# 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:** 4
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/61 "2014-01-20T19:34:17Z")
Hard to narrow down. Do I have money? Do I have a job? A visa that allows me to stay in-country for two years? Am I hoping for security, or exoticism? I’d live anywhere that’s not a war zone and is okay for women, LGBTQ people, and Jews or other minority groups. If money is a factor, Cambodia or somewhere inexpensive. If not, somewhere calm enough in the Middle East, or New Zealand or Australia. ---
**Author:** ![vontsira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/51bf81/32.png) [@vontsira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vontsira)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/62 "2014-01-20T20:15:38Z")
Am a UK citizen / resident. As it only has to be for two years, I’ll opt for somewhere not mentioned so far on the thread – Papua New Guinea. (Can I go to the western, Indonesian, half of the island too?) I’m aware that PNG has an astronomically high crime / murder rate; but presumably outsiders living there, adjust to that circumstance one way or another – if only by being fatalistic. That aside: I get the impression that it’s an utterly fascinating and beautiful place as regards geography / wildlife / nature in general; and that the people, when they’re not killing or robbing you, are friendly and pleasant. Heck, I’d visit the place “for real”, if I could afford it. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2014, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/63 "2014-01-20T20:48:30Z")
> [@EpicNonsense](#): > > If you had to leave your country, where would you move to? > > By country, I mean the country you are currently living in… > > Here’s the catch… you must reside in the chosen country for at least 2 years… and you cannot travel out of that country until 2 years are up. > I currently live in the U.S. If I had to move I’d probably choose Canada… more specifically, Vancouver. Seems like a good place for me from the people I’ve met from there and the research I’ve done. I’ll be checking it out some time in the next year for a little bit. I would move there too, except for the danger of Bremerton, Washington, home of the Ohio class FBM submarines, which places it on the endangered species list of being considered ground zero in case of a surprise nuclear warhead attack. Vancouver is a very nice place with good Chinese food and friendly people and a park as big as most cities. I would chose Tahiti with a US passport though I don’t know how long you can stay. How could anyone get tired of a great place to fish, swim, snorkel, skin dive, boogie board, surf, beach comb, watch the stars, eat fresh fruit, exercise, mountain bike, take naps and wear as little as possible for long periods of time? All I need now is a female partner … Tahiti is my choice of pleasure or Hawaii, but technically it’s still in my country. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/64 "2014-01-21T02:45:02Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I’m thinking Cambodia. It’s an up-and-comer, I know someone in Phnom Penh, and I assume I would have to flee quickly, so it’s close by. In some ways, Cambodia reminds me of Thailand when I first arrived here. Since my answer five years ago, I’m thinking more that it could be Singapore. After these past few years in Bangkok, a little peace and orderliness might be just the ticket. ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/65 "2014-01-21T02:47:53Z")
Italy…Firenze especially if money was no problem!! Ciao ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/66 "2014-01-21T02:55:12Z")
Australia or New Zealand. Cold is optional there. As I posted elsewhere, “Canadians will stop complaining about the weather when the weather stops trying to kill them.” ---
**Author:** ![FAL01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/59ef9b/32.png) [@FAL01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FAL01)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/67 "2014-01-21T03:11:18Z")
Lovely to see that so many people want to come to Australia. I quite like living here but if I had to move then perhaps somewhere in Europe. However I really cannot imagine moving as each country has positive and negative aspects but at least Sydney has great weather 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/68 "2014-01-21T03:51:38Z")
My best friend lives in the Silicon Valley area and it’s quite lovely, so I’d go there. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/69 "2014-01-21T04:02:13Z")
In the last few years I’ve worked in both Chile and Australia. I liked both places, but but it’s a lot easier to live in an English-speaking country than one with another language. If it’s just me, I’d probably go for Chile, but if my family’s coming with me we’re heading down under. ---
**Author:** ![woodstockbirdybird](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/woodstockbirdybird/32/7905_2.png) [@woodstockbirdybird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodstockbirdybird)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/70 "2014-01-21T06:00:20Z")
American here (Oakland, CA) and of the places I’ve been, I could easily live in Ireland, the UK, the Neterlands, France, or Hong Kong. ---
**Author:** ![compositejoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/compositejoe/32/7232_2.png) [@compositejoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/compositejoe)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/71 "2014-01-21T09:36:21Z")
I’m happy living where I do now, but if not, I would probably choose Canada. ---
