Given the Opportunity, Would You Move to Europe?

[Texacon]

What would you expect?

Mr. Ected (658 posts)     
Thu Apr-02-09 04:36 PM
Original message

Given the Opportunity, Would You Move to Europe?
 I had that opportunity in 1998 and moved my young family to Germany. Later, we moved to Holland, and ended up living 8 years overseas, living in small communities with the natives, paying local taxes, subscribing to national health insurance, working for local companies.

For some odd reason, we decided to return to the States in late 2005.

I miss Europe. Sometimes I wish we'd never come back to America.

So I ask you, fellow DU'ers - given the proper opportunity - would you expatriate?
 

A whole bunch of 'Hell Yeah's' then this little tidbit ....

dmallind  (1000+ posts)     
Thu Apr-02-09 04:52 PM
Response to Original message

20. I HAVE that opportunity and do not
 
At least that is if you consider the UK Europe, which most people outside the UK do  (and yes I know legally I can live in any EU country just as easily as that of my birth).

Having been born there I can walk back in at any time. I almost did so a few years back for a specific job opportunity.

I am unlikely to do so though. Sure there are advantages, but there are disadvantages too. The safety nets are far less generous than many believe, poverty is just as daunting and just as likely a prospect as it is here. Health care is a sure plus, but not a differentiating factor for those of us here who do have reasonable insurance.  The cost of living however is far far higher. My dad's 982 sq ft house with no central heat or air costs more than my 2800 sq ft with all the usual amenities, and is far from swanky or in a hot area. Public transport is much diminished from its heyday of decades ago, and is limited if you live off the beaten track or have odd hours. Gas is far more expensive and nowhere near balanced by more economical cars. Jobs are about as hard to find it seems as they are here, and pay scales for jobs like mine run about 30% lower even with the higher cost of living. Subjective concepts like community and liveability or more collective sociology are rarely apparent when you live there for any length of time. People may initially seem open, but there is much parochialism and limited outlook to be found (and this is not limited to the UK - spent a fair amount of time in Germany and France too).

That's not to say I hate Europe or would never live there. Nowhere is perfect, and there are advantages and disadvantages to any place. I lack the experience to comment on the Scandinavian nations which look very appealing on a statistical level, but I am sure there are bugbears to living there too. On the whole I'm better off here than any place I could realistically find work in Europe.
 

Uh oh.  You mean Europe is not the panacea they have always thought?!

Bigmack  (1000+ posts)       
Thu Apr-02-09 04:44 PM
Response to Original message

12. We tried to emigrate to Canada... 
 but we were gently and politely told we were too old and would just eat up the health care system.

I tried to explain that both sets of grandparents sneaked into the US via Canada, so that should give me priority, but they still said no.

Canada has its crazies, but they don't compare with the whackjobs in this country.

If I lived in Canada, I could watch those Canadian Navy 75 footers sail by my house instead of the multibillion dollar boomer subs that go by my house now. 

You mean liberal Canada doesn't want you sucking off their tit like you do here?!  Say it ain't so.

This is a fun thread.  Think I'll go back to reading.

KC

[Texacon]

Here's an interesting exchange.  Someone who has no idea trying to make Europe sound better but then reality steps in;

LiberalFighter   (1000+ posts)       
Thu Apr-02-09 04:56 PM
Response to Original message

22. What would be the cost of living compared to the US? Taxes?
 

nichomachus  (1000+ posts)     
Thu Apr-02-09 05:16 PM
Response to Reply #22

34. Taxes higher -- cost of living lower    


KatyMan  (615 posts)     
Thu Apr-02-09 05:30 PM
Response to Reply #34

46. Depends on where, I would think
 In the Lodnon area (basically all of southeast England), taxes about the same maybe a bit hgiher, cost of living MUCH higher. 
 
 
anigbrowl (1000+ posts)     
Thu Apr-02-09 09:15 PM
Response to Reply #46

91. Very much so. Any major metro area is very expensive
 plus the sales tax across Europe averages about 20%. The US still seems surprisingly cheap to me in a lot of ways, and I live in one of the most expensive US cities.

now, there are a lot of places in Europe where the cost of living is a lot cheaper...but absent special skills, the chances of finding a job there are relatively low.
 
 
LooseWilly  (625 posts)     
Fri Apr-03-09 04:32 AM
Response to Reply #46

110. Depends on where you're living in the US, methinks
 Compared to the SF Bay Area (and New York, I would guess, and probably a number of other Metropolitan areas) the cost of living might be higher in London.. but I think the caps would have to be rescinded... especially in light of the recent price increases hereabouts that went hand in hand with the gas price spike last year... prices which, of course, have never dropped despite gas price drops...

 
dmallind  (1000+ posts)     
Fri Apr-03-09 11:28 AM
Response to Reply #34

139. Not at all
 Cost of many if not most regularly purchased consumables are higher - and that's not just in London or Paris. Housing is almost always higher than US unless you are comparing it to SF and NYC with some rural outpost on the other side.

OUCH.

KC

[djones520]

nichomachus  (1000+ posts)     
Thu Apr-02-09 05:16 PM
Response to Reply #22

34. Taxes higher -- cost of living lower   

fuggbush21 (44 posts)      Sat Apr-04-09 04:13 PM
Response to Reply #34
185. That's why the US Military gives it's troops in Europe COLA
 or Cost of Living Allowance. It's a monthly stipend paid to US Military members stationed in Europe to help offset the higher cost of living that they have to deal with while being there.

