# You Have to Leave Your Country--Which of your Neighbor Nations Would you Choose? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 15, 2010, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076 "2010-01-15T15:01:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/61 "2010-01-16T07:35:47Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > That said, I’ve been to St. Pierre and Miquelon, so I’ll take Hawai’i, thanks. I hear Hawai’i is a beautiful country except the winters can be brutal. Besides Mexico and Canada, I think Russia is the closest country geographically to the U.S. with the Bahamas second and Cuba third. I guess I could pick Canada as a cop-out because it is basically the same as the U.S. from what I can tell when visiting but that wouldn’t be any fun. I don’t think I could go for Mexico but I would give it a try if I had to. It has a whole bunch of problems but I am sure I could find some ex-pat community that is nice enough. Russia isn’t an option even if I spoke desperation and oppression fluently. If I could choose any place in the world, it world probably be a small Caribbean country like St. Lucia. I only have one life to live so I might as well do it with a tan assuming that I could get a job. Costa Rica would be a close runner up. ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 8:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/62 "2010-01-16T08:41:40Z")
I already live in Seattle, I could load up a u haul and be unloading the thing inside of 6 hours in Vancouver BC… ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/63 "2010-01-16T09:44:03Z")
Canadia. For all their hot women ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/64 "2010-01-16T10:07:16Z")
I have lived all my life, except for a few years in London, in Australia. I do love visiting New Zealand but I don’t know about living there. Papua New Guinea is simply too violent to contemplate so I’ll try New Caledonia for something different. ---
**Author:** ![CBEscapee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b19c9b/32.png) [@CBEscapee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CBEscapee)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/65 "2010-01-16T13:34:54Z")
> [@Shagnasty](#): > > I don’t think I could go for Mexico but I would give it a try if I had to. It has a whole bunch of problems but I am sure I could find some ex-pat community that is nice enough. There are Mexican communities that are nicer. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/66 "2010-01-16T13:58:11Z")
I hadn’t really considered that Canadians don’t have much of a choice here. Well, lots of places don’t have a choice, but there are tons of Canadians on the board. How’s this–if you’re Canadian, you can also choose Mexico if you like. ---
**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:** [January 16, 2010, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/67 "2010-01-16T14:54:22Z")
I think even if Mexico was included for Canadians, I’d still choose the US. As for where, probably Colorado. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/68 "2010-01-16T15:32:27Z")
I live in the United States and I’d choose Monterrey, Mexico. I need a hot climate. Hermosillo would also be a consideration. Anywhere in the world? Probably Shanghai, China or Hong Kong as a favorite. Least favorite? The Sudan or Zimbabwe. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/69 "2010-01-16T16:37:05Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > I hadn’t really considered that Canadians don’t have much of a choice here. Well, lots of places don’t have a choice, but there are tons of Canadians on the board. > > How’s this–if you’re Canadian, you can also choose Mexico if you like. We’ve got the US as well as France (St. Pierre et Miquelon) and Denmark (Greenland) as represented by islands off the coast. If you wait until the ice cap melts,[it’s a direct swim](http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/islands_oceans_poles/arctic_ref802647_1999.jpg) to Russia and Norway. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/70 "2010-01-16T16:38:36Z")
> [@Critical1](#): > > I already live in Seattle, I could load up a u haul and be unloading the thing inside of 6 hours in Vancouver BC… PM me, I’ll help you unpack. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/71 "2010-01-16T16:42:38Z")
Canada in a heartbeat. You couldn’t pay me enough to live in Mexico. British Columbia is quite nice. I could settle in there with no problem at all. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/72 "2010-01-16T23:19:19Z")
New Zealand ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/73 "2010-01-17T00:20:03Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Canada in a heartbeat. You couldn’t pay me enough to live in Mexico. > > British Columbia is quite nice. I could settle in there with no problem at all. PM me and I’ll help you unpack too. Just don’t move on the same day as **Critical1** ---
**Author:** ![Desert\_Nomad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desert_nomad/32/177_2.png) [@Desert\_Nomad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desert_Nomad)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/74 "2010-01-17T00:50:12Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > I live in the United States and I’d choose Monterrey, Mexico. I need a hot climate. Hermosillo would also be a consideration. > > Anywhere in the world? Probably Shanghai, China or Hong Kong as a favorite. > > Least favorite? The Sudan or Zimbabwe. Interesting that you chose Sudan - any reason? I was there last month (in the area from Khartoum and north about 75% of the way to the Egyptian border). While Khartoum is a bit of a crazy Third World African capital, I can think of many worse places. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/75 "2010-01-17T09:33:43Z")
> [@Desert\_Nomad](#): > > Interesting that you chose Sudan - any reason? Probably because that’s where Darfur is? ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/76 "2010-01-17T13:25:19Z")
Hmm, tough one. If you follow China’s definition, then the border is shared with Indonesia, Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Burma, Laos, India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Khazakstan, Russia, Mongolia, Tibet, Korea (both N and S), Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong and maybe the Micronesian or Polynesian States. I’ve lived in Japan, HK and Taiwan already, and like them. for a change of pace probably Thailand or Malaysia. If I was single, then it would be Tibet (or maybe Mongolia). ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/77 "2010-01-17T13:32:01Z")
Mexico seems like it would be fun and laid-back, but in reality it’s nearly a failed state (and amoebic dysentery doesn’t really agree with me). It would have to be Canada, specifically Vancouver. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/78 "2010-01-17T15:46:08Z")
> [@Cosmic Relief](#): > > Mexico seems like it would be fun and laid-back, but in reality it’s nearly a failed state (and amoebic dysentery doesn’t really agree with me). It would have to be Canada, specifically Vancouver. PM me and I’ll help you unpack - but you may have to take a number. ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/79 "2010-01-17T16:16:40Z")
Canada. Probably Vancouver. Worldwide? Germany or Austria. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/80 "2010-01-17T16:22:30Z")
I’d quite happily live in either France or Ireland. I don’t speak much French, but I could learn. The South of France could be good - very warm - but I’d be happy enough in Dublin. Worldwide: I’m an English teacher with a lot of qualifications and experience in both regular secondary/high school teaching and English as a Foreign Language, so I could find work pretty much anywhere. Top choice worldwide would probably be Spain. That might be out because I worked there for three months. Maybe Australia - that’d please my GF. Bottom choice … well, I’m a gay female atheist single parent. I don’t think I’d be too popular in any of the Middle East, and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere war-torn like Somalia either. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076.md?page=5)