Yours is the best content I've come across regarding moving out of the U.S. There is no guaranteed "perfect" place. That's the dose of reality I need to hear when I feel like I can't stand another minute living under the current administration.
Thanks so much. I suspect many of us are thinking and feeling this way. Even those who voted him in, and are now facing bankruptcy. So much for wanting to wreak punishment on the other guy when the other guy turns out to be you.
Great article and it’s something I realized a couple years ago. I used to want to move away from this part of Canada to escape winter, which can be a drag. And the taxes.
But.
What about all of the inconveniences in the country we considered? The iffy crime situation? The language barrier? The lack of “proper” house wiring? The undependable services? The distance from family? The learning curve with the bureaucracy?
“How can we make these women stop hanging their laundry out on their balconies every day?” I remember reading that and winced. It was a woman who moved to Portugal, where the average person does not have a clothes dryer due to the very high cost of energy here, and the very low annual salaries of the great majority of the country, a fact that someone who moved here to sit on the terrace of their beautiful condo and look out at the sunset, rueing how the sight is uglified by the humanity of clothes hanging on a line, never has to think about so never does think about. You'd think she'd realize that the very ubiquity of this site is saying something about the economics of living in the country for the average citizen - but no, she can afford to focus on aesthetics and thinks everyone else should share this priority. It was super embarrassing to read her comment.
Exactly. I hang my laundry outside on the line like many people do here, in Sicily, I like doing it. I feel fortunate to have a washing machine inside my apartment!
Frankly, I long to be able to,hang my clothes out to dry, the way I did when living in France. No high electric bills, clothes smell so much better and it gave me such a feeling of freedom and simplicity when I did it. Some people are incapable of looking at the world through anything other than their own navels…
Lorie, thank you so much. I can appreciate the influencer version of life overseas, but I'm way too experienced to buy the BS. Late in life such a big mistake is heart-rending. I'm still up in the air but as this Administration gets closer to slashing what limited income I've got it makes increasing sense to keep planning to let America fade into my background as a place to live full time. We'll see. I can make all the plans I want but ultimately the house has to sell before I can make any kind of serious move.
Thank you for writing this, as a person who has solo traveled and worked in 34 countries in the past 19 years, many countries without reliable electricity or wifi, I agree with you. And I'm also age 68 and it's true your concerns do change as you age. And there are things about certain countries that do bother me a lot.
How in parts of Mexico domestic dogs howl at being tied up for 12 hours and this is called the "natural sound of the dog" said the owner of the apartment I was renting next to the abused dog. So you're right, you have to go there and get the experience of being on site and make your own decisions about it.
Medical, food, transportation, and how women are treated, that one is another post entirely.
So true, he Mary. It is VERY noisy in Ecuador, including out in the country. The way dogs are treated in developing countries would shock most. If you can’t handle it, you’d best not try living there. Especially in countries where dogs are dinner.
Exactly true. And I also find that if you're wealthy then you can buffer yourself a bit more easily from the ugly parts of living in some countries.
Sicily is working for me now. I come back every year and enjoy learning a lot about the culture and food. My grandfather was born here but left as a child.
I was in Ecuador for 5 weeks in 2007, a beautiful country.
Did you say you're living in Oregon? I was just on the Oregon coast with my dog this past summer and loved it. Correct if I'm wrong but curious where you are now.
I"m in Eugene. Heading back right now. This is indeed my happiest place in terms of weather and the Coast, but no longer financially viable. I'm on a fixed income and it may well shrink with this administration, as it has for many. That's just one reason I'm exploring.
Cambodia is wonderful, I was there 3 months and it was affordable, had good wifi and friendly residents. Oregon is beautiful, I worked at Crater Lake during a summer in the pandemic because my self employment income went to zero. Have you looked over in Bandon Beach, as prices are lower over there.
I did look down there. It’s too far away from just about everything, which is a problem. I need access to city amenities and Bandon is just a little too far out of the way. Thank you, though.
Whether or not you make the move, I will enjoy seeing the world through your eyes, Julia. I wish you nothing but the best, all good, wherever you land.
As an American who lives outside the US, I often wonder how much of the culture shock I and others write about is uniquely American, and how much is universal?
My guess is that it’s a little of both. Those who travel a lot don’t experience the culture shock as much. The more we are inconvenienced, the more we are comfortable with the unfamiliar.
Julia, I absolutely loved reading this. I've lived in northern Bosnia for over 20 years. I'm an immigrant (which is humbling in its self). As a Brit, the culture, way of life, priorities etc here couldn't be more different than the UK. Bosnia is totally dysfunctional and also quite corrupt, but has a soul. The people are amazing. Everyone looking to "escape" and find somewhere new really needs to experience that new location as much as possible as a local not as a tourist. My journey so far has been rather life changing as I've learned to "reprogramme" myself. My 5 cents to the discussion l. Bests, David
Such truth. I have had the good fortune of traveling to many places in the world, and because I paid attention to their layered realities, there are many I would not want to live in. Research and self-knowledge are absolutes when making these considerations. Thank you for putting your experience out there.
Yours is the best content I've come across regarding moving out of the U.S. There is no guaranteed "perfect" place. That's the dose of reality I need to hear when I feel like I can't stand another minute living under the current administration.
