Where in the world to live where people are cared about?

[Feathersandothers]

That’s it really . If you live somewhere where people have access to good healthcare, affordable bills, access to good free education , low crime .. where is it? Nowhere is perfect but some places must be better.
I didn’t live in the UK for most of my adult life, but I am British.
I’ve lived here for the past few years and don’t think I can do it much longer .
But I’m aware that places that I lived that were good before COVID etc are probably feeling the ramifications of global issues as we are here.
So if you live in a place where it feels that the government have your back, where are you?

I watched a programme called the Marigold Hotel where older celebs ho yo India to see if they can get better healthcare etc. On the whole they enjoyed being there. Private health care is very cheap and they value older people. That is a simplified view obvs.

I’m in Norway. Free education, affordable (not free) healthcare. Loooong maternity and paternity leave. Cheap and subsidised daycare from 9 months old. Very transparent. Very high tax though, and both parents need to work, no ‘SAHM s’

How do you find energy costs @barnet ?

I did watch the Marigold hotel series, @Palmtreesandsand , I loved it and it’s certainly a place I’d consider for retirement.

I have heard Scandanavian countries mentioned a lot in these type of convos, Finland, Norway, Sweden.

Ha. This is v funny to me as a person of Indian heritage. I don't mean to be snarky but that program is extremely prettified.

We went to Denmark in the spring (I had lived there as a child) and the whole place just gleams with a sense that everyone takes pride in their community and looks after each other and that the vast majority have access to a reasonable standard of living.

We have been thinking a lot along the same lines as you, and I think this is where we would go. Most people are fluent in English too, which helps a lot.

Where have you been living before?

I live in a small EU country with a great healthcare system but we are reliant on tourism and foreign investment (mainly Russian) so you can imagine how that's going at the moment. Government support is available but tends to be short term as extended families are expected to pick up the slack.

Electricity prices have doubled in the last few months, it gets very cold here in the winter months so I know I won't be able to heat my home like I did last year. However I will manage and I'm thankful I'm not in the UK!

Of course @Tabbouleh but then the celebs featured would most likely be living a very cosseted existence as they were all very rich. India through the lens of a five star resort maybe! I have a family though and my budget is decidedly un-five star

Friend lives in Denmark, she’s a stay at home parent. I think it’s very expensive to eat/drink out- other than that she loves it.

Lots of votes for Scandinavia then!
I wonder how the energy costs are there, especially over the cold Winters?

Sweden apparently has high energy costs.

I know somone who was there for 3 months. He was glad to come back.
daylight in winter arrives at about 9.15am and goes around 3.15pm

He was quite far north Sweden

Trouble is with governments, thye change.

Very, very high!

Yes, I’ve spent a bit of time in Northern Europe and the Winters are very tough, it’s true. Better at dealing with it than here though where everything grinds to a stop with a sprinkle of snow

I agree with many others, it's the Nordic countries you want. Yes tax it high, but look what you get for your trouble.

Some of the more affluent and left wing parts of France can feel like this. Although I haven’t lived there for a long time.

Don’t fancy the high energy costs!

But housing in Nordic countries is generally very well insulated so I'd be surprised if heating costs are 'very, very high'.

I saw a recruitment poster for nurses to go and work in Finland- apparently, "The happiest place in the world to live!"

Here in Norway electricity costs are much higher than normal now, but less than UK and France etc. we don’t use a massive amount of heating in the winter, warm air pumps or wood burning.

I'd give Finland a go in a flash if I was younger and had skills in demand.

Well, my sister lives in Stockholm and that was a direct quote from her.

Yes. Also the Indian government doesn't care about its people at all.

Canada?