X-Pat Thread

[seanm123]

Re: Ex-Pat Thread

I have family in NZ, it is an enchanting place besides the fact the Aussies treat the NZ folks like second class.

[BadJuju]

Re: Ex-Pat Thread

Sorry, but I don't want Sharky, another name for the corrupt Saruman, to spread the black word of his dark lord Sauron here.

[doom&gloom]

Re: Ex-Pat Thread

I moved from the US to NZ about 6 yrs ago. One of the best (and most difficult) things I've ever done for myself and my family.

Would be happy to tell you more about the pros and cons, if you're interested.

Absolutely update us to all the pros and cons, I for one would love to hear it!

[Sharky]

Re: Ex-Pat Thread

New Zealand might be good, but I don't know much about it.

I moved from the US to NZ about 6 yrs ago. One of the best (and most difficult) things I've ever done for myself and my family.

Would be happy to tell you more about the pros and cons, if you're interested.

[doom&gloom]

Re: Ex-Pat Thread

Glad to know Greenland is safe! Maybe just a few Viking ghosts to threaten you.

it's funny how entire countries get safe/not safe ratings when nothing could be further from the truth. Some parts of Mexico are extremely safe, others not so. Just like no white person in their sane mind would walk the streets of bombed out Detroit at night (or even days I might think), but would have no issue walking my 'hood any day or night ever. Parts of Buenos Aires are downright scary, others no problem.

[doom&gloom]

Re: Ex-Pat Thread

Shiny,

Be careful with selecting Central America...while there are some good sized clusters of American expats there and it's an affordable retirement region for Americans(and others) there are also clusters of considerable crime.....off the charts violent crime.

New Zealand WAS a fantastic destination for middle class emigration from the US, but that largely ended a number of years ago.

In 2000, the average home in NZ was approx $50,000USD, today the average NZ home price in USD is approx $325,000USD.

It's a fantastic place that seems to combine a fair bit of independent entrepreneurial spirit with a fair bit of social welfare...not perfect, but it works OK.

Although I would rate NZ a good bit behind the likes of Canada and Australia as resilient/flexible countries for the difficult period ahead.

If I was a young man without a family I'd probably look hard at Brazil.

I know it's gotten more expensive....but it was an ideal location for emigration about 5 years ago.....but I think looking very long term, Brazil might well be in a position not too different from the US circa 1900....warts and all.

I would not recommend Afghanistan as an emigration destination, but I certainly know a good number of folks making the jump to Dubai again.........3.5 years ago people were leaving Dubai like Saigon 1975....that seems to have reversed course. Dubai's gone crazy town again.

I first started looking at land in SA due to experience Americans were having there with large soy & cotton plantations. But I gave up the idea because initial investment was too expensive and the land used LOTS of petro-based inputs to make things grow. In fact, it was Brasil that eventually pushed me into Uruguay by happenstance. Uruguay is in kind of a 'sweet spot' in the rain and latitude arena for growing crops, and double-cropping is easy most years. In comparison to most places it is a no-brainer once you understand what you are doing.

I too would LOVE to go to Brasil. I would even go now as an 'old man' were it not for family. Brasilians as a whole are very friendly and welcoming. Sure they have a lot of crime there, but like anywhere else, stay out of those areas and you can be okay.

And for anyone ever thinking of learning spanish with an eye to maybe move to Brasil, learn portugues first, and the spanish comes very easy. Learn spanish first, and the portugues does not come so easy. trust me on this one.

[wayiwalk]

Re: Ex-Pat Thread

The most dangerous countries:



http://www.theatlantic.com/internati...n-maps/274593/

Anywhere there are people, there will trouble when times get hard.
I think the best solution is to live in a geographically isolated country that is presently safe, within a local community of good people who accept you, and are near self-sufficiency, i.e., farmers.

Europe is too diverse.
New Zealand might be good, but I don't know much about it.
The US is my choice, partly because of familiarity and the social structure, but I wouldn't want to live in the cities.

Glad to know Greenland is safe! Maybe just a few Viking ghosts to threaten you.

[shiny!]

Re: Ex-Pat Thread

I think we have already established that shiny looks better with lipstick than you do.

