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

[Dottore]

Originally Posted by RPKESQ

I bought property in the South of France years ago. Recently bought another to live in full time. Why? Better health care (WHO rated #1) with lower cost, no double taxation, can have dual citizenship, non residents can own property with the strongest property laws in Europe, superb infrastructure (very good mass transportation, 220+ MPH trains!), a intelligently designed nuclear power grid, history back to the beginnings of man in Europe (within 1 hour of my place is Greek, Roman, Viking, Cathar, Medieval, Paleolithic sites), fantastic food, great wines, friendly people, low property cost, close to everything else in Europe, mild Mediterranean climate, easy transportation links to everywhere, etc. I have set up dual income streams (dollars and euros) so I will do OK in most cases. Quite pleasant to live in a culture where money isn't the first thing on everyone’s mind. And you can’t beat the women in Monaco, Cannes, St. Tropez!

I second all of that. We also have a property there that we love, but that we let out for three years because of some commitments here. But when the lease is up, the tenants will get their marching orders.

[911Rob]

Dot, RPKESQ
How about some pics?
Love to check this out, seriously!

Who knows, maybe we'll be neighbours one day?
I make a good neighbour ya know

[911Rob]

Checked it out, pretty cool.
Monaco is out; too high in price - need $2Million to buy there.
Cannes and St. Tropez look good though.

[livi]

Obviously, nobody craves for an over dosage of blonds..

[old man neri]

South Pacific? Live on an tiny island with a float plane, that would be the life.

[thrown_hammer]

I always thought it would be nice to live in California…

[911teo]

We had the fortune of living in Italy (Milan), France (Paris), Germany (Frankfurt), England (London) and the US (Charlotte, NC).

THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER....

There is no place that is absolutely better than all the others. You always have to make small compromises....

I would not make my decision based on tax rates. In Germany we used to pay 53%, Italy 51%, US you know and UK is very similar to the US... But then you add state taxes, VAT on purchases, the private health insurance etc and at the end of the day everything evens out.

When we lived in Charlotte we missed the culture, the fact that you are 1h away from a completely different country, the monuments, the flavours, the diversity.... Try and drive 200m from CHarlotte... Same old same old.

Now that we are here we miss our neighbours. In Europe nobody gives a ratt's ass about you. In Charlotte they brought us warm cake 1 hour after we had moved in. We miss the kids playing in the street, the customer service in the shop, the 24h grocery stores (you adapt quickly though), the non existent traffic, the free land.

We always said that if Charlotte had been a 3h flight from Europe we would have never moved.

[Willem Fick]

In the extremely unlikely scenario of someone perhaps picking Africa, please let me know, then I'll gladly trade places with you!

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by livi

Obviously, nobody craves for an over dosage of blonds..

Where ever we go, we can either import them, or use chemicals to make our own. Wait, that's what were running from....

Switzerland, except my french isn't good enough and no German, yet. We are planning on buying some land in Mexico and might think father a field. Spain would work as well.

[Sapporo Guy]

Santa Barbara ... I miss college

I don't think I'll ever pick a place that has snow again. I've had enough of the it !!!

South of Buffalo > Oxnard > Santa Barbara > Sapporo ... definitely the SoCal life was awesome even with all the weirdos and what not.

Now, if Sapporo didn't have snow ... maybe I can pray for globabl warming

[Palum6o]

Somewhere close to where Markus lives so I can borrow his tools - If that's ok with you (Markus).

[Sunroof]

Costa Rica is the new hot sport for many boomers looking to get out of the USA and get the best for their dollar and yet try to maintain a comfortable life-style. I understand that you are required to place 60k into an escrow account to show your capability to maintain your lifestyle and that for less than $1500.00 a month you can live in a large mountain-side villa with magnificent views, eat well, have maid service and health insurance. A buddy of mine goes to Costa Rica several times a year for the kyaking and has fallen in love with the place. As health insurance and services escalate in this country many on fixed incomes find no re-course but to seek better deals and that means living in a foreign country where the cost of living is far less. If confronted with the same issues, Panama or Costa Rica would be my choice.

[71T Targa]

Canada, eh

[MRM]

I once followed my wife on a business trip to Paris. I had 7 days to explore the city on my own. I was captivated. Since then I have made it a plan to retire early, and at some point, have a flat in Paris and use it as a base to explore Europe. Maybe for a year, maybe five. But I very seriously want to live there at some point.

I would also like to live in Beijing for a year or two. Different experience. My wife grew up there and we've travelled there several times, so I would like to see what it is like to live there and not just visit, even on extended trips staying with family.

Next would be Australia or New Zealand. Never been there but the stories I've heard and pictures I've seen look worth the trip.

After that? Well if I retire tomorrow I could fit all three in confortably. Maybe if I live to 120 I'll be able to fit in Germany on the Rhine, close to a castle, Switzerland on a mountain, Rio in time for Carnival. And then a permanent suite on a cruise ship traveling the world. Beats a nursing home and would be cheaper.

[Jeff Higgins]

Berkeley.

[Joeaksa]

Have just been offered a job that would be based out of London and flying to Paris, Cannes then back and forth to the states once or twice a month. Might have to look at it, living in Arizona and spending half of the year in some descent places in Europe.

Spent some time in New Zealand and the South Island there is absolutely heaven on earth. Same with Sydney. If I ever left the states or Europe would have to give this part of the world a try.

Still, have lived in 7 countries so far in my short life and there is nothing like America. If we could just get the entire Baldwin family, Susan Sanaranwrap and Tim Robbindick to live up to their promise and leave the country, it would be a much better place.

[jyl]

I'd go for France, New Zealand, or Australia.

[John_AZ]

Before you decide to leave, read a few chapters of "What's So Great About America" (c2002) by Dinesh D'Souza.
My view-prior to the current Bush administration, the United States was THE most favorable country to immigrate to.
Me? I live in warm paradise.

John_AZ

[SlowToady]

Probably Honduras. Maybe Costa Rica.

Or Texas

[NICKG]

italy..no doubt