Pwnt.

[Texacon]

Their dreams and ideals of Europe are being beaten down ..... 

 

emilyg  (1000+ posts)      Thu Apr-02-09 07:35 PM
Response to Original message

68. I come from Europe. No I wouldn't.
 

 
anigbrowl (1000+ posts)      Thu Apr-02-09 09:17 PM
Response to Reply #68

92. Oh, you too huh.
 

dmallind   (1000+ posts)      Fri Apr-03-09 11:30 AM
Response to Reply #68

140. Amazing that those of us who originated there
 often have a different answer to those who have been there very little if at all.

And again I don't hate Europe, it's not horrible at all, but on the whole my life here is better.

KC

[MrsSmith]

I'd love to go back to Europe...for a while.  I'd love to see my aunt before she dies...I already missed my uncle.  I'd love to see the adults that were 3 and 4 and 5 when I was there 30+ years ago...and meet their kids.

I'd never manage to live there.  If I'd stayed as a teen, I'm sure I'd have loved it.  As an independent American, I can't imagine living in a country that would force me to get training and a license to buy hand tools, to clean my own chimney, to work on my car or house, or any other "Do-It-Yourself" thing.  I can't imagine living somewhere that makes overtime literally illegal to free up jobs for everyone who wants to work.  I can't imagine paying 50% more in taxes than I already pay. 

Europe was beautiful, but the US beats it hands-down, every time.

[TheSarge]

Mr. Ected (658 posts)     
Thu Apr-02-09 04:36 PM
Original message

Given the Opportunity, Would You Move to Europe?

Only with the U.S. Gov't footing the bill...which will be the case for me this summer.

But move there for good and give up being an American or enjoying everything America offers?

HELL NO!

[Chris_]

Poor widdle DUmmies...you want a nice place to live there? Be ready to cough up some big bucs or live in a shithole hostel.  

Why look so far though??? There are Lib Paradise locations so much closer!!!
Havana and Caracas come to mind...

[DULurkster]

Poor widdle DUmmies...you want a nice place to live there? Be ready to cough up some big bucs

Here's some DUmmies who know the real secret to gaining wealth...

TheCentepedeShoes  Thu Apr-02-09 08:17 PM
78. If I were to win the Lotto   
I would purchase a nice sized (not mega, just roomy for me, Mr 'pede, the dog and crew) yacht and cruise the Mediterranean

GoneOffShore 
136. Yes - If the lottery hits - we'll be in Paris - cats and all   
And most likely not looking back.

then there's the "alternative" option...

LooseWilly Fri Apr-03-09 04:32 AM
Response to Reply #46
110. Depends on where you're living in the US, methinks   
Compared to the SF Bay Area (and New York, I would guess, and probably a number of other Metropolitan areas) the cost of living might be higher in London.. but I think the caps would have to be rescinded... especially in light of the recent price increases hereabouts that went hand in hand with the gas price spike last year... prices which, of course, have never dropped despite gas price drops...

but why should this guy worry about prices....

LooseWilly Fri Apr-03-09 04:38 AM
Response to Reply #35
111. Hehe... unfortunately I think I still owe on a hospital bill in Barcelona..   
I don't know if they're like Canada, the most self-righteous country in the world... and it's only a matter of something like 5k pesetas (ok, it's an old bill I ran out on)... but what do you know of their policy with hospital bill dead beats?

LooseWilly  Fri Apr-03-09 05:13 AM
Response to Reply #64
115. Hehe... I was begging in coffee houses for a job   
Unfortunately, I'm neither a lady nor very universally attractive... so I couldn't get any under-the-table employment in Amsterdam.
Shoplifting for food while living on the streets of Barcelona was neitherwise a long term living arrangement to my liking. That said... I still didn't really want to come back home to the States.
Just forwarding an alternate opinion...

Seems like a deadbeat thief can hardly ever catch a break parade of

[Carl]

I wouldn`t mind visiting Europe just to see some of the sights but if that never happens I will be fine.

Could not imagine living anywhere else but in the USA...this country has no equal,nothing else has ever come close.
The American ideal of independence and freedom has built the greatest country to ever exist..we have opportunity,comforts,beautiful places,truly anything one can wish for.

To see these rat bastards constantly tear it down and now have one as a President cuts to the heart.
On a website that makes hating the American dream and all we have achieved almost a requirement you still have a vestige of honesty that the socialist paradises of their dreams just aren`t.

Yet they still will insist that is the path we need to follow.
It is enraging at the willing blindness and stupidity that libs have as they dream of power and control.
That is always their number one goal...to somehow have comfort and riches awarded to them,thinking they will be one of the chosen few to be lords.

Worthless,sniveling vermin...every last damn one of them.

[TheSarge]

They're all nothing but a bunch of Hatriots.

They all claim they want to become ex-patriots...they hate this country...but they're too lazy to actually follow through with their rhetoric.

[diesel driver]

I'd never manage to live there.  If I'd stayed as a teen, I'm sure I'd have loved it.  As an independent American, I can't imagine living in a country that would force me to get training and a license to buy hand tools, to clean my own chimney, to work on my car or house, or any other "Do-It-Yourself" thing.  I can't imagine living somewhere that makes overtime literally illegal to free up jobs for everyone who wants to work.  I can't imagine paying 50% more in taxes than I already pay. 

Europe was beautiful, but the US beats it hands-down, every time.

Given enough time, the liberals will change all that. 

It's not fair that WE have it so easy and free here, while Europe is licensed and regulated....