Where is the best country for a traveller to settle in ?

[*Touring Ted*]

Let's be honest. Who doesn't travel and then dream of settling down somewhere. In their own paradise. Some of my trips have been based in fact finding for finding somewhere that I finally want to settle in.

I've got a short list.

What's yours ?

[Jay_Benson]

I suspect that I will end up in France at some point - travelling back home (UK) to see kids as required whilst being able to go around continental Europe and further afield as I want. Eastern Europe - the Balkans spring to mind - has some advantages in that I would be able to save a significant amount of time on the first leg of trips.

[travel4four]

One of the things to take into consideration is how easy it is to get regulatory approval to stay. Some countries make that easy, others don't. Some require large investments or deposits, others don't. Some have special "retirement visa" regimes, others don't. It's definitely doable - just requires a bit of research.

[Mezo]

Originally Posted by Jay_Benson

I suspect that I will end up in France at some point

That was always my plan, but plans change & i ended up in Australia.

Mezo.

[othalan]

Originally Posted by *Touring Ted*

Let's be honest. Who doesn't travel and then dream of settling down somewhere. In their own paradise.

I always assumed this would happen. That as I explored the world I would find my happy spot, a community I love, perhaps a person that became more important than travel.

Turns out travel is my paradise.

Ten years and counting.

The only thing that surprised me was changing to travel without a motorcycle. Traveling by motorcycle has a special place in my heart as this is how I began, but it is the travel I love. Moving through the world, my only possessions those I carry with me. This is my home, my paradise.

Though I have plans in the works to return to motorbike travel.

[mark manley]

Originally Posted by *Touring Ted*

Let's be honest. Who doesn't travel and then dream of settling down somewhere. In their own paradise. Some of my trips have been based in fact finding for finding somewhere that I finally want to settle in.

I've got a short list.

What's yours ?

A good question Ted and one I have thought about quite a lot, the place that has stood out as somewhere I would like to live is the Central California coast, a moderate climate that allows year round riding, some great scenery and access to a geographically diverse country. For obvious reasons such as visa requirements and the cost of living, especially healthcare that is not going to happen so I have to content myself with visits when I can manage them.
I do enjoy living in this corner of the UK but try to spend as much of the winter as possible somewhere warmer which is something I have managed for most of the last 15 years, except the last two of course, India being a popular choice for my winter getaway, I don't see me ever emigrating but hope to get back to winters somewhere warmer next year.

[AnTyx]

The fundamental problem is that wherever you move, you're bringing with yourself the things that you moved away from.

That said, New Zealand has come the closest for me so far.

[frameworkSpecialist]

Im far away from settling down. But I imagine it will be with an Asian wife in a country like Vietnam, Thailand or The Philippines (somewhere in SEA).

[backofbeyond]

Nothing keeping you in the UK (or the part of it you currently live in anyway) Ted?

I wrote a huge long ramble of a post looking at why I would and wouldn't move to certain areas but then deleted it as boring, but I see others have mentioned many of the same places. So, in the interests of brevity here's the short version -

1. I like where I currently live (Oxfordshire)
2. Nowhere further north - can't stand winters any more. That cuts out much of the UK and (sadly) Sweden where we have friends and family.
3. I'm a Med climate sort of person. Arid but not Sahara arid. However - the actual Med = too crowded. California = a cultural wasteland. South Africa = never been but doesn't tick many of the other boxes.
4 Rest of Europe - language issues vs old dog = no new tricks is a hurdle and I don't want to live in an expat ghetto.
5. North America - After travelling around much of the area fantasy house move had us ticking New Mexico (Santa Fe area) and Quebec (winter again) but there are bits of the east coast below NY (so not New England = winter) that work well for us.
6. Far east - friends experiences living in Thailand (with a Thai wife), Hong Kong and China suggest we'd find it culturally tricky living there now. Oz could be the perfect place (friends in Brisbane give us an insiders view) but it falls down on the next bit.

Biggest problem though is the ties that bind. Both of us have psychological reasons for our base remaining in the UK so our escape has been to buy a small place in the French Alps 15yrs ago. It's too small to move to permanently but it does refresh your soul when the sun streams in over the mountain tops in the morning.

