Originally Posted by Bubblehead1980 (Post 2818158)

I am actually not unhappy personally(quite presumptuous of you), I have a great life, but I an unhappy with this country and do not see it changing anytime soon, it is descending into a worse state. These are systemic issues that predate me and that will likely outlast me or not change until I am quite elderly. I am relatively young and desire to live in a better nation, and there is much evidence to show some of those I am considering moving to have a much better way of life, are a bit more evolved. I've traveled to all states in the US and while some are better than others, still has the same systematic issues. I've traveled internationally a bit as well, but yet to live abroad.

Also, I am not being "emotional" (Could you be more condescending?) or believe things because of propaganda, but I have seen them first hand through my profession and personal experiences.


"Learn to be happy with whatever comes." That really made my eyes roll, that is the mindset of a "settler". Someone who settles for everything in life and pretends/convinces themselves are happy, so the live out their days existing..."Learning to be happy with whatever comes" . I hate to be presumptuous, but I know the type.



Anyways, thanks for the response.

Originally Posted by Oubaas (Post 2817955)

I've spent my adult life living all over the world. I've been to six out of seven continents. I tried to get to Antarctica, but they didn't have any billets for someone like me.


After I retired from the military, I went to Africa for many years. I finally got to an age where I said, "Okay, that's enough adventure now. Time for a quiet, normal life." I then returned to the United States, bought a ranch, and settled down for once.


Based on the life that I've led, here's my thoughts.


You're not going to fix anything by moving someplace else. All you'll do is exchange one set of problems for a new set of problems. And often the new set sucks worse than your old set of problems. There are no problem-free places. Not on this planet, anyway.


The myth of a, "free press" is a crock, unless you happen to be a billionaire who owns a major media outlet.


Do not listen to anything that the media says. The truth is not in them. Decades ago, I participated in military operations that made international news. I was there, smack in the middle of things, boots on the ground. When I got back to places where you could get things like newspapers and read the accounts of the events in which I had just participated, I inevitably thought, "Who wrote this fiction?" Most accounts were nearly unrecognizable. I doubt that the level of veracity has improved over the ensuing decades.


If you go near the media, just scan the headlines to make sure that nothing is sneaking up on you. Take all of it with a grain of salt.


If possible, live in a rural area. Fewer things to bother you. Ignore any titillating scraps of information provided by other people. They'll regurgitate anything, no matter how sketchy the source, if they think that it will make them look knowledgeable.


Do not discuss politics or religion with anyone for any reason. No good will come of it. As for current events, if it's not happening on my property, I ignore it. Don't worry until you have a reason to worry.



As you journey along the road of life, try not to let your ego or your emotions do the driving. Both of them are terrible drivers. You'll probably be in a major wreck if they drive.


Moving countries and continents is expensive. Dealing with the new country's rules and requirements can be far more stressful than anything that's currently upsetting you. Plus there are diseases for which you, unlike the locals, will not have any natural immunity. There's culture shock. And there's banking and currency exchange which are inevitably a major headache. The list goes on and on.



If you're determined to go ahead with leaving for another country, do yourself a favor. It will save you all sorts of money and headaches. Pick a place in Africa and go there on an extended vacation. Set up a checking account at a local bank. Write a few checks. Stay long enough to have to do some banking. Do it in person, at the bank. You'll get my point by the time that your vacation is over.



And once you've moved, you get to pay again to undo it when you start missing home.



Better the devil you know than the devil you don't. Most people do much better in their own country and culture.

Originally Posted by Sean C (Post 2818188)

Yes, better to just flee and settle somewhere else. I mean, trying to effect a positive change in one's environment is just so much work. Ugh.

Originally Posted by Gorpet (Post 2818383)

What do you think about General Milley? I know you stated you are retired military and lived in Africa for many years. And apparently made enough money to leave and return to the USA and buy a ranch. Who knows where? Want to tell Bubblehead how you did that? Oh hell here comes the truth!

And if i was weak in the mind i would follow your plan. "Pick a place in Africa and go there on an extended vacation. Set up a checking account at a local bank. Write a few checks. Stay long enough to have to do some banking. Do it in person, at the bank.You'll get my point by the time that your vacation is over." Your not telling him the truth are you? see it's S==t F==cks like you . Our country doesn't need.

Originally Posted by Oubaas (Post 2818388)

I'm a little confused as to who it is that you feel our country doesn't need, Gorpet.

As for how I feel about all military personnel, not just General Milley, I feel that each and every one of them should fulfill their oath and duty to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Military personnel should be above politics for as long as they serve. Anyone politicizing their position should be given a Bad Conduct Discharge and be shown the door.

The banking in Africa remark was simply to illustrate the difficulties that one might encounter while living in other countries. Banking in Africa is a nightmare. I know, I did it for years. I cringed every time that I knew that I had to go to the bank.

