# 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:** 5
**Author:** ![Noone\_Special](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noone_special/32/2863_2.png) [@Noone\_Special](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noone_Special)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/81 "2010-01-17T16:37:53Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > PM me and I’ll help you unpack - but you may have to take a number. > [@ExTank](#): > > Canada. Probably Vancouver. \*\*Attack \*\*-- you \*\*totally \*\*need to start a “Settle in Vancouver” startup… 😃 > [@scifisam2009](#): > > 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. I know you probably weren’t including it under “Middle East” – but I feel like I should point out that there **is** one small corner in the Middle East where you’d probably do OK! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/82 "2010-01-17T16:41:47Z")
Being Canadian, I essentially have only one choice. The question would be WHERE in the USA I’d want to live. I’m very fond of the Silicon Valley area. But there are a lot of great places in the USA to live. Worldwide, I’d probably still go with the USA, but Australia has its appeal. Any number of western European countries would also be very nice. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/83 "2010-01-17T16:57:00Z")
US citizen all my life. I think Mexico, but I do have Canadian blood in me. Mom was born literally on the border btwn US and Canada. In the Canadian Customs house. I have family in B.C. so that is where I would relocate if I had to reloce to Canada. Worlwide, I think Spain would be a nice place to live. Don’t know, never been overseas. From what I have seen this past week, Haiti would be near the top of the list where I would not want to live. ---
**Author:** ![Invisible\_Chimp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f05b48/32.png) [@Invisible\_Chimp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Invisible_Chimp)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/84 "2010-01-17T16:59:06Z")
I think I’d choose Mexico over Canada, maybe because I’ve been to Canada, but never to Mexico. It’s a close call. Anywhere in the world, I’d probably choose the UK. I’d get my brother’s advice first. He honeymooned in Acapulco, lived in Vancouver BC for a bit and currently resides in Edinburgh, Scotland. ---
**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, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/85 "2010-01-17T17:35:06Z")
> [@Noone\_Special](#): > > \*\*Attack \*\*-- you \*\*totally \*\*need to start a “Settle in Vancouver” startup… 😃 The really funny part is going to be when all the moving vans start arriving. ---
**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, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/86 "2010-01-17T18:14:49Z")
> [@Noone\_Special](#): > > \*\*Attack \*\*-- you \*\*totally \*\*need to start a “Settle in Vancouver” startup… 😃 > > I know you probably weren’t including it under “Middle East” – but I feel like I should point out that there **is** one small corner in the Middle East where you’d probably do OK! 🙂 Well, maybe. I do have one gay British Jewish friend who’s emigrated to Tel Aviv. Still, it doesn’t sound like the kind of freedom I get over here. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/87 "2010-01-17T19:27:46Z")
I have no choice. I live in the U.S., and I’ve already lived in Canada in an earlier part of my life. So it would have to be Mexico. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/88 "2010-01-17T20:58:29Z")
It’s gotta be Mexico over Canada. Much better food, climate and gardening opportunities, fewer self-righteous pissants, entertaining street battles between the militia and drug lords. And I’ve always wanted a place that has masonry walls topped with broken glass. ---
**Author:** ![bettyporkta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/71e660/32.png) [@bettyporkta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bettyporkta)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2010, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/89 "2010-01-17T21:32:18Z")
if my country was america. you mean there are _other_ countries…!!? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2010, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/90 "2010-01-18T01:06:19Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > New Zealand Yes, the choice for we Australians is limited to NZ, Papua New Guinea, East Timor or Indonesia. A little further out there’s the French Colony of New Caledonia, Vanuatu, and maybe a few other Pacific island states. NZ is the only one of those I’d consider actually living in. ---
**Author:** ![PaulParkhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@PaulParkhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PaulParkhead)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2010, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/91 "2010-01-18T01:49:24Z")
Lived in Scotland, England and the USA. For the USA, Canada wins by a mile over Mexico, but could I choose the Bahamas instead? For the UK, can I choose Jersey? If not, it seems to come down to Ireland or France, and I go with France. Anywhere in the world? I really liked Australia the one time I visited, and as long as I could live somewhere it’s not outrageously hot, I think I could be very happy there. The “over my dead body” options are North Korea and Zimbabwe. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2010, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/92 "2010-01-18T02:00:33Z")
Hmmm. I hate winter _and_ speak Spanish, but I’d still probably pick Canada despite their having more snow on average. ---