[*Touring Ted*]

Originally Posted by AnTyx

The fundamental problem is that wherever you move, you're bringing with yourself the things that you moved away from.

That said, New Zealand has come the closest for me so far.

Apart from the weather. Which is my main dislike of the U.K. Endless grey skies, drizzle and short unpredictable summers. As an ourdoor person, it's a MAJOR factor. I hate the cold..

Originally Posted by Cholo

Good grief TT you are roaring into your mid life crisis! Kids or no kids, move or stay put..

Oh most definitely. I am certainly at a cross-roads in life in quite a few ways.

Originally Posted by Rognv

Thats excactly what I have done. Traveled, fall in love with this country (my paradise), prepared myself for emigrating and settled down here.


Where is the best country? That depends on each traveller. For me it is Iceland, for Backofbeyond and Mark Manley it is definitely not Iceland


Erik_G talks about taking that step and he is right: it is a huge step, also depending on ones situation of course.



Grumpy geezer talks about the grass being greener on the other side. That´s true. There is good and bad everywhere, everything has its advantages and disadvantages.


AnTyx said: The fundamental problem is that wherever you move, you're bringing with yourself the things that you moved away from.
And Surfi said: If you are not happy at home, do you think living in another country will makes things better?


I would say to this: yes you take yourself with you but if you can change the things which make you unhappy at home or leave them behind, then you can build up a new live without those problems.
Of course this depends on the kind of problems or the reasons which make you unhappy.


It can also be that one isn´t unhappy but just want to move somewhere else. For me I can say, I had my share of problems and I had to take a big decision, it was hard and it was a lot of work to move, but it turned out well for me. I felt it was not just moving and continue with life, it was building up a new life.


Best regards,
Rögnvaldur

Great reply



It's never been a secret. I really don't like the U.K. It's horribly over-populated, insanely expensive, the weather is really SH*T. I also really have a problem with our right-wing, racist, hateful small minded political system too. Which had developed into a real cancer over the last five years too. Brexit was the final nail in the coffin for me really. I feel very out of touch with what it means to be British now. It's a bit of an embarrassment now.

I know A LOT of like minded people who are fleeing the U.K. "Rats jumping ship" as they call it. Many were smarter than me and moved when they were younger or still had a passport that meant anything. Now I feel very much trapped on this crowded cess-pit of greed due to my age and limited passport (wow, well done Brexit)

A very good friend of mine bought some land on the East coast of Costa Rica last year and built himself a beautiful home there. He literally lives in a rainforest paradise a few KM from a deserted beach. It's a quiet, relaxed place with just enough tourism to keep life interesting but it's well off the gringo trail in the West. He did all this for less than I could buy a parking space in the U.K with.

So now I'm 41, no kids and inherited house that I need to sell in the U.K, I'm thinking that it's now or never. My fiancee is onboard so why not eh ?

[Jay_Benson]

So your situation is one that allows you to up sticks and go at this point without any real issue. I would make a few comments / questions:

Wherever you go be sure that you want to be there all year round - for instance Malta is lovely in the spring and autumn, it is hot in the summer (moderated by the sea breezes) and a little chilly in the winter (but way better than the UK - though it is not unknown, even if it is unusual, for it to snow and settle for a short while). Some parts of Malta close in winter due to lack of numbers.

Are you going to work and if so do you have the right to do so? If you don't initially what hurdles do you have to go over to get the right to work. Are your skills, and your fiance's, in demand in the country / region you are thinking of going to? Can you develop your skills into something needed in that community?

Are you going to sell the properties that you have or rent them out - renting out allows an easy return to the UK at relatively short notice for whatever reason?

Initially there is a lot of sense in long term renting (12 months plus) in your target area to ensure that the area suits you, to ensure that you can get involved in the community - as has been said just sitting around with the tourists will not be spiritually fulfilling. One thing about having kids is that it forces you to integrate into the community through their schooling - typically lots of friends for you both come from that.

Finally, once you have moved post your address up so we can all come visit you - you know it makes sense. For those that arrive after any child arrives they can be considered voluntary babysitters.

