Ask Lemmy

I'm tired of endlessly stressing out about money, so I would say somewhere with a lower cost of living (but still relatively safe and healthy) and with nice friendly people. If I had to guess where that'd be, I'd say Thailand/Vietnam, Costa Rica, or South America. Maybe even Spain too, but outside of the major cities? I've heard that the north coast or Extramadura can be really nice too....

It's fun to dream about, but not something I think about seriously. All places have their pros and cons, all places have good and bad people. I would definitely love to at least travel there someday though!

I did. Living in turkey sucks especially for a trans woman. Studying and staying in Berlin now

Born in Russia, moved to Europe after graduating, then moved to Japan. I would never go back to any of the places I lived in. Of course, Japan is not perfect; no country is. But I realized it's about the compromises you're willing/can deal with. At least here, my family and I feel safe and as comfortable as we've never felt before.

I live in America so I would prefer a free country. Where might that be?

Australia

I am American. There are many countries I could see myself living in. But the current job market in the US offers higher income than most other countries would offer my family.

I live in the Midwest part of America. I'd love to live in Canada or a European country. I have a friend in Canada so it'd be nice to hangout more often. As for Europe, only downside is their winters I'm pretty sure suck more than ours and I despise winter.

Sometimes I'd like to try life in Europe somewhere, I'm lucky to live in Canada but I'd like to see life where we really have a robust social safety net and not just a nod to it.

Yes. But, it’s really difficult to figure out where is realistically ideal right now. Ultimately, I’d love a tropical climate or mountains.

Switzerland.

Australians complain about the brutal housing prices.

No matter where you go you bring yourself.

I'd pick Spain. But, there's no way I can do it now, I'm too old and poor.

Had I known what a shithole this country would become, I would have started out with that in mind and made it happen. I would have done many things differently, had I known. Hindsight is 20/20.

I’d like to live in France

Somewhere with good public transport. Ideally somewhere that doesn't prioritise cars over safety, transport efficiency, health, the environment, and the economy.

I don't want to live in any country. I dream of a future world without states or borders.

But Ireland seems pretty cool I guess.

FYI, on that tropical island in the header image:

Living there is not all it’s cracked up to be. It’s green hell, salt eats everything, pests never get culled from freezing, I could go on and on.

And unless you’re exactly on the equator, tropical cyclones are going to make your life difficult.

Born in Europe but my mother stupidly decided she wanted me to have the American dream with a picket fence and 2 dogs, so she brought me to Phoenix of all places.

Well, I made it out in my twenties and have been living across Europe for the past 10 years. Out of the places I've lived (Germany, Portugal, Ukraine, and now the Netherlands), I would choose Ukraine if not for Putin and his fucking war.

I'm actually visiting America right now for the first time in 8 years and holy shit I do not feel comfortable here any more. I hate the Netherlands but I realize I prefer it 100x to America. I actually finished my work early, came to the least American part, Puerto Rico, and I'm going home 5 ahead of schedule. See ya America, hoping never to set foot here again.

American here who is currently awaiting approval of a visa for Australia. My wife got a job in Adelaide, so we’re just waiting for visa approval and will be moving us and the kid. Cannot wait! I look forward to a healthier lifestyle, assimilating to their culture, and just having a new/different outlook on life.

We only visited Sydney and Cairns a couple of years ago, but we loved everything about both places and wished we could stay.

I'm a Brit and I moved to New Zealand in 2010 and haven't looked back. UK is a shit hole traumatised by Tory rule and Brexit. New Zealand is such a literal breath of fresh air. sure we also have similar social issues like right wing politics (Act, NZ1st, National), but we also had Jacinda and I'd vote for her again forever. you don't move to NZ to get rich, you move because you love the land, and the people are awesome and friendly. I'd never go to the US. ewwww

I live in NZ.

There are a bunch of people saying that NZ is is a place they would like to go. It is really nice, slow pace of life in most places; however the cost of living here is way too high compared to incomes.

Politics is relatively stable compared to other nations; but we do have our own scoundrels who are complete fuckups.

There are quite a few drawbacks; talking with a German friend last night. We were talking about cites around the world, he said "Rome, oh yea I went there in high school when I was 17 for a week". That is just not really possible from here. Getting certain things here is just not worth it; the postage is more than the thing itself; or it just doesn't ship here at all. e.g. Jolla phone; but it isn't just niche Linux phones; a few years back I couldn't buy a laptop with a Ryzen processor, had to order it from Amazon in the US, everything available form a NZ retailer was Intel.

Public transport here is shit; outside of Wellington, it is 30 years behind where it should be. The CRL (city rail link) just opened in Auckland (our biggest city); this completes a loop that should have been built in the 90's. NZ is a very car dependent country; I can't catch a train from Taupō where I live in the middle of the North Island, at all, there is no rail line here.

Germany, yeah SWITZERLAND PLEEEAAAASSSSEEWE TAKE MEEE!!!! PLEASE ANNEX US!

Originally from China. It's probably quite hard to explain on a short post over the internet especially since there are way too many fucked up things where I'm from, but I absolutely wanted to and have been living outside for 11 years straight now, and I've been mostly happy wherever I've been (and I've been in some shittier cities). Although it is more of an "anywhere but China" attitude for me...

So yeah. I don't think I necessarily dreamed of living in any particular country, but just wanted to live anywhere else

Just for kicks, I looked into this years ago, pre-trump. Figured Scandinavia would be good and ultimately settled on Gothenburg, Sweden. Big city, relatively mild weather, close-ish to the rest of Europe.

Other options I've either daydreamed about or heard good things about over the years:

Vancouver, BC, Canada
Australia (East coast, have some extended family)
Spain
Baja California, Mexico

Currently living in Russia.

Would love to explore Scandinavia more, had mostly positive memories from visiting Finland (although, folks, don't forget smaller towns also need some colors! Imatra, for example, is depressing AF in the autumn).

China is also interesting to explore and live a bit in. An incredible mix of cultures and ways of life, all packed in unimaginable ways. Also, the nature of Far East is breathtaking.

Other than that, I'd love to settle somewhere very, very remote, away from the world's troubles and noise. New Zealand seems to be nice, or, if I'd want to go hardcore on a small civilized spot in the middle of nowhere, St. Helena is a great pick.

yes, France. Alas they are as afraid of me as the Australian government is afraid of the French

why ? As an Australian, France has way less Australians, so that's a huge bonus.

but more seriously, i'd be forced to learn another language and be open to exploring entire new ways of thinking and living.

As an Australian I don't have a problem with the metric system :) and both France and myself think our ex PM ScoMo is a complete fucking asshole, so we have lots in commin :)

currently I spend 8 months a year in SE Asia and 4 months in Australia.

I live in Denmark and am studying French to move either there or to Spain (I already speak Spanish) although it would mean higher living costs.

I miss people with strong, possibly contrasting opinions. And crowds, damn I miss street crowds!

I'm afraid to answer this because the monkey paw might curl and I'll be in an ICE concentration camp in Eswatini.