**Author:** ![YoudNeverGuess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a587f6/32.png) [@YoudNeverGuess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YoudNeverGuess)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/72 "2014-01-21T13:45:28Z")
Irish person here. I would choose Germany, France, USA (Northern California possibly) or Canada (British Columbia). Norway is stunningly beautiful but the dark winters might be a bit much if I couldn’t leave the country. Accessible skiing would be a motivation for my choice. I LOVE Italy but not sure if I’d like to live there going by the impression and Italian friend gives of petty corruption in day-to-day business. Japan would also be cool but maybe I would get homesick/ feel a little too alien. ---
**Author:** ![SerafinaPekala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@SerafinaPekala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SerafinaPekala)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/73 "2014-01-21T14:18:00Z")
One specific tiny village in Bavaria. Because no one else is moving there. ---
**Author:** ![Orville\_mogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/aeb1de/32.png) [@Orville\_mogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orville_mogul)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/74 "2014-01-21T14:53:43Z")
Interesting that no one mentioned Switzerland. Switzerland is chock full of anglophone expats who came for work with the intention of staying for only 2-3 years and never looked back (myself included). The quality of life, safety, personal freedom, access to natural beauty and purchasing power are hard to beat. Speaking the language isn’t really necessary either (though I highly recommend it if you want to get the full benefit of integration). ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2014, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/75 "2014-01-21T16:11:36Z")
American here. My first choice would be England. Second Sweden, third Switzerland. I’d consider Australia but there are too many poisonous creatures there. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/76 "2014-01-22T03:31:31Z")
> [@peedin](#): > > I’d consider Australia but there are too many poisonous creatures there. Yes, but Mel Gibson’s in Hollywood now. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/77 "2014-01-22T16:28:49Z")
I’m a patriotic American, but sane enough to realize that there are LOTS of countires where I could enjoy the same freedoms and the same standard of living. Canada would be fine. I have loads of relatives in Ireland I could hang with. New Zealand would be wonderful, if they’d let me in! ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/78 "2014-01-22T16:47:53Z")
> [@Omer\_Urundul](#): > > Probably Turkey, Antalya. It is one of the most beatiful cities of the world i have ever seen. > > Just look at this [Antalya picture](http://www.tatilmanya.com/inc/hotel_images/adonis-hotel_35995.jpg). Huh. Take out the seaside cliffs and it looks just like downtown Miami. > [@Mr\_Quatro](#): > > … Vancouver is a very nice place with good Chinese food and friendly people and a park as big as most cities… Huh. Sooooo not the first attribute I was expecting, cuz when I think “good Chinese food” I do not think “Vancouver!!1!” My Polish is rusty but not nonexistent so I could move to **Poland** , either to Krawkow or to a rural area. My Spanish is even rustier but living in Texas, if I absolutely had to move in a hurry I could cross the \*\*Mexican \*\*border, I guess. I’ve been to \*\*Switzerland \*\*and could absolutely see myself being happy there. So, I guess that’s my top three. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/79 "2014-01-23T00:08:12Z")
Hmm… a 2 year period and have to stay within the borders for that time, you say? OK, starting from the premise that where I am is already part of the Greater USA for passport-control purposes, my top five might be… Britain - Been there briefly, want to experience more of it. Varied enough geography, loads of historic sites and great diversity of people so I would not get bored. Broad range of alternatives of big city vs. small town environments to settle in. Plus I have both personal and FOAF contacts there to help settle in. Canada - Have had a lot of business travel there, so again I have contacts to help get settled; just keep me away from the more intensely freezing bits and hey, for everyday purposes it’ll be like America with the Queen and Universal Health Care. Spain - The mother land, again a lot of history and geography and diversity to keep me interested, no language barrier, decent number of compatriots living/visiting there if I got homesick. Horrible job market, though, better get me a stipend. Australia - Almost as far as I could get from where I am and still be on the planet, large and different enough to do a lot of exploring, that would be something different to tell folks when I got back home. France - See Britain, except for the personal local contacts. But I believe I could pick up the language kind of quick if I had to. (And it being a Schengen Zone country who would notice a short daytrip into any of 6 neighbors 😉 ?) ---
**Author:** ![DrumBum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e79b87/32.png) [@DrumBum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrumBum)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371/80 "2014-01-23T12:47:32Z")
> [@SerafinaPekala](#): > > One specific tiny village in Bavaria. Because no one else is moving there. Heh… I was born in a small Bavarian village and I keep thinking I will have to go back sometime. Probably not to live since I don’t want to learn another language. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-you-had-to-leave-your-country-where-would-you-move-to/492371.md?page=5)