Expat Destinations (was RE: American Empire as Gated Community

[Catilyne <catilyne@icicle.net>]

SVG makes some excellent points below, so rather than reply to another six 
messages, I'll just compile my thoughts with his.  This is based on some 
of 
the information I've snarfed from a couple years research, but is not 
necessarily firsthand (or in other words, I ain't actually visited these 
places myself).  Therefore, YMMV, all standard disclaimers apply, 
yaddayaddayadda...

Oaxaca, Mexico: Daryll, I can't believe you brought up Oaxaca in 
particular.  For years, I had a friend who was born and raised in Oaxaca 
(unfortunately, I knew him through my ex- so I've lost contact long 
since).  By all accounts, the words "tropical paradise" were coined for 
just such places.

New Zealand: Good investment if you can save up some cash and use $US 
Dollars to purchase property before expatriating.  Don't know how 
employment pays if you're working for Kiwi company however.

Australia: I've heard inflation is out of control for the time being, and 
everything costs way too much unless you're working for a company paying 
you in $USD.

Brussels: Nice city, but you've got to work around language quirks (the 
job 
you get may require Flemish, or Francais, or both), and the taxes are some 
of the worst I've come across.  Also, most of the expat boards seem much 
more concerned than most with employment, so it sounds as if getting a job 
may be pretty difficult.

Argentina: Lots of the expat advisors are screaming "buy, buy, buy" in 
regard to Argentinian property, citing the exact same arguments SVG just 
did.  A great deal right now, and everybody feels the economy is going to 
bounce back just fine.  It's just going to take a little time.

Canada: I've already got friends who have made the move to both Toronto 
and 
Vancouver.  I've been up to Toronto several times myself, and it's a kewl 
city filled with nice people.  Canada's a good option for those who don't 
want to deal with major language or culture issues.  Not to mention after 
3 
years residence, you can apply for citizenship, then move to a nice 
Carribean paradise without having to pay any taxes back to your new home 
country.  FYI, the US is one of the few countries in the world where you 
have to pay taxes back to the US no matter where in the world you actually 
earn the income (the only other countries who do this are typically 
well-known bastions of human rights... like Libya).

The Netherlands: This is where we first started investigating, since 
Holland has a great record with tolerance, equality, and human rights.  To 
paraphrase something I've heard Rick Steves actually say on one of his 
programs, "the Americans I know who have relocated to the Netherlands are 
some of the happiest Americans I have ever known."  This only moved down 
our personal list of countries because my wife and I intend to have a 
large 
family.  Since the Netherlands is the most densely populated country in 
all 
Europe, finding a nice roomy house that will comfortably support a family 
with at least five kids is not easy -- or cheap.

France: I'm sure there are lots of people who can speak firsthand on 
living 
in France.  While we've got a real draw to the country itself (property 
costs in Southern France are at an all time low, as well as Paris probably 
being one of the easier places for me to find a job), the politics seem to 
be following the United States' lead in rolling back privacy and 
rights.  Although it would still be an improvement over where we are now.

Cyprus & Greece: Nice vacation destinations, perhaps great for a summer 
home.  However, not much hope of making a decent wage on Cyprus, and 
Greece 
would draft me.  'Nuff said...

Central Europe: This is where we're actually visiting at the end of this 
month.  First choice for us (on paper at least) is Budapest.  Hungary 
seems 
to be doing best of the former Eastern Block, property is reasonably 
priced, and if you can pick up a job with an International company, the 
exchange rate means you can live very comfortably.  It looks to be a 
really 
beautiful city as well, but I guess we'll find out in a couple of 
weeks.  Prague, Czech Republic is second choice.  There seem to be more 
jobs available in Prague, but they don't look as if they pay as well as 
Budapest.  Also, I've heard that you can't spit in Prague without hitting 
an expat (someone actually told me that there are more expatriates there 
than Paris).

Ummm, boy, I really went on there for a bit didn't I?  Okay, I'll try to 
shut up now for a little while...  ;)

         -c-



At 02:06 PM 1/3/2003 -0800, S V G wrote:

>      As the question was asked about where would one go if they left the 
> US, here are a few thoughts of mine.
>
>      Current politics in New Zealand tend towards being interested in 
> what the people are thinking.  A land mass the size of California and a 
> population one fifth the size of Los Angeles.  The American dollar goes 
> pretty far there.  There are some pretty hip communities around Auckland 
> on the north island and Golden Bay on the south island.
>
>      Australia would be a good choice as well.
>
>      If big city turns you on, I've heard great things about Brussels.
>
>      Though economics are tough in Argentina right now, the people are 
> among the greatest I've ever met.  I'd seriously consider moving there 
>if 
> I had some sort of plan to make a humble living. Again, the American 
> dollar goes very far there.
>
>      Canada worked in the 60's and it's still a great place with great 
> people and sensible politics (relatively).  You can easily rent a 
>"summer 
> home" there or a "winter retreat" and not raise any eyebrows.  Just keep 
> a current drivers license in the States and everyone will think that you 
> live in the US part time as well.
>
>      For myself, I'll probably stay here in the States.  Somebody has to 
> stay behind to counteract all these God-fearing-bible-thumpers...
>
>          SVG
>
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