[AnTyx]

Originally Posted by Jay_Benson

Wherever you go be sure that you want to be there all year round - for instance Malta is lovely in the spring and autumn, it is hot in the summer (moderated by the sea breezes) and a little chilly in the winter (but way better than the UK - though it is not unknown, even if it is unusual, for it to snow and settle for a short while). Some parts of Malta close in winter due to lack of numbers.

I used to go to Malta a lot for work. Scandalized my Israeli and Cypriot colleagues by having a dip in the sea in February. But my god is that place full up. This is a bike enthusiast forum, right? Exactly one long coastal highway where you zoom a bit, and no real free land to offroad on... And the only ferry connection is to Sicily, so you might as well move there for the same weather, more space, and much better food!

[Jay_Benson]

Originally Posted by Jay_Benson

Wherever you go be sure that you want to be there all year round - for instance Malta is lovely in the spring and autumn, it is hot in the summer (moderated by the sea breezes) and a little chilly in the winter (but way better than the UK - though it is not unknown, even if it is unusual, for it to snow and settle for a short while). Some parts of Malta close in winter due to lack of numbers.

I wasn’t advocating Malta - it is certainly no motorcycle heaven - but using it it’s an example regarding the seasons - and meaning that you need to see a place over a longer period than, say, two months as you may all into the trap of assuming that it is like that all year round.

[Rapax]

Originally Posted by *Touring Ted*

Apart from the weather. Which is my main dislike of the U.K. Endless grey skies, drizzle and short unpredictable summers. As an ourdoor person, it's a MAJOR factor. I hate the cold..

.........

So now I'm 41, no kids and inherited house that I need to sell in the U.K, I'm thinking that it's now or never. My fiancee is onboard so why not eh ?

You aren`t leaving only your bad weather country and a house you sold, you leave a country with a mentality and culture you can read with blind eyes. You will get bored by nice and warm weather and you will wish rain and coldness back.

You are leaving your friends and other social bindings you will earliest recognize in the moment when they aren`t available. You will proof your relation to your fiancee and vice versa the hard way!

You replace your well known legal rules and procedures against new written and unwritten ones. And maybe this you have to learn through existing language barriers.

You may think you will leave rascism and xenophobic behaviors but will earn new forms of this equal where you go. You be will an active part in it instead of being somebody who only hears and read more about.

It did it twice in my life, by job for a couple of years and with the help of relocation services as well as a boss who help me a lot in integrating in the new social society and finding friends. It`s all manageable but it was hard and tough time for me. I recognized a substitution from old dislikes and problems against new ones.

You can do it without support and services I had but be sure it will be tough and hard. You will learn a lot new about youself, your fiancee and you will suffer from paying much more than locals in the first time. It will be a time and nerve consuming adventure for a long run.

Only after going through this by quite some time you would know if your dicision was right or wrong and if you would have found your place of desire.

I am happy that I did it and that I made the experience in my life twice. I am also happy that I know I will do it better next time. And that I learned more about me, my needs and wishes.

Only advice I would give to you is: Reserve some money for a restart in your home country in case that all wouldn`t work as you wished and wanted.

[backofbeyond]

Sounds like you need a holiday Ted. Lockdown with nothing but the BBC, The Mail and Facebook to sustain you does tend to do strange things to your psyche. Dump the lot, take a day off and go for a walk on the moors. Breath deep and remind yourself that none of that stuff is real. It's all just a bunch of chancers trying to separate you from reality (and thereby your bank account).

My take on it is that life on Planet Earth runs on the three laws of (social) thermodynamics:

1. You can't win

2. You can't break even

3. You can't get out of the game

Moving somewhere else for a negative reason (e.g. 'I can't stand this place') has pretty much ended badly for everyone I've know who's done it. They've either regretted it (and been stuck so they can't move back) or a short while later found themselves in more social sh*t / dodgy politics than they were surrounded by originally. The good moves have usually been e.g. where a job's been on offer or they had some prior connection with the area. I (long long ago) once considered moving down to the Garmisch area of Bavaria for lifestyle reasons until my (then) girlfriend's Bavarian rellies told me all about the '39-45 politics still considered normal in the area. The grass may look greener from a distance but you need to look carefully at what it's growing on.

I agree on the weather though (and the overpopulation, and Brexshit and Indy Ecosse and .....)