Any US Expatriates here?

[Platapus]

It has been said that the Poaceae has a more saturated hue distal to the saepes

[em2nought]

I loved Crete the year I spent there in the late 80s, and Greece has been working on some new forms of visas recently. I guess nomad visas are the big thing now.

I think Italy is even offering to pay your way partly if you'll move into certain villages that have lost population. https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/the-b...here-c-1492509

[Gorpet]

Originally Posted by Bubblehead1980

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.

Care to tell us what your Profession is ? I will tell you what mine is i'm a HVAC man and i will tell you this.With out us the developed world will either freeze or melt.And if we stop working the world stops.I bet you didn't think about that did ya? Of course not just another sheep, That will follow the Politician that takes everything that he hasn't had to work and pay for. For granted and so will you! And what will the world do if the Hvac men go on strike.What are we worth? Certainly we are worth more than Politician or a College Professor when you get back to your domicile in the City.And your Climate Control isn't working Who ya gonna call it will not be Greta or Ghost Busters. All of your heating and cooling components your country cannot make anymore. The Best Brains you have elected to represent you.Hvac workers can have them and the entire country on it's knees in 90 day's . When climate control and our Brothers in sewage shut down .Well Bubblehead we shall see how long your Profession will last.And hamburger flippers want 15 dollars an hr.

[Gorpet]

Originally Posted by Oubaas

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.

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.

[Gorpet]

Originally Posted by Sean C

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.

Yes, When you have no grit to begin with and the your getting older and finally figure out. Everything is not free and life is gonna be a lota work. You have to settle somewhere else. And they don't play that song do they?

[Oubaas]

Originally Posted by Gorpet

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.

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?

[Rockstar]

So, maybe my idea of Panama isn’t such a good idea after all. Happily trails where ever you finally decide to go.


Inflation Protests Span Sri Lanka, Albania, Argentina, Panama, Kenya, Ghana - How Long Before They Hit The United States?


Rufas KamauSenior Contributor
Jul 11, 2022,12:52pm EDT

https://www.forbes.com/sites/rufaska...h=15bbc4b074c2

Sri Lanka is not the only country where household budgets are stretched to the breaking point. In many countries, high inflation has increased the cost of living, and protests are erupting at a rapid pace.

Sri Lanka Economic Crisis Deepens

In Sri Lanka, inflation reached 54.6% in June while the central bank raised interest rates to 15.5%. This means that workers in Sri Lanka are losing savings by the second, while debt repayments have increased, putting strain on household budgets. The government has failed to honor foreign debt, and the IMF has demanded that it raise taxes and combat corruption as a condition for receiving a bailout loan.

Thousands of Albanians marched in Tirana last week, demanding that the government resign due to alleged corruption and a massive increase in consumer prices. The Albanian central bank announced a 1.25% interest rate increase, while official June inflation was 6.7%.

Thousands of Argentinians marched in Buenos Aires last week to protest rising costs of living. With key interest rates at 52% and inflation at 60.7% in May, demonstrators urged the government to resign while rejecting IMF loans that come with ever-tougher conditions for citizens.

Protests against the government in Panama began on first July, demanding that the government address the country's high cost of living. Demonstrators are demanding higher wages, lower commodity prices and the removal of supply chain bottlenecks. While inflation remains low in the highly monetized country, global supply chain issues have impacted Panama Canal revenues, reducing the government's revenues and projections.

The cost of basic foodstuffs has skyrocketed in Kenya and hundreds of protesters marched through Nairobi on Saturday, urging the government to lower food prices. Protesters claimed that the high cost of living was caused by the state's excessive borrowing and rampant corruption. Kenya's official inflation rate is 7.91%, while interest rates are 7.50%.

Ghanaians took to the streets in June to protest the high cost of living. The government was able to negotiate an IMF bailout after inflation reached 27.6% and raising interest rates to 19% did not appear to work. Ghana's economy has been flirting with a debt crisis due to excessive borrowing.

There are other demonstrations in the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and China that seem to span people being unable to comfortably handle household budgets, their cost of living being threatened by environmental, social and governance (ESG) policies and inability to access cash at bank.

While the US remains strong and employment data indicates a thriving economy, higher inflation could easily pressure household budgets and lead to protests. The FED is walking a tight rope and any mistake or black swan event could easily trigger demonstrations…

[Gorpet]

Originally Posted by Oubaas

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?

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 with money backing you ? And the reason i ask is because Bubblehead seems to be from a wealthy family and he's searching for and looking for a way out.He's young he doesn't know yet there is no utopia and there is no way out of what his 65-70 yrs of life will be,the memories of youth and dreams love and living a long life before death.People like you will use him up.

[Oubaas]

Originally Posted by Gorpet

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 ?

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.

[Gorpet]

Originally Posted by Oubaas

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.

So,The secret of life,Bublehead 1980, 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.Or Volunteer for Joe's youth brigade for the Ukraine if you survive you can write a book of your experience's if yours are best. you will become a millionaire.

[Oubaas]

Originally Posted by Gorpet

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.

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.

[Gorpet]

Originally Posted by Oubaas

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.

What do you think about General Milley ?

[Gorpet]

Originally Posted by Oubaas

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.

My, Apologies Budaded . I don't know i went from Bubblehead to you. Anyway Oubaas , Is General Milley the General that will put down any opposition by Bullit if need be to protect the Democrat Party? And when does a soldier that is being paid by the government he has sworn to serve,Will they follow their orders to kill? as long as he and his comrades and their families eat and live better than those they must kill to survive. Well **** between covid and Joe Biden and the American Democrat Party .The thriving humans on this planet don't stand a chance.

[em2nought]

Don't need an HVAC guy anymore ever since mini-splits came along.

[August]

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.