Any US Expatriates here?

[Rockstar]

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.

[mapuc]

Let some of your home be there-In case your new home is worse than your primary home is and you flee back.

Markus

[Bubblehead1980]

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

The hungry immigrant comes here but is most often exploited, abused, more than typical US worker is. Frankly, they just do not know any better, they are desperate so they come here to be cheap labor. Our economy was founded on free labor of slaves, which were replaced by exploited immigrant workers, first Europeans, and now its mostly those poor souls in Latin American and Asia.

A favorite quote:

“In your dread of dictators you established a state of society in which every ward boss is a dictator, every financier a dictator, every private employer a dictator, all with the livelihood of the workers at their mercy, and no public responsibility. And to symbolize this state of things, this defeat of all government, you have set up in New York Harbour a monstrous idol which you call Liberty. The only thing that remains to complete this monument is to put on its pedestal the inscription written by Dante on the gate of Hell ‘All hope abandon, ye who enter here.” -George Bernard Shaw



Sure, in some ways may be a better life than where coming from, but it is a false comparison to compare the USA its natural born citizens with a third world country. When compare the USA with other Western, developed nations, we lag far beyond. We're wealthy, but stingy when it comes to helping out our own people as other nations do. Thus, the US is not a happy, healthy nation, we lead in very few positive things. We lead the world in incarcerated persons (over two million) , people who believe angels are real, and military spending. Large number of people are in poverty, or just a missed paycheck away from it, homeless, hungry, dying because can't afford healthcare. I see it all the time with clients, but hey but long as military industrial complex is booming right? Oh, let us not forget supreme court ending federal protection of body autonomy and deciding can't sue a cop for violating Miranda rights. These people were not elected, but appointed to life terms and they lied in their confirmation hearings. Your "Hotel" argument is quite simplistic, and inaccurate.

I do love the US, for what it is supposed to be, but it has degraded far beyond that and there is, barring something akin to a miracle, no saving it in my life time, so yes I wish to find better culture, better country to reside in.I am lucky that I have the ability to do that, some people are stuck, I feel for the majority.


"Guests" ah yes, your fellow citizens who disagree with your nationalistic view, so we should just "cut them loose" lol. Sounds like you would fit in well in a authoritarian regime. Ah the contradiction lol.


This thread escalated quickly into what is basically "Americuh, luv it or leave it! errrr!" Attacks on me because I reached out on a forum with a lot of international users, regarding living as a expatriate.

[Bubblehead1980]

Originally Posted by Rockstar

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.

Yes, I have research and am continuing research on all the topics you mentioned.

My considering moving is not a political statement, that is silly, as have mentioned. My desire to move is to find a more stable, peaceful, happy nation to live in. I enjoyed Acapulco, but would not live there. Mexico is pretty much off my list to be honest, loved my visits would not live there.


Yes, one reason I reached out to expats in particular was to get point of view on living in various nations I am considering. I have friends and acquaintances as mentioned in many of them, such as Panama. Found out fraternity brother from college is living in Iceland, once I had not considering but my interest is now piqued after some conversations.

[August]

Originally Posted by Bubblehead1980

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.

None of that applies to me so whatever.

The hungry immigrant comes here but is most often exploited, abused, more than typical US worker is. Frankly, they just do not know any better, they are desperate so they come here to be cheap labor. Our economy was founded on free labor of slaves, which were replaced by exploited immigrant workers, first Europeans, and now its mostly those poor souls in Latin American and Asia.

CRT theory? please. The Pilgrims had entire armies of slaves running around picking bay state cotton? New England Whalers, Pennsylvania farmers, Maine lumbermen they all succeeded only because of their many slaves? C'mon now. You have a better education than to believe that.

The fact is our huge and multi-polar economy was founded on a lot of things, including thirteen quite disparate state economies and several foreign economic spheres cobbled together under an experimental new form of government that did, and still does, offer the best chance for advancement than anywhere else in the world, George Bernard Shaws opinion notwithstanding. What did that dour Irishman know about us anyways?

I much prefer Mark Twains take:

We are called the nation of inventors. And we are. We could still claim that title and wear its loftiest honors if we had stopped with the first thing we ever invented, which was human liberty.”

As well as that of the Ralph Waldo Emerson:

America is another name for opportunity. Our whole history appears like a last effort of divine providence on behalf of the human race.”

