# If you had to leave your country, where would you move to? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 8, 2009, 7:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371 "2009-04-08T07:00:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/21 "2009-04-08T16:36:33Z")
If I didn’t have to worry about making a living, I think Italy would be infinitely fascinating, besides being a place where I’d love to be immersed long enough to learn the language – but I doubt there’s much of a job market for Shakespeare professors who arrive with no Italian whatsoever. If I _did_ have to worry about making a living, probably the UK. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/22 "2009-04-08T16:38:28Z")
Two years and I couldn’t travel outside of the country? Well, not Bulgaria. I already did that and I would have gone crazy if I hadn’t left the country at all. I’m going to say Turkey. I think I could easily live in Istanbul for two years without ever running out of things to do or see, and if I wanted to get out of the city every now and again, I’d hop on a bus to Cappadocia or Antalya or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![WormTheRed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbe5ce/32.png) [@WormTheRed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WormTheRed)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/23 "2009-04-08T16:38:49Z")
Since I really, really, really, want to leave, this one is easy: anywhere where I can get a job 🙂 Or: Canada, Sweden, Norway, UK… and then retire to St. Lucia. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/24 "2009-04-08T16:39:06Z")
I live in the US, and would choose either Canada or Australia, as I have friends in both countries and their cultures are similar enough that I wouldn’t be completely lost. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/25 "2009-04-08T17:16:53Z")
Canada and Australia have the benefit of being english speaking. Canada is too far north and likely to be chilly. Probably Mexico. Maybe Cancun, somplace on the gulf. ---
**Author:** ![Litoris](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/9f8e36/32.png) [@Litoris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Litoris)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/26 "2009-04-08T17:21:57Z")
I live in the US, and have said many times that if I were to win the lottery, I’d move to Ireland in a heartbeat – so there ya go. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/27 "2009-04-08T17:22:22Z")
I’d definitely go to the UK. Plenty of places to explore in 2 years. ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/28 "2009-04-08T17:36:30Z")
Ontario, Canada. It’s right across the bridge, and if I have to stay in the new country for two years, I’m not going to be adventurous. ---
**Author:** ![tr0psn4j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@tr0psn4j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tr0psn4j)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/29 "2009-04-08T17:37:45Z")
Australia! Canada would be a not so close second. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/30 "2009-04-08T18:00:34Z")
Canada. I’d have “landed immigrant” status. Nice place too. There’s parts of Mexico I’d consider. I’d like to try Australia and Iceland. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/31 "2009-04-08T18:14:23Z")
Western Canada or New Zealand. Maybe France (somewhere along the Loire or maybe Dijon). ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/32 "2009-04-08T18:30:14Z")
Australia would be my number one probably up by Cairns some where. My number two would be a tie between South Korea and New Zealand. I lived in Korea for 7 years and loved it and I miss the food almost every day but it has the worst weather I’ve ever experienced. I’ve never been to New Zealand but from I’ve read it would be enjoyable. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/33 "2009-04-08T18:31:55Z")
I guess the United States would be my first choice. I’ve been there a number of times, and while there are differences between the US and Canada, I don’t find them to be so great that I couldn’t adjust easily and live there comfortably. Plus, the US is big enough that I could use the two years exploring the parts I haven’t been to yet (assuming I don’t have to make a living; and even if I did, I could still take vacations in those parts). Second choice would be Australia, followed by the UK. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/34 "2009-04-08T18:34:01Z")
I’ve given this sort of question a lot of thought over the years. I require political and economic freedom, elbow room and a reasonably cool climate. A strong economy and low taxes are a plus. Low cost of living is nice, but generally incompatible with a strong economy. A population that speaks English would be convenient, but my French and Spanish are maybe just good enough that I wouldn’t feel totally isolated as I begin to improve. My top 10 choices would be 1. Canada 2. New Zealand 3. Australia 4. Iceland 5. Ireland 6. the U.K. 7. Switzerland 8. Chile 9. Uruguay 10. Germany ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/35 "2009-04-08T18:41:51Z")
Vegas, baby, Vegas! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![anu-la1979](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/47e85d/32.png) [@anu-la1979](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anu-la1979)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/36 "2009-04-08T18:51:41Z")
New Zealand ---
**Author:** ![Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunshine_and_Smiles)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/37 "2009-04-08T18:56:37Z")
Engwand, second Ireland. Canada - particularly Montreal - is amazing, but it’s just too damn cold. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/38 "2009-04-08T18:59:46Z")
If money were no issue then England, definitely. I don’t think I’d have any problem keeping occupied for 2 years. (Would trips to N. Ireland, Wales and Scotland count as ‘leaving the country’? Or Ireland for that matter?) If I had to go somewhere cheaper, probably Costa Rica. ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/39 "2009-04-08T19:06:30Z")
Wales. I have family there and love the place. Mind, I’m in England so that might be cheating as its also the UK. If so, then I’d go for Canada. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/40 "2009-04-08T19:10:21Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > Hong Kong. Would go tomorrow. > > It has everything you could ever want - crazy urban life, tranquil countryside, beautiful bays, mountains - all within an hour or so on a very good public transport system. It’s got a fascinating history and culture, there’s always something going on. Great food of every cuisine under the sun, great nightlife. Buzzing economy (despite current problems). It’s also a hub for other exciting places - you can take the train to China, boat to Macau, or be in Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, within three hours by plane. I agree with you on everything but Macau being a selling point, what a dump. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371.md?page=3)