If you were 25 with a decent education, which country would you choose to live in ?

[ssd]

Allowing for brexit of course

Shetland is beautiful (if a little windswept and treeless), but it seems to have a terribly high murder rate (but a 100% finding the murderer rate).

Where are you referring to?

Like so many beautiful places, Oxford too, that lovely Caribbean island...

Where are you referring to?
Finland, I think, @ByQuaintAzureWasp

Would you explain why you voted for brexit for your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren?

Absolutely. Let down by the 70+ voters who beleived brexit wod stop Immigration. ERM, it made it worse ... we could pre-brexit send them back whence they came, normally France

Denmark / Finland / Sweden. I would’ve added Estonia to that but I’d be worried putin is eyeing it up

So....it sounds as if you like the idea of Australia because it puts Australians first. Where would that then leave you, as an immigrant? 🤔

Australia, I did look into going there or Canada about 20 years ago. I really regret not going, the lifestyle would have been so much better or at least warmer. The one thing that held me back was leaving friends and family but knowing what I know now and how much better it would have been for my own children we definitely should have gone.

To be fair, since 2019 Police Scotland has an almost 100% rate (not including those awaiting trial) at resolving murders. Nice to see it reflected in fiction too. 😂

I’d go to Italy. Probably Turin or Milan, maybe Genoa. Lots of problems but good quality of life and a focus on stuff that matters, plus mountains in winter and beaches in summer.

Second choice, Germany (and in particular the South/South West. For good municipal services, better housing, good social protection.

Third choice, Canada. Has everything going for it but just a little bit too far away from remaining family in the UK

I would not stay in the UK. I’d cut my losses and run at that young age.

That’s incorrect . You can buy beer, cider and low alcohol wines ( up to 8%) in supermarkets until 9pm. It’s only spirits and stronger wines which you have to buy in the state owned Alko stores ( which are open to 8pm during the week and 6pm on Saturdays ).

Denmark isn’t for me. Not that cosmopolitan and suspicious of those who spread their wings. LOADS of old money and new poverty.

Finland is interesting but dark and as people have said, big issues with depression and addiction.

Norway is boring and weird.

Sweden really appealing but not the utopia it’s painted to be.

I can answer that. I emigrated to Australia and got citizenship, so I’m Australian and an immigrant. Over 30% of Aussies were born overseas so there are quite a few of us!

To answer the original question, I’ve lived in the Uk (NI and London), Ireland and now Western Australia. I liked them all well enough ( except small town NI), but Australia is the best and I won’t be moving anywhere else, although I wouldn’t mind wintering in Tahiti or the Amalfi coast.

I’d miss Europe so much if I left, so it’d have to be Italy. Netherlands as a possibility but if I’m going to the lengths of emigrating my no1 criteria is warmer weather.

Outside of Europe I think I could make a good go of life in Thailand (where I’d be a hippie living and working at the beach) or Singapore (where I’d be minted enough to fly somewhere else every month)

Oh that...yes..centre can be bad for pick pockets.....our house is in castellar del valles....so about 35 mins on the renfe....its totally safe....people leave phones on cafe tables and pop inside to order a drink etc...no litter....

I lived on one of those islands in my twenties - life was long party! Great memories.

I couldn’t choose. I love Ireland, have always found Irish people so generous and welcoming. That would probably be top of my list.

Ireland here too, but I'm Irish :-)

Otherwise, Austria (specifically Vienna or Graz), Slovenia, or Slovakia. Or Berlin.

That’s my point. You have to go to a separate government shop to buy alcohol. Often they’re not easy to find either. You have to go out of your way to shop for alcohol for a reason… which is because there’s a problem with alcoholism.

Only low alcohol products available in supermarkets.

Aus or NZ

For such a beautiful country, seemingly so organised, I think it’s got the most miserable population in Europe (and I’ve been to 31 European countries!). Miserable, unfriendly, unwelcoming and dour.

Australia was where we planned to move to when young, but life got in the way. Some of my family and a friend moved and it's just a much better, healthier life especially for the kids and teens. I also have a friend in Canada and one in New Zealand who seem to have great lives.

My DD fits that bill. Currently in London. There is no best country! I have family in Australia , it’s far from perfect and is so faaaaar from here!

Interested in why Austria is getting mentioned I have family in Vienna and other areas Not so great. Some scary politics going on there.