# 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:** 18\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/121 "2010-01-20T04:12:20Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > It’s freaky that it’s warmer in Canada than it is here in the Ozarks. If that keeps up, I might not mind Canada. But, I really, really would prefer to live somewhere with fairly stable temperatures between, say, 65 and 90. Is there any place in the world like that? Hawaii. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/122 "2010-01-20T04:14:59Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > 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. This is bizarre, though. Today I was driving around and noticed there’s no snow anywhere. No snow. In Ontario. In THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY. That is not natural. It’ll be mild tomorrow. Mild the day after that. Mild the day after that. This is very strange indeed. It should be brutally cold this time of year. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/123 "2010-01-20T04:21:35Z")
I think all your snow went to Colorado. NPR was talking about 10 feet of snow between now and the end of the week. 10 FEET!!! ffs… I choose Canada. I’m practically in Mexico already, and while I am, yes, enjoying and appreciating the beautiful, mild winter weather, the summer is so extreme that…fark it. I’d rather have four seasons. And I love the PNW, so Vancouver would be fine. Or some outer island and I can be a fishwife. ---
**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 20, 2010, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/124 "2010-01-20T04:59:09Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Today I was driving around and noticed there’s no snow anywhere. No snow. In Ontario. In THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY. That is not natural. > > It’ll be mild tomorrow. Mild the day after that. Mild the day after that. This is very strange indeed. It should be brutally cold this time of year. Agreed. I well remember bone-chilling Januarys from when I lived in Toronto. Oddly enough, I’m in Toronto for a few days–it’s not bone-chilling, and there is no snow. And it will indeed be mild for the next few days. This is definitely not natural. ---
**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 20, 2010, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/125 "2010-01-20T05:11:39Z")
> [@Taomist](#): > > I think all your snow went to Colorado. NPR was talking about 10 feet of snow between now and the end of the week. 10 FEET!!! ffs… > > I choose Canada. I’m practically in Mexico already, and while I am, yes, enjoying and appreciating the beautiful, mild winter weather, the summer is so extreme that…fark it. I’d rather have four seasons. And I love the PNW, so Vancouver would be fine. Or some outer island and I can be a fishwife. You’d best make up your mind, it gettin’ crowded.🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/126 "2010-01-20T05:29:16Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > C’mon up and check it out. At the rate we’re going half the dopers in this thread are going to be crashing on my couch. 😃 But you’re very far away from me. I could practically walk to Windsor. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/127 "2010-01-20T06:11:45Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > You’d best make up your mind, it gettin’ crowded.🙂 Wait, wait…what’s getting crowded? Vancouver? Yar…incountry, I’d prefer the Seattle area though, so that’s kind of cheating. 😃 Don’t tell me the islands are getting crowded… :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/128 "2010-01-20T06:14:19Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > If I expand the definition to include all nations within 100 miles of the U.S.: > > 1. Bahamas > 2. Canada > 3. Mexico > 4. Cuba > **5. Russia** Hrm. I’ve been over the dateline \ and I’m pretty sure we were more than 100 miles from mainland AK. And don’t dare count the Aleutians as the US. Hell, even Adak shut down! Nothing but condoms and beer cans in the forts at Dutch Harbor anymore. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![hellpaso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecae2f/32.png) [@hellpaso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hellpaso)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/129 "2010-01-20T17:22:01Z")
I guess I’d go to Mexico, since it’s only a mile or so from here. There’s virtually no difference. I’d still be shopping in the same stores and watching the same local tv stations. Everyone would still be speaking Spanglish and driving like no traffic laws exist, just like here. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/130 "2010-01-20T17:34:17Z")
The nearest neighbor to the East is the UK (well, if you don’t count the Canaries). Can I go there? My brother and his family live there and I was born and raised there, so no big adjustment. Otherwise, the Caymans; my dad lives there and Grand Cayman is lovely (and warm), earthquakes notwithstanding. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/131 "2010-01-20T18:03:23Z")
Do technicalities count? If so, Denmark. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/132 "2010-01-20T18:22:12Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > This is bizarre, though. > > Today I was driving around and noticed there’s no snow anywhere. No snow. In Ontario. In THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY. That is not natural. > > It’ll be mild tomorrow. Mild the day after that. Mild the day after that. This is very strange indeed. It should be brutally cold this time of year. Not that Ontario itself has no snow, just that you have no snow in Southwestern Ontario. We’ve got a slightly less than normal amount here in Eastern Ontario, but yeah, I’ll take these temperatures (zero to minus 10) at this time of year anytime. Oh, and to answer the OP, I wouldn’t balk at all about living in the US. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/133 "2010-01-20T18:27:14Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > Do technicalities count? If so, Denmark. Or France - Saint Pierre and Miquelon. Still, I’ve got family in the US so that would be fine for me. ---
**Author:** ![YoureBeingABinkyBoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e0b2c6/32.png) [@YoureBeingABinkyBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YoureBeingABinkyBoo)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/134 "2010-01-20T19:59:28Z")
Mexico is warm and colorful. Tequila, beaches, enchiladas, beautiful women, good music, and low cost of living. Canada is cold, grey, and I don’t need to go any further than that. Cuba is beautiful and would be an absolute paradise if you could undo all those years of communism. Worst place on the planet to live? That’s a tough one. Yemen, Somalia, Iraq, Gaza, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Haiti, North Korea? ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/135 "2010-01-20T20:04:28Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > The nearest neighbor to the East is the UK (well, if you don’t count the Canaries). The Canaries are further away and way south, off the coast of Africa. The Azores is maybe what you’re thinking of? ---
**Author:** ![YoureBeingABinkyBoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e0b2c6/32.png) [@YoureBeingABinkyBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YoureBeingABinkyBoo)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2010, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/136 "2010-01-20T20:05:20Z")
It’s 65 degrees here today, and yes, that IS ridiculously cold!!! ---
**Author:** ![hellpaso](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecae2f/32.png) [@hellpaso](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hellpaso)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/137 "2010-01-21T04:37:09Z")
Oh–I wouldn’t want to go to Canada. 87 degrees today here, so _there_. ---
**Author:** ![BomTek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bomtek/32/21364_2.png) [@BomTek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BomTek)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2010, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076/138 "2010-01-21T20:44:40Z")
Fascinating idea for a thread. Thanks. I live in the US, and I’d pick Mexico in a heartbeat. I toured the area around San Miguel de Allende as a minor celebrity in high school and I’m still in love with the country and its people 12 years later. Thanks to the US Air Force, I’ve taken up a semi-permanent residence in Iraq (18 months in-country in the last 37 months), and of the countries that border Iraq I’d have to pick Turkey, mostly because I know much more about it than the others, and it’s more tolerable to Americans. Worldwide, I’d probably put Jamaica at the top (another country I just fell in love with during a short visit) and maybe Rwanda at the bottom. A lot of countries would be tied for last though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-have-to-leave-your-country-which-of-your-neighbor-nations-would-you-choose/525076.md?page=6)