Thanks so much. I suspect many of us are thinking and feeling this way. Even those who voted him in, and are now facing bankruptcy. So much for wanting to wreak punishment on the other guy when the other guy turns out to be you.
Great article and it’s something I realized a couple years ago. I used to want to move away from this part of Canada to escape winter, which can be a drag. And the taxes.
But.
What about all of the inconveniences in the country we considered? The iffy crime situation? The language barrier? The lack of “proper” house wiring? The undependable services? The distance from family? The learning curve with the bureaucracy?
So I’m staying here.
For so many, that is indeed the adventure, Tim.
“How can we make these women stop hanging their laundry out on their balconies every day?” I remember reading that and winced. It was a woman who moved to Portugal, where the average person does not have a clothes dryer due to the very high cost of energy here, and the very low annual salaries of the great majority of the country, a fact that someone who moved here to sit on the terrace of their beautiful condo and look out at the sunset, rueing how the sight is uglified by the humanity of clothes hanging on a line, never has to think about so never does think about. You'd think she'd realize that the very ubiquity of this site is saying something about the economics of living in the country for the average citizen - but no, she can afford to focus on aesthetics and thinks everyone else should share this priority. It was super embarrassing to read her comment.
Exactly. I hang my laundry outside on the line like many people do here, in Sicily, I like doing it. I feel fortunate to have a washing machine inside my apartment!
Frankly, I long to be able to,hang my clothes out to dry, the way I did when living in France. No high electric bills, clothes smell so much better and it gave me such a feeling of freedom and simplicity when I did it. Some people are incapable of looking at the world through anything other than their own navels…
Fabulous! Thank you for being direct, blunt, honest and laying it all out there. I truly appreciate the realism.
Lorie, thank you so much. I can appreciate the influencer version of life overseas, but I'm way too experienced to buy the BS. Late in life such a big mistake is heart-rending. I'm still up in the air but as this Administration gets closer to slashing what limited income I've got it makes increasing sense to keep planning to let America fade into my background as a place to live full time. We'll see. I can make all the plans I want but ultimately the house has to sell before I can make any kind of serious move.
Thank you for writing this, as a person who has solo traveled and worked in 34 countries in the past 19 years, many countries without reliable electricity or wifi, I agree with you. And I'm also age 68 and it's true your concerns do change as you age. And there are things about certain countries that do bother me a lot.
How in parts of Mexico domestic dogs howl at being tied up for 12 hours and this is called the "natural sound of the dog" said the owner of the apartment I was renting next to the abused dog. So you're right, you have to go there and get the experience of being on site and make your own decisions about it.
Medical, food, transportation, and how women are treated, that one is another post entirely.
So true, he Mary. It is VERY noisy in Ecuador, including out in the country. The way dogs are treated in developing countries would shock most. If you can’t handle it, you’d best not try living there. Especially in countries where dogs are dinner.
Exactly true. And I also find that if you're wealthy then you can buffer yourself a bit more easily from the ugly parts of living in some countries.
Sicily is working for me now. I come back every year and enjoy learning a lot about the culture and food. My grandfather was born here but left as a child.
I was in Ecuador for 5 weeks in 2007, a beautiful country.
Did you say you're living in Oregon? I was just on the Oregon coast with my dog this past summer and loved it. Correct if I'm wrong but curious where you are now.
I"m in Eugene. Heading back right now. This is indeed my happiest place in terms of weather and the Coast, but no longer financially viable. I'm on a fixed income and it may well shrink with this administration, as it has for many. That's just one reason I'm exploring.
Cambodia is wonderful, I was there 3 months and it was affordable, had good wifi and friendly residents. Oregon is beautiful, I worked at Crater Lake during a summer in the pandemic because my self employment income went to zero. Have you looked over in Bandon Beach, as prices are lower over there.
I did look down there. It’s too far away from just about everything, which is a problem. I need access to city amenities and Bandon is just a little too far out of the way. Thank you, though.
Whether or not you make the move, I will enjoy seeing the world through your eyes, Julia. I wish you nothing but the best, all good, wherever you land.
Great series.
Thank you, Nancy
As an American who lives outside the US, I often wonder how much of the culture shock I and others write about is uniquely American, and how much is universal?
My guess is that it’s a little of both. Those who travel a lot don’t experience the culture shock as much. The more we are inconvenienced, the more we are comfortable with the unfamiliar.
I am loving this series. So interesting and filled with wisdom. I don’t plan to leave the U.S., f’d up as it is, but I enjoy reading about it.
Julia, I absolutely loved reading this. I've lived in northern Bosnia for over 20 years. I'm an immigrant (which is humbling in its self). As a Brit, the culture, way of life, priorities etc here couldn't be more different than the UK. Bosnia is totally dysfunctional and also quite corrupt, but has a soul. The people are amazing. Everyone looking to "escape" and find somewhere new really needs to experience that new location as much as possible as a local not as a tourist. My journey so far has been rather life changing as I've learned to "reprogramme" myself. My 5 cents to the discussion l. Bests, David
Such truth. I have had the good fortune of traveling to many places in the world, and because I paid attention to their layered realities, there are many I would not want to live in. Research and self-knowledge are absolutes when making these considerations. Thank you for putting your experience out there.
Great advice. Puts my dream of moving into reality.