If you could emigrate, where would you go?

[Dinoswearunderpants]

Just curious if you could, or if you have, where would/did you go?

I feel like the UK is becoming so unsafe and I wonder if it's a 'grass is greener' but I'd love to move abroad. Just no idea where.

Back in the day my parents emigrated to Australia, I was 6 months old at the time. We came back 7 years later. I have always wanted to go back permanently but alas never got the chance. I am envious of my younger sibling (who was born there), as they were able to go back due to them being eligible for an Aussie passport and no visa requirements. I've been back a few times but always shed a tear when it's time to go. I miss the city I spent my early childhood in.

Another one in Canada, in Quebec

I cannot praise it enough

Love the seasons

Love the attitude towards children

The healthcare system isn't the best, but you can have a doctor appointment the same day or next if desperate. Very good clinics for children too, usually same day

Education system good too.

Cost of living has risen, we were lucky to buy our house when we did

Probably Mexico, because then I could cross the border into the great US of A.

I emigrated to Western Australia in 2013. It was the best decision I ever made! I am WFH today and looking out the window at my lovely pool, and I live five minutes from a glorious beach. I would never have had anything like that in the UK or Ireland (have lived in both).

Switzerland!......Sweden, Iceland, Denmark, Norway or Finland.. would be my absolute dream places to live.
I will never be wealthy enough/have good enough job prospects to do that and I have 3 kids.. it's not likely to happen any time soon.

France is a real possibility at the moment tho. I'm not sure it would be much better than the UK just different. But it's a consideration.. it would be exciting.

I sometimes think about New Zealand but its just so far away from everywhere.. very beautiful. But I have a friend from there who says anyone who grew up there is usually desperate to get out of there because it feels boring as a young person.

It's customary for young NZers to go overseas for at least a couple of years. Some stay, but many return. They were doing it decades ago when I was young, and no doubt before that. However, many are content to stay - not every young person is "desperate" to get out!

Austria! My husband is Austrian and it's unbelievable gorgeous

Costa Rica.

About 4 years until I can afford to take early retirement. Dd will have finished Uni and hopefully be settled into work. Then I'll be off.

Brazil or Mexico. These cultures are so fascinating, friendly people, good food, hot. I don't think I'd fit in though, so they're a fantasy. Can't speak the language for a start!

I am in Switzerland too. I would say overall quality of life is good but it depends on what you prioritise. On plus side, good transport service, good scenery an hour or two hours away from cities, lower taxes, decent salaries, low crime, good education. On the other hand, weather similar to the UK in the sense that there are a lot of grey days, cities are boring, with bland, grey buildings unless you are in the city center, not enough housing, so not much choice to rent, it's a landlords market, they prefer to rent to locals in sought after areas, even if you can afford, food is not good in terms of taste, not much variety in eating out( maybe I am biased because we used to live in London and I am a foodie), people are reserved, and less helpful in public than in UK, it can be isolating for foreigners, especially if you are above 40, very difficult to make friends. I have been living in my apartment building for 5 years, and some neighbours dont even say hello. London is not known to be the friendliest city on planet, but even there we would acknowledge our neighbours, hold door for them. Learning language is important if you want to integrate. Also, Switzerland has the highest percentage of depression in expat wives and right wing government.

Denmark or Norway I think. I'm not a huge fan of hot weather and quite like rain. They're clean, the money has holes in.

Only downside would always being the shortest person in the room amongst the tall vikings.

Aus is always possible for us and the dc now have passports but not yet, we’re happy here

I understand the sentiment with current news though

My cousin lived in Vancouver for a while and I loved it when I visited her. We went skiing in Canada (not Whistler!) in Feb this year but changed planes in Vancouver, and one of the border staff was an expat from Dublin, who moved over to be with her boyfriend. We were gushing about looking at moving to Canada, and she implored us not to. She said the cost of living is ridiculously high, healthcare is poor - and she said it's really boring!!

So, Canadian dreams dashed 😉, DH and I are keen to move to SW France or NW Spain...I know the grass isn't greener, but at least the weather, cheese and wine is generally better!

(My brother has done several work trips to Australia (medic) and enjoyed his time there but was glad to come back. He said it's very racist and misogynistic as a society, and the lack of culture got to him. He's a great outdoorsy person (mountain biking, hiking, surfing etc) but said it got a bit same-y 🤷 and it's a bazillion miles from home when you have family/ageing parents which he found hard)

Your brother sounds like a barrel of laughs @Panicmode1 🤣🤣
I guess he missed all the galleries, museums, art spaces, the fact that it’s one of the most multicultural countries in the world? And which bits were “samey”? The rainforest? The beaches? The bush? Hills? Outback?
Honestly I wonder why some people even bother to travel when they just go to a place and then do nothing when they’re there.

@Ozgirl75 Ridiculous isn't it? 😁

we moved to Montreal - loving it.

There’s always one on these threads! Saying “it’s so far” - ummm yeah, that’s what’s good about it. So it’s not filled with dickheads.

Wrong post sorry

That’s a bit aggro and I’m sure there are some there ; they probably just mean from family and friends

For those of you raving about Vancouver, you might like to look at more recent press about the Fentanyl problem.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/climate-and-people/vancouver-opioid-crisis-drug-addiction-british-columbia-canada/

My DH is Canadian ( east coast) and he’d never go back because of the savage winters.

I’ve lived overseas and have an international family and friends. There’s no where I’d really choose to emigrate and I’d have to have a massive income to make it work. But I guess Barbados - year round weather, lovely people and a relaxed vibe.

Iceland

Australia. I have spent a lot of time there and have friends. Sadly, my age and family ties mean that it isn’t ever likely to happen.

If I had my time again…

Australia. We can actually move there because we are kiwis. But we ended up here and now with teens, it's too hard to move country. We are also probably too old to naturalise. (We haven't investigated how points we'll get because we aren't interested in moving). DH and I often think about how different our lifes would have been if we went to Australia when we graduated 20 years ago.

We often told the DC they could get their New Zealand passport and travel and work both in Australia and NZ for a few years.

Australia is really beautiful. Only ever made a short trip but adored it.

@Ozgirl75 He's extremely well travelled, and certainly doesn't 'do nothing' when he goes anywhere. He's just spent time hiking and cycling in Patagonia, and then travelled to Argentina. He's lived in South America, and travelled extensively in Europe and Asia - less so in Africa. He's also had several stints in Oz. He enjoyed his time in Sydney, but found Perth fairly parochial, and said that compared to European culture, Australian culture/museums are 'samey'. He's a big classical music fan and sings in choral music choirs/plays instruments and said the opportunities were limited...I haven't been so I can't comment further on what led him to say that, only what he's said based on his experiences...sorry!