**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 18, 2010, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/93 "2010-01-18T03:27:38Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > It’s gotta be Mexico over Canada. > > Much better food, climate and gardening opportunities, fewer self-righteous pissants, entertaining street battles between the militia and drug lords. And I’ve always wanted a place that has masonry walls topped with broken glass. If you come to Vancouver, I’ll help you unpack\* . Given you preferences above, we can set you up in the lower east side, where I think we can find a cozy spot for only half-a-million, complete with jagged glass topped walls, drugs users, prostitutes and the whole seamy side of the Great White North, complete with daily examples of the holes in the social services net. Alternatively, we could set you up in Abbotsford, recently proclaimed ‘The Murder Capital of Canada’ - due to shootings between drug gangs\*\*. Best of all, I promise I won’t be a self-righteous pissant\*\*\*, and I won’t talk about visiting the ER\*\*\*\* \*I’m holding ticket number 5 for you \*\* We have gun control, but somehow that doesn’t mean we don’t have guns. \*\*\* I’m in a 12 step pissant program. Seriously, it’s a great country, you might like it. In that regard it’s a lot like the US, which is also a great country. Truce already? \*\*\*\* Ever ---
**Author:** ![Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/brown_eyed_girl/32/3574_2.png) [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brown_Eyed_Girl)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2010, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/94 "2010-01-18T04:16:31Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > If you come to Vancouver, I’ll help you unpack\* . Given you preferences above, we can set you up in the lower east side, where I think we can find a cozy spot for only half-a-million, complete with jagged glass topped walls, drugs users, prostitutes and the whole seamy side of the Great White North, complete with daily examples of the holes in the social services net. > > Alternatively, we could set you up in Abbotsford, recently proclaimed ‘The Murder Capital of Canada’ - due to shootings between drug gangs\*\*. Best of all, I promise I won’t be a self-righteous pissant\*\*\*, and I won’t talk about visiting the ER\*\*\*\* > > \*I’m holding ticket number 5 for you > \*\* We have gun control, but somehow that doesn’t mean we don’t have guns. > \*\*\* I’m in a 12 step pissant program. Seriously, it’s a great country, you might like it. In that regard it’s a lot like the US, which is also a great country. Truce already? > \*\*\*\* Ever Hmm…this is starting to make Canada look a little better. Say, can we do something to speed up global warming so I don’t have to freeze my tukhus up there? ---
**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 18, 2010, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/95 "2010-01-18T05:03:06Z")
> [@Brown\_Eyed\_Girl](#): > > Hmm…this is starting to make Canada look a little better. Say, can we do something to speed up global warming so I don’t have to freeze my tukhus up there? That’s why everyone is a-comin’ to Vancouver. Clement weather in the city, and yet there’s great skiing nearby. You can be ticket #6. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2010, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/96 "2010-01-18T05:51:00Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > Montreal is fantastic, but I’d have to vote against it because I’d rather not _have_ to learn French. I’ve traveled in Montreal and Quebec and got along just fine in English. When I tried speaking French, people would generally respond in English. It was easier for everybody that way, and I wasn’t just in tourist spots either. If I had to move tomorrow, I’d go to Canada and probably curse myself for not having learned Spanish. What I’ve seen of it as beautiful, but I hate the thought of having to go about the activities of daily life with snow and ice on the ground. I’d much rather be somewhere warm. I’ve been to Tijuana and would pass on living there, but Ensenada and Puerto Vallarta were quite nice. Not sure which islands are eligible by the OP’s standards, but I imagine the Bahamas and the British Virgin Islands would be nice. I’m not sure how I’d make a living in any of those places, but I can’t seem to make a living here right now either, so why should that be a factor? ---
**Author:** ![Shamozzle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2010, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/97 "2010-01-18T05:51:06Z")
Could you all please stop telling everyone how awesome it is in Vancouver? If we’re not careful, soon the attention of the wor… Ah forget it. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2010, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/98 "2010-01-18T06:26:36Z")
For those of you who are not picking Canada based primarily on “how cold” Canada is… I"d like to point out that it is a pretty large country, and where I live was over 10 degrees today (51 F), and the low is expected to be 6 degrees (43 F) I note that a couple of posters who thought it would be “too cold” here, we were WAY warmer than Chicago today, and our low was warmer than anything in Colorado. ---
**Author:** ![TWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e495f1/32.png) [@TWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TWDuke)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2010, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/99 "2010-01-18T06:29:22Z")
Can you promise me that I’ll never have to drive on ice or shovel snow? Cold I can handle; it’s the precipitation that worries me. ---
**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 18, 2010, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/100 "2010-01-18T06:40:51Z")
You know, in my post where I discussed where I’d like to live in Canada, I chose Toronto. But I didn’t know that I could get help unpacking in Vancouver. So I’m changing my vote. Please hold ticket #7 for me. Thanks. > [@TWDuke](#): > > I’ve traveled in Montreal and Quebec and got along just fine in English. When I tried speaking French, people would generally respond in English. It was easier for everybody that way, and I wasn’t just in tourist spots either. Yeah, I know you can get along in English, but it just seems like it would be better to either learn French or live somewhere where people speak English. I mean, unless I had a really good reason to live in Quebec somewhere. I have a much better reason to live in Vancouver now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076.md?page=6)