Suggestions? Warm, Progressive, Safe, English speaking....Is there such a place? ...I hate the cold

[masmdu]

I want to move.

Where can one get away from the USA that isn't COLD (Canada, Finland...)

[pipoman]

1. Read 'Lost Horizons"

then get back to us...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shangri-La

[masmdu]

2. Tibet doesn't meet my criteria...I want to LEAVE the cold

[pipoman]

3. There are plenty of warm places in the US

I see this idea come from disgruntled US Americans all the time, why else would you want to leave the US? I may be wrong about your motives? The truth is that there are few places on the planet where one can enjoy the level of freedom and the lifestyle afforded by the US. This is why the US is the most immigrated country in the world. Are there other nice countries to live? Yep. Do they also have their share of problems. many worse than the US? Sure do. Good luck on your search for Shangri La.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

9. Don't you think it has a lot to do with immigration laws?

Like, historically, we have had more open immigration laws.

I have a feeling that if it was as easy to move elsewhere today as it was to move here, say, a decade ago (perhaps more), we'd see that disparity shrink.

[pipoman]

16. No. I believe it has to do with

standard of living, opportunity and relative quality of life. There have always been highs and lows, the highs outweigh the lows. Again, there are other nice places to live, they are not without issues which often dwarf problems here. It is 'grass is greener...', search for Shangri-La phenomenon, imho.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

18. Yeah, you're right...

...there's some truth to what I've suggested, but the real impact approaches zero.

:)

[masmdu]

19. Because I don't like how my taxes are used...

I'd rather live someplace where my efforts result in a better life for myself and others.

[Bluenorthwest]

30. Moving will not relive your tax burden as an American

To do that, you have to not just live elsewhere and earn elsewhere, but give up your citizenship and replace it with another. Brits, for example can live elsewhere and not pay income taxes, they are called 'non domiciled' or horrible pigs, depending. Americans living elsewhere still owe American Income Taxes. Period. Even if you earn the money on the Moon, or in Paris, or at sea.

[masmdu]

33. So I'll give up citizenship...

[KatyMan]

43. You actually can't....

You can walk into a US embassy in another country, tear up your passport, have a notarized copy of a renunciation of citizenship, and pee on the flag but you can come back the next day and ask for a new passport and they'll give it to you. To have your citizenship revoked, you'd pretty much have to fight in a war against the US, and even then you'd likely have to be in a higher military command position.
If you renounce your citizenship, what is your alternative? Do you have a second citizenship?

[MattSh]

53. According to the State Department...

http://travel.state.gov/law/citizenship/citizenship_776.html

[Shanti Mama]

49. This is only true if you earn over a certain amount.

I think it's above $80+k this year. I live abroad, am a non-resident and do not pay taxes.

[MattSh]

52. I think it's up to 95K now.

Yep, I live abroad too.

[nadinbrzezinski]

48. You might want to check on those immigration numbers

the trend is no longer for WELL EDUCATED people to come to the US.

In fact, students are going back home.

But I am sure you did not know that... but the US is no longer seen as the great beacon and all that crap the myth speaks off.

[jallo]

51. Well put

Also, fwiw, Hawaii is one of the more liberal states, and it is warm. It's also pretty safe. It has low violent crime. The property crime can be pretty bad in some locations, mostly targeted against tourists, though.

[leveymg]

4. Try the Caribbean or some of the South Seas islands. Belize. Guyana.

Australia, New Zealand.

[malaise]

8. Land is dirt cheap in Guyana

and you have all the seafood you can eat. I recommend the Essequibo region where you are above sea level or even one of those islands in the river.
The prawns aren't stewing in BP oil either.

[leveymg]

11. Have you been to the Kaieteur Falls? Highest single-step waterfall in the world. Incredible.

I also like the area around the smaller Orinduik Falls, on the Brazilian border. Dry rangeland, like the Pampas in Argentina. There are also areas in the southwest that remind me of Kenya.

Who is the pop idol who lives on the island in the middle of the Mazaruni River? Went by there, but forgot his name.

Guyana is a gem.

[malaise]

14. Yep

Gorgeous particularly in the rainy season.
I'm shocked that you know Guyana so well :D

[leveymg]

15. Do you know the ex-pat pop star who lives on the island in the Mazaruni?

Looked like a nice place to chill.

I was down there a few years ago providing technical assistance to CARICOM. Would love to go back.

[malaise]

20. I'm thinking Eddie Grant but I'm not sure

That must have been a fun experience. Best prawns on earth :D

[leveymg]

25. Think he works out of a recording studio in Barbados now

That's another spot I was lucky enough to have visited several times during my stint down there.

I met God. She lives in a little reef off the beach near the Accra Hotel in Christchurch.

[malaise]

29. We stay at Accra beach hotel when we're in Bim

for cricket.

[leveymg]

32. You know that reef, then?

go out the back gate past the pool, turn left, walk 100 yards down the beach. Swim out 200 yards or so - you're there.

Swim over or around the rocks and meet the fish on the other side, become a fish again, rejoin the world that created us.

The Silver Sands Hotel up the road is also nice. More secluded, quieter. But, I like the Accra.

[malaise]

37. We've never done the reef swim in Bim

We only go to Bim for cricket so we swim for exercise early morning and head to cricket. Back in the day we lived on the reef at Hellshire in Jamaica. We used to go every Saturday and during the week in the holidays.

[leveymg]

44. We should get together on a beach somewhere, sometime, and look out over the blue

water and sky from which we all emerged.

And, become fishes.

