would you if you could, move to the US
 

If so, why:? If not, why not?

This really the european thread and we had this all out last year. Majority was no but issues raised included gun crime, poor publicity/marketing of US, poor quality of life, religious biggotry etc etc

I wonder how long this one'll last before it's taken down.

No: can't see any advantage, and loads of downside (crime: health system: no decent radio: ghastly weather)

BUT: I'd really, really like to spend a few long "holidays": doing what I do normally, only based in Cape Cod, or Washington State, for 3-6 months. It's irritating I can only do 3 months at a time - and also that it's technically a breach of immigration rules. As it, technically, would be for a US competitor to do the same thing here. Likelihood of either of us being found out is low: but a REAL pain if you do get caught.

It'd be nice if the rich world's governments adjusted their immigration rules to the reality of modern teleworking.

I have recently been speaking to my starter wife who did move to America after we split and has lived there for 18 years.

She is coming back to england as she can't be doing with America anymore.

I don't think I'd last 18 years. In fact I doubt I'd manage 18 days.

The problem for us Brits is we tend to think of America as a bit of Europe that talks funny and has strange shoes. It's not. It's a very alien place indeed.

So no, I wouldn't move there for all the gold I could eat.

I suspect a lot might depend on WHERE in the US someone wanted to move.

For many people here, the assertion that gun crime and poor quality of life are negative factors in their communities would be laughable at the very least.

It wouold be akin to thinking that every place in the United Kingdom is as expensive to live in and as traffic-congested as London.

Nope.

Car culture. When I was last living in England I didn't have a car because it would have been an inconvenience. Walk to the pub, take a bus to see friends, walk to the train station to get to work.

Visiting a friend in Phoenix we drove to the mall, drove to the restaurant, drove here, drove there.

I asked my friend when was the last time he simply bumped into someone he new. "Never" was the reply.

Unimaginable. I pass my life on my Caribbean rock saying hello to people I know.

We did have a murder in our Maryland community 4 or 5 years ago. But it was not with a gun--a woman ran over her husband with her pickup truck several times.

Move from my beloved London? No way. I would miss the interesting characters and all the bits I have yet to discover. Thankfully, my definition of chic is "small but perfectly formed". I don't aspire to the 3 car garage, in-ground pool, manicured lawn, shopping mall lifestyle. I know that this "dream" has been exported to Britain but I'm fairly well insulated from that in the City State of London. I would also be too far away from mainland Europe, which is full of infinite discoveries and culture, which is what really turns my crank.

I'd happily work there for a couple of years (like Flanneur, I'm a fan of Cape Cod, but bugger all chance of getting a medical research post there, I would imagine), but wouldn't want to settle permanantly. My entire working career has been with various US companies who have treated staff generally very well.

I'd miss a proper holiday allowance (13 days?? - yikes!!!), marmite, torrential rain (yes, I actually like the rain!), the British media/press, proper cars, and most of all being able to flit to Europe for a weekend on a whim.

I'd be uncomfortable with the lack of nationalised healthcare - even if it didn't affect me.

PS Hope that doesn't sound unduly negative - I have visited and liked the US - just doubt that I would want to leave Europe for ever.

No. I prefer living in a region with 2000 years of history instead of 250. I prefer living in a country that does not have soldiers fighting in Iraq. I prefer a good public transport network to an entirely car-oriented culture.

I did thirty-six years ago as a little and I am so grateful and thankful that our family were able to move to America.

I love America!

Please carry on.

Where did you move from?

We thought about it, but decided against it. OH had a job to go to, with NASA, in Pasadena.
In the end we decided we like visiting the US but couldn't live with things like the car culture, and just being so far away from our families. So we settled on a job in the Netherlands instead.
I too would love to spend a long period of time just travelling in the US. If we are able to (financially) when he retires we may even look into it - getting a visa maybe so we can stay longer than 90 days, but 90 days would be fine too.
I love the US and Americans. I have never met such genuinely friendly and hospitable people elsewhere, but I don't think I could live there.

Why? do you have a house you are trying to sell?

Seriously, yes: we would consider it and have periodically. DH and I have lived in a number of countries besides our home and native land and would ONLY consider as a permanent alternative the USA.

However, a bit like the UK gang above, 'my' America is a very New England kind of place. If we were going to move to the USA, it would likely be Maine or Vermont.

How funny..especially the part about "ghastly" weather. I'm from Southern California...Pasadena...and I have no problem with having sunshine almost every day of the year...and then there's Hawaii...how ghastly is it to have gorgeous weather? Plus, we can go to the beach, and enjoy great weather, on the same day that we go skiing... as there's such variety here. I haven't found that kind of variety anywhere else. Plus, there are plenty of other places,here in the U.S., that have nice weather,too. It's a big country!
Happy Travels!

Guenmai, I think the ghastly weather was meant as a joke.

Quokka, your statement that you prefer to live in country that doesn't have soldiers fighting in Iraq sounds rather strong to Americans who would immediately think of comparing that to the SS Nazi history. However I do appreciate that you are actually being very sincere about it, just as we would about Germany's past.

"How ghastly is it to have gorgeous weather?"

Very.

It's bizarre how the citizens of a state that's mostly an earthquake zone, where it's impossible for fair-skinned people to go out without risking skin cancer, that gets forest fires, volcanoes and practically every kind of insupportable natural event except plagues of locusts can delude themselves about how wonderful their climate is.

Like North Koreans telling each other about their fabulous economy.

sorry, a little girl

Asia.

I think there's a potentially profitable line of business for Fodors - brokering life exchanges. Euros can see if life is all red convertible Mustangs and Route 66s, and Muricans can go smell the quaint and munch baguettes while waiting for the dole check to come. Fido and fluffy stay put; you don't need to change email accounts. There's Bovril at the Piggly Wiggly and Smart Pockets at... well, somewhere.

Sign me up.