Where would you move to if you could live anywhere in the world?

[Booboostwo]

We are looking for a new country to move to before DD starts secondary school in 3.5 years time. We are open to suggestions!

Criteria:

• near a decent international school. DCs speak English and French so it would be good if they could continue their education in either of these two languages plus the country’s language. For us a decent school is one that fosters a love of learning rather than pushing to meet targets and ace exams.

• rural living. We enjoy living in the countryside and are used to the limitations.

• preferably a country with a horsey culture, as I ride and compete and would like to continue to do so.

We have lived in three European countries so far so Greece, the U.K. and France are put. DH is very keen on a move to Asia, I think I would prefer to stay in Europe. We don’t want to move to Trump’s US.

I agree that California fits your criteria. Forget about Trump as he will be gone and he’s not remotely popular in California. But go for north or east of Los Angeles. It’s beautiful country and the mountains are close, as is the ocean. West coast Americans are nice and hospitable.

South of LA is conservative Reagan country.

Like Canada but not as cold!

California was an option pre-Trump, sorry, can’t face it now.

Ireland is too wet.

I know nothing about Belgium, Luxembourg and Denmark, they are possibilities!

We are not British so won’t be affected by Brexit that way.

I'd also suggest Germany.

Australia or NZ?

I am also curious to know how you can just decide to move to a country on a whim? What about visas, etc?

Well we’d sort out visas if necessary. In the EU we wouldn’t need them, we could go to a few Asian countries because of DH’s work, otherwise we’d sort out the visa relevantto the country.

What about australia?

If you had to chose between Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium which on would you say is more liberal and less nationalistic, xenophobic and extreme right wing?

We’re seriously considering Japan in the next few years.
Probably not relevant to you but I just wanted to finally say it out loud to someone
My family will be gutted though.

Australia.

Difficult to get visas for though.

New Zealand or Canada, lovely people, beautiful scenery

It would have to be Canada for me. The cold would be made up for in lovely surroundings and people.

DH wants Thailand or Malaysia, but I don’t think it will be easy to live in the countryside in these countries (he showed me a plot in what looked like jungle that was only 15 minutes to KL...by helicopter 🤣😫🤪) and the horsey requirement is not met!

Canada has always been my dream. I would love west coast for best of all worlds; coast, forest, city and mountains all doable. Summers are beautiful and yes, winter is cold but crisp cold, not damp cold that gets into your bones.

DH wants Thailand or Malaysia, but I don’t think it will be easy to live in the countryside in these countries

Ha ha. I had exactly this discussion on here a few years ago- trying to explain to someone that there is no Cotswolds equivalent (charming rural villages commutable to major hub where you can do a well paid job). Unless you have serious serious money it would be very challenging, and schooling would be impossible.

Plus, if you're looking for somewhere with liberal views and where the poor dont get fucked over, Malaysia doesn't really tick the box. Ex-PM makes Trump look like a beacon of good governance.

If you had to chose between Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium which on would you say is more liberal and less nationalistic, xenophobic and extreme right wing?

Netherlands. They’ve got Geert Wilders, but in my experience the people are pretty liberal - more so than Germans and definitely more than Belgians.

I have to say though, Spain seems to me to fit your criteria very well. It’s not remotely like Greece - that’s an odd comparison.

Your kids speak English and french, but, not German when their dad is German? I'd move to Germany, then, get that sorted.

Also have you considered South Africa? I know of two people who independently moved there for the horsey scene and both used to compete.

Switzerland? Lots of space just outside cities, mountains/lakes/etc. French, (Swiss) German, English in terms of languages.

Schools are apparently excellent, but are often set up very deliberately to prevent one parent returning to work (i.e. 2 hour lunch breaks in the middle of the day, no possibility of remaining on site; horrifically expensive childcare before school starts) - might not, therefore, tick the "liberal" box as I get the impression it's pretty patriarchal.

I think I might have been Swiss in a former life- I love skiing, chocolate and everyone following the rules 😆

East Malaysia (Borneo) rather than peninsula Malaysia ticks the boxes except for being horsey. We lived practically on the beach at the edge of town so lots of water sports activities (sailing, diving, windsurfing, paddle boarding) and not far to drive for jungle hiking. Sarawak is also very culturally diverse and welcoming. International school OK for primary but they’d really need to commute to Brunei for secondary (Brunei itself might be an option but it’s becoming increasingly conservative Muslim).

Québec? In Canada I know but.....

We have family just back from three years in Malaysia with work and they loved it.

If you don't want Spain, how about Portugal? Some fabulous Lusitano horses and some of the best classical riders in the world.