[malaise]

47. Cool

By the way my favorite Eddie Grant was when he was with the Equals and did that classic anti-Vietnam war song Black Skin Blue Eyed Boys.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5G3Ffta-ic&feature=related

[malaise]

54. Here's a photo of the house

[leveymg]

55. That's it. It reminded me of a floating treehouse.

Really admire someone who travels a long way but keeps his roots.

Thanks for the YouTube link to his anti-war song. Funk with a message - good stuff! I started listening to the other tunes he has on-line. Thanks!

Guyana and Jamaica have a shared political history with the CIA and MI6 in common. Sometimes, I can't believe the things my country has done. Not many Americans seem to have any real idea about what has happened, and is still happening, in the region.

How do you like your prawns?

[cali]

5. Costa Rica?

Hey, you got teh google.

[old mark]

10. Best to learn Spanish for Costa Rica, but otherwise, it seems like a great place!

Link to links: http://www.escapeartist.com/Live_In_Costa_Rica/Moving_There/


Dat why we got internet, mon...Google it!


mark

[mmonk]

6. Try Vancouver in BC.

It has its problems but they have health care for its citizens and no tea party. Its not as cold as some other parts of Canada.

[BonnieJW]

28. Yes.

My husband and I were considering moving to VC. We live in northern Virginia and VC has a much lower cost of living and the climate is a lot like here. Climate is important since hubby is a golfer.

[taterguy]

7. Ocracoke

Technically it's in the US but it's so far away from everything you won't really notice.

[Maru Kitteh]

17. Nauwt Cackalackey!

I love it there. Almost moved out to Avon or Buxton in 98. Mom got sick. Came home instead.

[masmdu]

21. I had some good Thai food take out there last summer...Nice place

[SaveAmerica]

34. Nice idea, it's really expensive there, though

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

12. Belize

[Agent William]

13. New Zealand.

From what I've heard Australia is a bit more conservative than NZ, but they are both as liberal as San Francisco but with a nice climate.

Plus in NZ they're aren't any poisonous animals or endless stretches of desert like Oz.

But if you want a warm liberal place in the US isn't northern California the place to be?

[kentauros]

22. I second NZ,

though I'll have to ask my girlfriend about the lack of poisonous animals there. New Zealand is also more environmentally conscious than almost anyone else. Watch the show "Coast Watch" for an idea of that :)

I suppose Northern California would work, but it seems kind of chilly for me. How about Hawaii instead? :D

[masmdu]

23. Mmmm Hawaii is nice but isn't it part of the US?

[kentauros]

24. Just responding to Agent William about a more agreeable US location

;)

However, Hawaii is still one of the most liberal places in the US. Expensive to live there, but you likely wouldn't be as bothered by conservatives as on the mainland :)

[blondeatlast]

26. Thanks--I honeymooned in Hawaii and loved it (Big Island).

Watching DU is getting pretty boring--any clues for a site with more get up and go?

















Ooooooopsieeee...;)

[kentauros]

31. "More get up and go?"

Umm, Second Life? :P

[blondeatlast]

36. I. Said. Nothing.

Nope, 'tisn't me...

[Turborama]

38. New Zealand is a great place. They have very cold winters, though.

[KatyMan]

40. Emigrating to NZ is extremely difficult

Lots of rules and scoring and age restrictions. Funny thing is, when we were in London I worked with a lot of Kiwis who swore they'd never live there again, that it was too small, everybody knows everybody's business, etc. Anecdotal, to be sure, but I thought it was a curious thing. And jeebus, the accent! They have two vowels, the i in bin and the e in bet cover a, e, i, o and u :)

[formercia]

42. North Island

I spent quite a bit of time exploring the South Island and it was cold, even in Summer.

[reggie the dog]

46. i heard that the girls will warm ya

in northern california anyways

[WinkyDink]

63. I'm pretty sure "the Northern girls" means "those in the states bordering Canada." :-)

[raccoon]

27. I was going to suggest SC until I saw you said "away from the USA."

Ok, so it isn't progressive....well, warm--yes, English speaking--sort of, safe--depends where you are.

[Freddie Stubbs]

35. Cuba is supposed to be a workers' paradise

[Lochloosa]

39. Tallahassee, FL....I know...it's Florida

But Tallahassee is a progressive island in Florida. Or Gainsville...if you can stand all the gators.

Whoops...missed the part about leaving the USA.

[tavalon]

41. Belize, parts of it

[snooper2]

45. Bahamas is your best bet

have fun!

[CTyankee]

50. How about Malta?

"The Mediterranean island of Malta in southern Europe is a retirement paradise for all those Americans who are willing to relocate overseas. Besides the excellent climate, magnificent scenery and warm and friendly people, living in Malta is easy and affordable, and the crime rate very low.

The health care system in Malta is top class. The country offers the advantage of a 15% income-tax rate for permanent foreign residents. You don't need to pay property taxes. Almost everybody in Malta speaks English, so you won't encounter any language difficulties."

MORE at link here: http://www.futureyears.com/retirement-locations/outside-us/malta.html

Personally, I would like it because of its proximity to the European mainland...

[Ichingcarpenter]

57. Extremely hard to get in

unless you have British Ties.

I know, I looked.

[CTyankee]

62. Hmm, the article specifically referenced Americans as it being

a good place to retire...why the disconnect with your experience? Can you tell me some of the barriers they raised to you?

[Name removed]

56. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

58. Am I to understand slender Americans would be more acceptable?

[Hugabear]

59. So I suppose freedom should apply to everyone but us?

Personally, I believe that we should all be able to move about as we please. But I suppose it's okay for everyone to come to the US, but we should just STFU and not go anywhere else, that it?

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

60. Apparently, it's only the fat ones he has a problem with.

First and second checkboxes.

[Rage for Order]

61. Austin, New Orleans, southern New Mexico