LOL'd so hard I startled all the cats :-)

Crime is something to consider. The websites like internationalliving.com gloss over all the negatives while painting rosy pictures. I don't want that. Beyond crime in the present day, how will foreigners fare if the economy crashes in a very poor country where you don't blend in? I don't want to feel like a target.

That said, there are certainly cities in the USA where I wouldn't want to live, and neighborhoods where I wouldn't set foot. The neighborhood i live in right now isn't so hot. I don't go walking at night.

Portugal sounds interesting. So does Greece, actually. I feel more at home in the European culture rather than the Latin i.e. Spanish x Native American culture. This is not intended as a slight against anybody. I just think that I will always feel and be treated like a foreigner in Central and most of South America.

[lakedaemonian]

Re: Ex-Pat Thread

A friend of mine just moved to Ensanada. The house was burglarized the same day he moved in. They took everything. They pulled the bars off the window to get in. The police think they used a truck.

Yeah, I'm not an expert on Central America...but some folks who I trust who have a wealth of experience have mentioned that the narcocrime issue is spilling pretty heavily into Central America.....I think El Salvador and Honduras are battling for murder capital of the world at the moment.....and it may be spilling into Costa Rica.

I reckon there's plenty of nice places to emigrate and retire to in Central America.....but I also reckon they've got their fair share of rather bad places as well.

[globaleconomicollaps]

Re: Ex-Pat Thread

Be careful with selecting Central America...while there are some good sized clusters of American expats there and it's an affordable retirement region for Americans(and others) there are also clusters of considerable crime.....off the charts violent crime.

A friend of mine just moved to Ensanada. The house was burglarized the same day he moved in. They took everything. They pulled the bars off the window to get in. The police think they used a truck.

[lakedaemonian]

Re: Ex-Pat Thread

Shiny,

Be careful with selecting Central America...while there are some good sized clusters of American expats there and it's an affordable retirement region for Americans(and others) there are also clusters of considerable crime.....off the charts violent crime.

New Zealand WAS a fantastic destination for middle class emigration from the US, but that largely ended a number of years ago.

In 2000, the average home in NZ was approx $50,000USD, today the average NZ home price in USD is approx $325,000USD.

It's a fantastic place that seems to combine a fair bit of independent entrepreneurial spirit with a fair bit of social welfare...not perfect, but it works OK.

Although I would rate NZ a good bit behind the likes of Canada and Australia as resilient/flexible countries for the difficult period ahead.

If I was a young man without a family I'd probably look hard at Brazil.

I know it's gotten more expensive....but it was an ideal location for emigration about 5 years ago.....but I think looking very long term, Brazil might well be in a position not too different from the US circa 1900....warts and all.

I would not recommend Afghanistan as an emigration destination, but I certainly know a good number of folks making the jump to Dubai again.........3.5 years ago people were leaving Dubai like Saigon 1975....that seems to have reversed course. Dubai's gone crazy town again.

[doom&gloom]

Re: Ex-Pat Thread

I think we have already established that shiny looks better with lipstick than you do.

Somehow I think BadJuju would look more like this in comparison!



Hey Shiny!, with all the problems in Argentina now Salto could be quite the place for you. I hear it is quite nice there. Also in the Lakes region.

[globaleconomicollaps]

Re: Ex-Pat Thread

Let's do it, GEC! I'll be the pretty homemaker if you can bring the dough.

I think we have already established that shiny looks better with lipstick than you do.

[BadJuju]

Re: Ex-Pat Thread

Let's do it, GEC! I'll be the pretty homemaker if you can bring the dough.

[globaleconomicollaps]

Re: Ex-Pat Thread

Nice map! It keeps coming back to Uruguay for its culture, in spite of its cost of living not being as low as other countries. D&G's incredibly generous offer is hard to top. Or there's Salto. From what I've read it's considered a walkable city, is surrounded by farms and abundant water (this has become a big deal for me after living in deserts for 30 years) and has a lower cost of living than Montevideo. I would save a lot of money every month just by not having a car.

Not speaking from personal experience, but I have been looking at land in Portugal. It seems unbelievably cheap. I don't know what the cost of living is in Portugal, but it is a country in europe and they have supermarkets and the mail works.

Check this out:
http://www.homesforsaleinportugal.co...page=0&stype=S

Too much for you? Try 50,000
http://www.homesforsaleinportugal.co...page=0&stype=S