I can go anywhere - where to?

In My Humble Opinion
1

I’m in my thirties, have some money saved, no attachments, and I don’t want to live here anymore.

I can go anywhere. Anywhere in the world. Where should I go to live?

I want a fresh start somewhere completely new. I’m open to any and all ideas. My only criteria are that there be something cool about the area, but not a major city. Near a major city is fine. My first thoughts were New Zealand and Hawaii.

I’m serious about this. I’m devoting this year to research, and I want to move by August of next year. Thanks for helping.

2

Anywhere in the world you say? How about the hot bit in the middle? Go there.

3

Any of the smaller cities near Recife, Brazil. (lived there as a kid and hae been wanting to return for 40 years. May convince my wife in another few!)

4

Spain’s Atlantic coast.

5

What do you like? I would want to live somewhere in Scotland. Maybe near Edinburgh, Findhorn or Mallaig. Just wonderful places but not warm and sunny.

If warm and sunny nothing tops Hawaii does it? But very expensive.

6

It might help to know where here might be.

7

“Here” is a nondescript and uninteresting part of Pennsylvania. But then, that’s most of Pennsylvania…

Although it would certainly be easier to go to another state in the U.S., I’m open to emigrating to another country.

It was mentioned that Hawaii is expensive. My research so far suggests most things are about 20% more expensive there than on the mainland. Can anyone on the board that can shed more light on this from first-hand experience?

Thanks for the responses so far!

8

Do you have hobbies you want to cultivate? We don’t want to send a scuba diver to Iowa or a Mountain Climber to Louisiana… Are you into art, or sports, or music, or what? What does “something cool about the area” mean to you?
Otherwise, you’ll end up with a bunch of suggestions of where people would go if they themself were taking the trip and, while interesting, would likely do little to help focus in on the best places for you.

9

Yes, goods in Hawaii are quite expensive. More importantly, housing is very expensive. And wages are low–if you’ll need a job to sustain yourself, it might be tough there.

10

My vote will always be for the Alberta Rocky Mountains, but you can get the same sort of experience in Colorado. Or, so I’m told.

11

Make that two jobs. :smiley: Everyone I know or have met in Hawaii work at least two jobs to support themselves. I am sure there are many exeuctive level positions that make enough with only one job, for for a wage slave it is for sure two.
The cost of living can be brutal. For example a half gallon of fresh orange juice was $9.00. Frozen wasn’t so bad, but nine buck for a half gallon of OJ is impressive.

12

:slight_smile: . Yep but we are trying to keep people away from here. One more wont matter that much.

Since you live in Pennsylvania, I would recommend either mountains or coastal living. It’s different.

Or buy some nice property in Pennsylvania. There is some beautiful land there.

13

Ah, well, for finding a spot to suit you in the US, I must again recommend this helpful site. It’s remarkably comprehensive.

14

The two places you mentioned in your OP are both English speaking - is this a requirement for you ? Are you going to want to take ease of getting home/ people coming to visit into consideration ?

15

Stockholm ! Absolutely my favourite city. However the winters can be a bit dreary and the tax rate is something like 50%. But you get about six weeks paid holiday and generally awesome benefits, which makes up for it.

Start studying that swedish now!!

16

Yes, I think I want to stay with English as a language. At least for now.

As for the hobbies, I’m just about hobbied out, if that’s possible. All I’ve done for the past six years is indulge my hobbies. I’m ready to move on. I’ll find new stuff to do.

Thanks for the web site Portia. It tells me I’d probably like New Mexico. Which is true, because I’ve spent some time there in the last few years and did enjoy it.

17

Costal California. It’s lovely. Half Moon Bay if you want to be near San Fransisco, further south if you want to be more alone, or close to San Diego if you want to live in the most perfect climate (there is no weather there).

18

California is out. I don’t want to live in a crowded area like LA or San Diego. And I most certainly don’t want to compete in that ridiculous housing market.

Anybody from New Mexico want to pitch your state to me? I’ve just been reading some good things about Las Cruces…

19

I think I would live in Yosemite Valley. As far as I know, you have to be an employee of the company to live in the park, but it would be worth it. If I could afford to just show up there and ask for a job, I might do it. That is one spectacularly beautiful place all year round.

20

Go to Australia or New Zealand. They are hurting for educated immigrants to shore up the state pension systems (I am giving you the benefit of the doubt here). Its just a pain in the butt to travel while you are waiting for your new citizenship. A buddy said that Australia makes you travel on a re-entry permit rather than your native passport until you are naturalized. Don’t know if that’s true.

The economy seems to be ok down under, they speak English, and the culture is western.