If you were to leave America, where would you go?

[wrecktech]

After reading several of the latest threads here, there has been mentioned several times by several posters that moving from the US, for various reasons, might be in their futures. I have been giving this some thought recently. My g/f is from Malaysia and I have considered that as a possibility. I saw a tv show the other day where they had a couple looking for a property in the Dominican Republic and I found the 3 options interesting. The nicest of the 3 was $125,000 and was very nice. I have also read some info on retirement in Belize which was very interesting. So I ask you all, if circumstances were such that you decided to leave, where would you go? And of course why?

[tonypeoni]

If you had say 500k stashed away the Philippines are nice. You could live like a king. Twenty wives and all.

[wrecktech]

Originally Posted by tonypeoni

Twenty wives and all.

Have you seen the commercial with Cedric the Entertainer where he wishes to be on an island with 2 beautiful women and his dream goes awry and the 2 women start *****ing at him to do things for them nonstop? Be careful what you wish for.

[Seric]

Ireland, since it has a growing tech industry.

or

Finland, because I have alot of family there.

[gr8fl4porsche]

Belize is nice but expensive.

Go a little further south to the Island of Roatan, Honduras. You can live like a king and the people speak english.

[Christien]

Interesting thread, as I've thought of the same thing myself over the last few years. Canada is definitely my home and I'd miss it if I were gone, but only for sentimental reasons. I find Canada to be a rather lacklustre mix of high taxes and little services. It seems like an attempt to get the best of both worlds of European socialism and American capitalism that instead gets the worst of both. But then I think where would I go? No interest in the USA outside of California and NYC, and cost of living in either of those places is insanely ridiculous. Europe maybe but then it's still with the taxes. Anything else is too far from family. So I guess I'm stuck for now...

[RWebb]

If were going to leave the US, I'd probably move back to New Orleans.

[sammyg2]

I definitely would not go to another country, they are all full of foreigners!

[djmcmath]

If I could find work in southern Germany, I think it'd be a great place to live: close to France, Switzerland, Italy, and ... Stuttgart. England is a more realistic possibility, as the people there speak a language similar to the one that I speak. It's all about finding work, and right now, my job is in this country. Maybe 5 years from now?

[JTO]

Since my industry is dying in the US, I too have considered looking overseas. The opportunities exist for Western expertise. But, say I chose Vietnam where they are striving to build manufacturing. What I consider reasonable compestation is an unheard of sum to them. So, I'll ride my industry into the ground, probably, and do something else later.
Troy

[stomachmonkey]

Back to ze fatherland.

[alf]

Originally Posted by djmcmath

If I could find work in southern Germany, I think it'd be a great place to live: close to France, Switzerland, Italy, and ... Stuttgart. England is a more realistic possibility, as the people there speak a language similar to the one that I speak. It's all about finding work, and right now, my job is in this country. Maybe 5 years from now?

I have a harder time understanding the English spoken in England, particularly N. England, than the rest of Western Europe. I would not mind living someplace in Asia or South Pacific, but Seattle is where my family is and thus home.

[Tobra]

If I had to leave the US, I would quote the words of a man I admire, who was killed in San Antonio long ago, when he resigned from the Senate

"Y'all can go to hell, I'm goin' to Texas"

It is like a whole other country, says so right in the TV ads. They speak English(sort of), the kids are well mannered, nice beaches and they have a lot of hot looking chicks there. That and I already own a house on a lake there.

I jest, would not consider leaving the US. If they kicked me out I would have to say Oz, they speak English(sort of) have nice beaches and plenty of hot looking chicks.

Language has never been a problem for me, Spanish, French, Japanese, picked them up pretty quick, and am told I don't have an American accent, whatever that means. I would have to learn the local lingo if they did not speak English. No third world countries for me, but I guess I could go live anywhere if I had to go.

[azasadny]

Australia for me...

[tabs]

He11....Oh I allready live there.

[911Rob]

Bus Bench Story:
Guy was sitting on a bus bench with his grand-son when the bus pulls up and a stranger jumps off. The stranger says, "This looks like a nice Town, what's it like here 'ol feller?"
The Guy replies, "Well that all depends, what's it like where you are from stranger?" Replying quickly he shouts, "That place was terrible, full of idiots, bad attitudes, terrible weather and a lousy economy!" Guy responds, "Well its pretty much the same thing here." The stranger made his way on.

A few hours later, another bus pulls up and another stranger jumps off. He asked the bench warmer the same question, "This looks like a nice Town Sir, What is it like to live here?" The Guy replies, "Well that all depends, what's it like where you are from stranger?"

He thinks and replies, "Well it was a great Town, with nice people, good jobs and great weather." Guy responds, "Well its pretty much the same thing here." The 2nd stranger thanks him and goes on his way.

Now perplexed, the grand-son says to the 'ol guy, "Grandpa, why did you give those men two different answers to the same question?" Replying, the Grandpa says, "Well son, in life its not about where you're from, or where you're going, but all about your Attitude. Someone who moves here with a bad attitude, will experience bad things; and someone moving here with a good attitude will experience good things."

No finger pointing, but a great story, thought it might fit in?
Cheers,

[RoninLB]

keep banking centered in US

start a corp in new country to buy property

check out tax laws

health insurance complicated

some countries are geared to attract retirees

some countries cause double taxation, check out www.IRS.gov , search under "tax treaties A to Z"



www.escapeartist.com

check out Entrust Group for financial mgt

Charles Schwab has expat services

[Sonic dB]

Italian Riveria, Croatian Coast, Ibiza...something like that....
feel very much at home over there now

[Zef]

South of France...in a small villa...near the sea...incognito.

[vash]

my wife would make me head for taiwan. i would be instantly dumb. cant read, cant speak. i guess i dig ditches, or something.

if it were up to me, i would go to canada. great hunting and fishing there. but if i was to move AND retire...thailand. you live would live well, as a thousandnaire there.