Sure, in some ways may be a better life than where coming from, but it is a false comparison to compare the USA its natural born citizens with a third world country. When compare the USA with other Western, developed nations, we lag far beyond. We're wealthy, but stingy when it comes to helping out our own people as other nations do

The socialism you call "help" costs them a lot bigger slice of their earnings too and a lot of western nations have the luxury of not paying for their own defense because stingy old America does it for them.

...people who believe angels are real

I stopped reading right there. I'm not religious but your snarky comments about peoples personal beliefs just confirmed my own satisfaction that you are leaving.

I do love the US, for what it is supposed to be, but it has degraded far beyond that and there is, barring something akin to a miracle, no saving it in my life time, so yes I wish to find better culture, better country to reside in.I am lucky that I have the ability to do that, some people are stuck, I feel for the majority.

I don't think the majority here would feel that they are stuck. Certainly the millions trying to get in to our great land wouldn't feel that way so go, find your utopia.

"Guests" ah yes, your fellow citizens who disagree with your nationalistic view, so we should just "cut them loose" lol. Sounds like you would fit in well in a authoritarian regime. Ah the contradiction lol.

You completely missed the point. By guests I meant those who act like their homeland is just some dingy hotel room that can be swapped out for improved accommodations at a whim. I feel that such people are only drags upon whatever society they reside in so yeah I would be quite glad if they went and became a drag elsewhere. How does that make me an authoritarian? Hmmm?

This thread escalated quickly into what is basically "Americuh, luv it or leave it! errrr!" Attacks on me because I reached out on a forum with a lot of international users, regarding living as a expatriate.

I detected little or no rancor from anyone here. Simple criticism of your plans and opinions are not attacks and if you really feel that way it sounds to me like you have a thin skin which ought to serve you well in your new foreign home.

BTW did you make your decision yet, maybe set a date? I heard somewhere that you actually have to pay a fee to give up your US citizenship. Ain't that some bull? Worse than the get out of town taxes they have over in Rhode Island!

[Rockstar]

Originally Posted by Bubblehead1980

Yes, I have research and am continuing research on all the topics you mentioned.

My considering moving is not a political statement, that is silly, as have mentioned. My desire to move is to find a more stable, peaceful, happy nation to live in. I enjoyed Acapulco, but would not live there. Mexico is pretty much off my list to be honest, loved my visits would not live there.


Yes, one reason I reached out to expats in particular was to get point of view on living in various nations I am considering. I have friends and acquaintances as mentioned in many of them, such as Panama. Found out fraternity brother from college is living in Iceland, once I had not considering but my interest is now piqued after some conversations.

Iceland is kewl. Though I think youth is best suited for the cold. Having lived up in the snow belt of Minnesota & Wisconsin. If you can’t hunt, fish, snowmobile, ski, skate, play hockey, drive a car in snow and ice, get to the grocery store or do stuff outside. Winter can be isolating and get boring pretty damn quick the older you get. That’s why I moved to Florida! The warmth of a beach is where it’s at .

[em2nought]

Originally Posted by Rockstar

Iceland is kewl. Though I think youth is best suited for the cold. .

The naturally well insulated do better in the cold too.

[nikimcbee]

Originally Posted by Rockstar

Having lived up in the snow belt of Minnesota & Wisconsin. .

Hold the phone! Where in MN?

[Bubblehead1980]

Originally Posted by Rockstar

Iceland is kewl. Though I think youth is best suited for the cold. Having lived up in the snow belt of Minnesota & Wisconsin. If you can’t hunt, fish, snowmobile, ski, skate, play hockey, drive a car in snow and ice, get to the grocery store or do stuff outside. Winter can be isolating and get boring pretty damn quick the older you get. That’s why I moved to Florida! The warmth of a beach is where it’s at .

Ha, I am from Florida originally, moved to get away from the heat, its ridiculous in the summer. Only fun if can be in the water/boat with a few drinks or in the AC, mostly. Living daily life, especially in a suit can be miserable lol. If retired, prob not too bad.

[Rockstar]

Originally Posted by nikimcbee

Hold the phone! Where in MN?

Up the hill on Skyline Pkwy Duluth, MN baby. I hear the city is still trying to find a solution to fix potholes in the roads.