As for how I made enough money to come home and buy a ranch, I simply lived prudently and invested wisely, Why? How did you think that I made my money?

Originally Posted by Gorpet (Post 2818391)

Do you think General Miley with his Critical Race Theory should be in Command ? and if so why? And as far as Banking in Africa is concerned and the nightmares you lived through.This is what i would like you to tell our friend Bubblehead about. And how you blended as an American in a foreign country for all those years.And never used your Americanism in any way and you weren't ever working for any Cooperation or Government.And somehow with the dirt pay of an ex soldier or scrabbling around in Africa. You managed not only to get back to the good ole USA . But you end up with a ranch back in America before retirement age.And what exactly does living prudently and investing wisely mean? You had family money backing you ?

Originally Posted by Oubaas (Post 2818394)

I do not support Critical Race Theory, nor anyone who promotes it. It's simply hate being peddled as virtue.

Living in other countries is not always easy. There are people in this world who will target you simply because you're carrying an American passport. And you'd better be prepared to handle such situations, should they arise.

I wasn't working for anyone when I was in Africa. I didn't go there to work. My wife is an Afrikaner lass. I was there with her, and her family. Bought a house and settled down for a while.

As for military retirement pay, if you make enough rank, it's not necessarily dirt pay. I started out with literally nothing, and worked hard in the course of my military career. I lived prudently, meaning that I did not spend extravagantly, waste money on things that I didn't really need, and so forth.

I also studied and learned where to put my money so that it would grow and stay ahead of inflation. And I married a much younger woman with a good education who makes decent money herself.

So there's no secret method to how I came to be able to buy a ranch and live a comfortable life. I started with empty pockets, worked hard, volunteered for things that I felt would be career enhancing, learned how to keep my money growing, and lived in a fairly Spartan manner, by most people's standards. I retired well, married a young woman who had good earning power herself, we worked as a team, and eventually we managed to be able live a reasonably comfortable life.

It's a boring story, but that's the way things transpired.

Originally Posted by Gorpet (Post 2818395)

So,The secret of life,Budadad, Is marry a woman that's much younger and smarter than you and makes more money than you. And someday you will own a ranch. Living a spartan life in California.

Originally Posted by Oubaas (Post 2818398)

It doesn't hurt, but I'd still be living comfortably even if I had never met my wife. She has certainly contributed, but I retired from the military in pretty good shape. Learning about investing is a good idea as well.

Originally Posted by Oubaas (Post 2818398)

It doesn't hurt, but I'd still be living comfortably even if I had never met my wife. She has certainly contributed, but I retired from the military in pretty good shape. Learning about investing is a good idea as well.

Originally Posted by August (Post 2818611)

This thread reminds me of the way that some Europeans (not all) talk. They don't see themselves as a German , Frenchman or whatever but as some kind of independent separate entity that is similar to a host/guest relationship. They have no particular love or loyalty to their own homeland, just a self centered "what can the country do for me" mindset.

"Hotel" USA is just too seedy for them or the management has issues or whatever their complaint of the day may be and they are looking to ditch the place and go find a new set of lodgings to complain about.

I would much rather see those people actually leave and give their spot to some hungry immigrant who actually wants to be a part of this Great Experiment. We have too many "Guests" and other useless hangers-on here already sucking up the resources and we'd be better off just cutting them loose.

Originally Posted by Rockstar (Post 2818662)

It’s one thing to look at other countries as a primary residence, second home maybe even a time share. If your job takes you there you may get so accustomed to the area you’ll never want to leave. Maybe after years of hard work moving for the sake of living the good life is not a bad idea either. There are really beautiful environments, people, beaches, etc, etc. One must also carefully look at the economics, currency, jobs, political stability, crime statistics, judicial system, customs, police, medicine, a way out when they’re on your door step shouting “Yankee Go Home” :), you name it. Find a place take a vacation and for Pete’s sake don’t stay at an all inclusive hotel. Get out and live like a native in your desired neighborhood. Look around, do they have uniformed armed military police on every corner like they did when I was in Acapulco? If they do it’s not the place you want to live no matter what anybody says.

But making such a transition based on what seem like a political statement is not IMO a very good reason to move. Too much can go wrong.

Anyway, a couple of recommendations to look into is maybe Bocas Del Toro or El Chorrera both located in Panama. El Chorrera has a decent number of former Canal Zone workers which never left.

Originally Posted by Bubblehead1980 (Post 2818717)

Nationalism/Jingoism, which most often masquerades as "patriotism" drives what you speak of, a almost blind loyalty, void of intellectual thought or consideration, it is reactionary. Real patriotism is not ignoring problems, waving a flag, and repeating platitudes that make us feel warm and fuzzy inside while ignoring the problems.