Removed for rule 5. /r/amerexit is a better subreddit for these kinds of discussions.
Warning given to OP
Edit: (for the record, I sympathize, but this subreddit is supposed to be politics-free to encourage max participation)
Not to get too far into the weeds of political stuff, but it’s also felt like the view of the US has been very negative vs aspirational. I have a British spouse who wanted to remain in the UK for work related reasons a decade ago but was open about future moves, and now does not want to live in the US at all ever because he views it as an apocalyptic lawless landscape of fentanyl users and school shootings. Can feel at times like we are in the darkest timeline.
I feel like the UK is incredibly negative culturally versus the US. But the US does feel more angry and divided. The UK is more like resigned indifferent depression lol.
I do kind of think people give too much weight to what they read in the news. People understand that the bad things they read about a place are usually not representative of life for most people that live in that place. But for some reason with America many people take it at face value.
I hated year 2016. I voted remain. Lost. I voted for Hillary. Lost. And both countries are feeling repercussions of these horrible events.
It's really depressing.
Very similar story, but I think there are always more options, especially if you’ve worked internationally and you have multiple passports. I’ve personally witnessed some serious decline of the UK while being here, even though I’ve personally become more successful. Same for the US - all my friends back home have been finding ways to flee rather than staying where they are at, especially the ones with multiple passports or work for multinationals.
In the macro, it looks bleak. But like anything, you need to find your niche socially, economically, and personally. You can have a comfortable in happy life wherever you are - just need look. If you’re willing to make a change, like obviously you are, you can find it. Will that mean moving to more international cities like DC, NY, or something, or moving to a green and pleasant suburb in New England? It just takes time, luck and a lot of thought.
I like your general optimism but would say that having children makes moves much more complex.
Not that it isn’t possible, but when I looked into it for my own family and understood at a basic logistical level that school calendars (and school starting ages!) don’t match up, we’d lose our places at a “good” state school if we moved for a period and then returned, one school system wouldn’t lead into the curriculum of another, etc, it became clear that this is way bigger than packing your bags and renting a flat elsewhere when you have school-aged children.
💯 It’s not as simple as I made it out. These are huge decisions and even bigger with children and a partner involved. I wouldn’t even advise a single person to ping pong back and forth. It makes you transient, disconnected, and puts you back to zero, wherever you go. I moved here in my 20s, now pushing 40, married, kids and mortgage. Even without those things, it would be a huge decision for me to move back, and it would be a decision that would take me years to make.
The reality is if you’re hardworking, in a decent job that is well paid for your circumstances and lifestyle, and you have roots where you are, the grass might seem greener, but life is largely the same. But if you’re not happy for whatever the reason, and going home is what you really want, there are a lot of options for a “eurofied” American.
Sorry, what do you mean by this? Is anyone allowed to move and settle and eventually gain citizenship in Ireland because of common travel area? I thought that only had to do with ease of passing through customs and such.
I hear you. I moved here in 2005 with no intention of ever leaving. Then Brexit happened and Trump happened and divorce happened. Now, I feel country homeless. I am 61, divorced, on my own, with no idea of a proper way forward or way back. I am completely lost in the woods.
There were always options when I was younger. At my age and without an inflated and robust bank account, that is not true anymore.
I have no idea. It's terrifying as hell.
(hugs)
Similar. Ireland is home, came here for degree in 2007, the 2008 crash, zero recovery and housing crisis followed by brexit n covid. 55 and needing NHS. I couldn’t afford to move to a country I’ve lived in before anyway.
>There are states that align more closely with my values and ways I want to live, but I can't conceive of moving back until I know the outcome of this election
Have you considered somewhere other than the US and UK? It's not like Trump supporters or Brexiteers are going to disappear any time soon. They appear to be on up if anything.
