at the moment, the government has made massive cuts to welfare and intends to give retrospective tax cuts to landlords.

It's also scrapped all its environmental protections.

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 6 months ago

I'd love to leave the US. It's truly a steaming shitshow and I don't see it improving anytime soon. I'd be interested in checking out Belgium or Luxembourg, or maybe Norway. However, my parents and in-laws are aging and it wouldn't be right to leave them knowing they're going to need increased help over the next 10-15 years. So we're staying put for now.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Most probably yes. I live in Russia and when the war started i was really thinking about getting as far away as possible. And then it's just... Too complex? Looking for a place to live when rent is up 250% due to lot of people immigrating, being unable to move your savings out of the country, and only having barely enough to support myself. Having unlimited budget probably would have changed everything. As to where - no idea to be honest.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Damn. That fucking sucks. Feel awful for all the normal people that just want to live peacefully that have such a fucked government. Good luck from New England, United States.

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago)

I'm from Switzerland and i would only consider moving to Iceland or taiwan (I like the climate and the political society). But even then I actually think I'd rather stay here.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 6 months ago

Yes. My wife has dual citizenship. We joked about it at first, but now it's no longer funny with all the crazy shit going on in the US. And our state is becoming massively overpopulated thanks to the horrible economy. The only real thing keeping us back is family but it seems like we're all so busy I never see them anyway.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 6 months ago (4 children)

I'm French, fuck that I'm staying here. I'm so thankfull for all we have here

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 6 months ago (4 children)

Dream is Colorado or Illinois. Despite the insane teacher shortage and my ample qualifications, Oklahoma doesn’t think queer people deserve to exist.

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 6 months ago (2 children)

I've reconnected with extended family in Norway. I'm in the U.S.

Norway is difficult to immigrate.

I looked into it. I personally would like to continue working as a Paramedic and I've actually been on a Norway ambulance for a ride along.

In order for me to work I would be required to do all of these things:

  • Pass a language test

  • Pass 3 separate medical exams that are all in the Norwegian language.

Unfortunately, I'm not motivated enough for all of that.

Luckily, I'm in one of the best states in the U.S. and see zero reason to relocate for the remainder of my time on Earth. Which, climate change may make it just a few more years. Or, even possibly WW3.

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 6 months ago (2 children)

Switzerland seems like a nice place

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 6 months ago

For me, money isn't necessarily the issue. It's family. I don't want to live somewhere they're not.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago

Yes. I live in Dallas and some medical issues make me sick any time the temperature gets above ~80.

The only reason to live here is the cost of living, which has risen quickly enough that other alternatives like Chicago are starting to look good.

Also, our state government is completely nanners.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago (9 children)

I live in the UK. I'd probably want to move to a nordic country.

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago (1 children)

As an Australian I love this country but I would 100% move somewhere colder if I could. Honestly I’d probably just move to Tasmania if I could afford to

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago

If money was not an issue, I’d buy an island & live on it.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago

I think I'd move just about anywhere if money wasn't an issue there.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago

If I had enough money, I am pretty sure I wouldn't live anywhere. Just travel, in style, rent whatever house or hotel room to stay in different places long enough to really experience them. So not quite like tourism, but not like moving.

And if I had magic instead, I'd stay right where I am and get all the racist conservative northerners who moved down here in the past few years to leave, and all the people who left because they were pushed out by those fuckers could come back. Make Florida freaky and purple again.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago (3 children)

No I think Colorado USA is maybe the best place in the world to live as long as a certain asshole isn’t elected president.

All my friends live here and so does my family and I have no intention of leaving them, they are too important to me.

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago (1 children)

My country is a paradise if you have money. So no I would not move anywhere.

It's hellish if you don't have money.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 months ago (3 children)
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[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago (2 children)
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[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 months ago

I’d love to spend a few months at a time living in many different states/countries. I think that’d be awesome.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Honestly, I could probably afford to drop everything, rent a cheap-ish place and buy some basic furniture. A couple other things are stopping me, like the connections I have here, family and friends. In terms of a different country, citizenship isn’t always so easy to come by

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 months ago (9 children)

As a radical leftist who lives in rural Kentucky, if I truly had so much money that it was not an issue, I would stay and try to affect change.

It's tempting of course to move somewhere more sympathetic to my views and my desired lifestyle, but I don't want to abandon my politically uninformed family and friends. I would rather use my wealth to organize mutual aid, fund libraries, and instill class consciousness here in my home, in the hopes of creating a community that aligns with my views and desired lifestyle.

Considering that money is power under our current economic system, this is really a question of if you received power would you use it selfishly to help only yourself or try to help others.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 months ago

Absolutely!

I'd have a swanky apartment in a cool city and a beachside open concept home to flee to when I felt even the slightest bit chilly.

All my friends would live within 15 min walking distance and I'd have a rooftop garden where I grow some of the nicest tomatoes and peppers you've ever had.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 months ago

Fuck yeah! I don't even live in Florida or Texas but I would give anything to be even farther away from their braindead approach to governance.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 6 months ago

I did 4 years ago. Moved to the US for work, so technically money wasn't an issue because my relocation was paid for by my employer. Move to a different state though? Probably yes as well. I couldn't choose where in the country I was moving to, so while it's been generally fine, there are better places probably.

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