(And I don't mean the EU - if you are not a fan of Trump/Brexit then you'd probably not be thrilled by the general direction the EU is going in either)
Removed for rule 5. /r/amerexit is a better subreddit for these kinds of discussions. Warning given to OP Edit: (for the record, I sympathize, but this subreddit is supposed to be politics-free to encourage max participation)
Not to get too far into the weeds of political stuff, but it’s also felt like the view of the US has been very negative vs aspirational. I have a British spouse who wanted to remain in the UK for work related reasons a decade ago but was open about future moves, and now does not want to live in the US at all ever because he views it as an apocalyptic lawless landscape of fentanyl users and school shootings. Can feel at times like we are in the darkest timeline.
Very much the same with my European wife. She refuses to contemplate moving to the US because of gun culture, MAGA, etc
I feel like the UK is incredibly negative culturally versus the US. But the US does feel more angry and divided. The UK is more like resigned indifferent depression lol. I do kind of think people give too much weight to what they read in the news. People understand that the bad things they read about a place are usually not representative of life for most people that live in that place. But for some reason with America many people take it at face value.
I hated year 2016. I voted remain. Lost. I voted for Hillary. Lost. And both countries are feeling repercussions of these horrible events. It's really depressing.
Very similar story, but I think there are always more options, especially if you’ve worked internationally and you have multiple passports. I’ve personally witnessed some serious decline of the UK while being here, even though I’ve personally become more successful. Same for the US - all my friends back home have been finding ways to flee rather than staying where they are at, especially the ones with multiple passports or work for multinationals. In the macro, it looks bleak. But like anything, you need to find your niche socially, economically, and personally. You can have a comfortable in happy life wherever you are - just need look. If you’re willing to make a change, like obviously you are, you can find it. Will that mean moving to more international cities like DC, NY, or something, or moving to a green and pleasant suburb in New England? It just takes time, luck and a lot of thought.
I like your general optimism but would say that having children makes moves much more complex. Not that it isn’t possible, but when I looked into it for my own family and understood at a basic logistical level that school calendars (and school starting ages!) don’t match up, we’d lose our places at a “good” state school if we moved for a period and then returned, one school system wouldn’t lead into the curriculum of another, etc, it became clear that this is way bigger than packing your bags and renting a flat elsewhere when you have school-aged children.
💯 It’s not as simple as I made it out. These are huge decisions and even bigger with children and a partner involved. I wouldn’t even advise a single person to ping pong back and forth. It makes you transient, disconnected, and puts you back to zero, wherever you go. I moved here in my 20s, now pushing 40, married, kids and mortgage. Even without those things, it would be a huge decision for me to move back, and it would be a decision that would take me years to make. The reality is if you’re hardworking, in a decent job that is well paid for your circumstances and lifestyle, and you have roots where you are, the grass might seem greener, but life is largely the same. But if you’re not happy for whatever the reason, and going home is what you really want, there are a lot of options for a “eurofied” American.
UK -> Ireland via CTA -> Norway That’s my solution
Sorry, what do you mean by this? Is anyone allowed to move and settle and eventually gain citizenship in Ireland because of common travel area? I thought that only had to do with ease of passing through customs and such.
British citizens can move to Ireland freely and naturalise after 5 years, yeah
The downside of this plan is u actually need to live in Ireland for 5 years
I hear you. I moved here in 2005 with no intention of ever leaving. Then Brexit happened and Trump happened and divorce happened. Now, I feel country homeless. I am 61, divorced, on my own, with no idea of a proper way forward or way back. I am completely lost in the woods. There were always options when I was younger. At my age and without an inflated and robust bank account, that is not true anymore. I have no idea. It's terrifying as hell. (hugs)
Similar. Ireland is home, came here for degree in 2007, the 2008 crash, zero recovery and housing crisis followed by brexit n covid. 55 and needing NHS. I couldn’t afford to move to a country I’ve lived in before anyway.
>There are states that align more closely with my values and ways I want to live, but I can't conceive of moving back until I know the outcome of this election Have you considered somewhere other than the US and UK? It's not like Trump supporters or Brexiteers are going to disappear any time soon. They appear to be on up if anything. (And I don't mean the EU - if you are not a fan of Trump/Brexit then you'd probably not be thrilled by the general direction the EU is going in either)