I have given thought to moving many times. That's not so easy either, unfortunately. Of course, since my savings are already wrecked now, I guess I could just say "**** it", sell out and move... I'm with you on the culture change. It needs to happen, but it will be furiously resisted until when it happens, it happens violently... Maybe that makes me too pessimistic for some to feel credible. I don't know...
I don't know what China has to do with this but ok. I think that people's priorities should be to spend more time with their families and the people important to them. I think their priorities should also include having enough and being content with enough. America's definition of enough is warped.
I share your pessimism and intentionally left it out because I too felt that it would diminish my credibility. I think it's going to be a huge mess but I feel it is inevitible. America is going to reap what it has sown eventually and it is not going to be pretty. Maybe I'm being pessimistic again but we figure that if the **** really hits the fan we will go over there with nothing. Plenty of people have immigrated to other countries, especially the US, with absolutley nothing and did ok eventually. If the **** doesn't completely hit the fan we hope to keep a house here, hopefully paid off or close to being paid off, by the time the kids are grown. We have about 10 more years until my daughter graduates high school. We hope to sell our house that we have now and get something smaller that is easier to maintain. If that is the case we would keep a place here and have a place over there as well. Then we have the option of going back and forth. I do IT consulting from my house and can do it anywhere I have an internet connection. I worked the whole time I was over there. We took them with us to Europe this summer and are planting the seeds early to maybe get them to go to college over there. We will see though. One thing that we have going for us is that my wife is a Swedish citizen and all of her family is over there. If we go, or had to go, we have a support system in place. We have family to stay with until we get on our feet. My swedish is very suspect right now but I feel confident that I could pick it up being over there all the time. I picked up a TON in a month. It also doesn't hurt that everyone knows English. I actually looked at the job market when we were over there and there are quite a few jobs in my area of expertise and they pay well. That was encouraging. As for someone that doesn't have family in another country, I have no idea how to get over there. I'd learn another language for sure. While they all know English proficiently, everyone I talked to still wanted me to know the local language. I'd try to find a job that has connections overseas and inquire about a transfer. Our best friends think like we do and have look hard into moving to Europe but it's difficult to get a visa without a job. Maybe if we brainstorm enough we can figure it out
Being a EU citizen (dual) with family in Germany is also helpful - but damn the job market is really rough right now (at least in my line of work). Of course, just talking about this puts the two of us on the "commie anti-american hate list" amongst some of our less-intelligent bbs brethren. Trust me, I know - I got a ****storm of anger when I mentioned my interest in dual citizenship on here some time ago.
Good deal. That definitely helps then. I'm pretty sure that you can get a job anywhere in the EU, not just Germany. I don't know what you do but while there may not be anything in Germany, their very well may be something in another country. Yeah, I know that what we think is definitely not popular with a lot of people but I don't care.
True, I can work most anywhere with the EU passport... but the problem then is usually language, unfortunately.
Don't forget this is Texas, not California of the East coast. This is the dirty south. Most Texans still shoot whatever they shoot and sleep with a gun under there pillow if the black slave comes to rob some cash! I lived in Texas and know live in Europe. I know best of both worlds and worst of both worlds. Open mindnessness is defintely in USA's con's...
Because you can't get ice and water to 2 million people if the need arises, whether it be in 3 days or 3 months. Depends - is your goal happiness or wealth? There are people who are dirt poor in Africa who live lower stress, more content lives than people here who have plenty of success.
Y'all can live the ol' euro lifestyle right in the US of A if you choose. It might mean a smaller house, older car, fewer premium channels on the TV, mowing your own lawn, cleaning your own house, and attending fewer Texan's games. Or it might not. The American dream should be about the freedom to do as you choose, no? And if you're self employed....you should be able to structure your work around your family to an extent. If you had an extra work project, you'd find time for it...so why not for your kid? or spouse? The treadmill keeps getting faster because you're pushing on it harder. Step off. Next time you go to Europe for a month -- don't be bringing work there! Lots of economic trouble in Europe too. We're doing the Behad plan right now. Mom's at home with young'uns. Older cars, TV, fewer gadgets. But we're still doing 6 weeks holidays away from home plus weekend getaways and I'm doing my best to structure my work to be home for dinner everynight.
That's quite a challenge. My uncle (portugese) speaks/reads/writes 7 languages. I stink at trying to learn two!
Yes but freedom stops where others freedom violation starts. And thats the whole problem of the us politics these last 8 years. They have been violating others freedom without even asking, and that is against your own constitution, and your own "american dream".
Yeah, my wife knows 3 fluently and a couple more pretty well. It is really difficult to learn another language here because we just aren't around it enough. I absolutely see why people in Europe have little problem with English since it is everywhere. One thing that has helped me, when I have time to do it, is Rosetta Stone. It is really great.
Yeah i'm just fed up losing money because of some decisions a president who is not mine made. I get quite overrexcited, I know all Texans aren't like that, I lived 10 years in Houston ^^
You seem very angry Freddy. We're much more relaxed this side of the pond. Perhaps it's the good living?
Yeah perhaps it is. Maybe because I think of the future and don't pollute the world selfishely? Maybe because I don't support a useless war that has put the world in deep ****. Maybe because i'm fed up with people who think that there vote doesn't count and doesn't have an impact on other peoples lives. And btw, the name is fredv, not Freddy. Talking to people by there name is a sign of respect, you could atleast show that to the rest of the world. Start rebuilding your reputation and respect the constitutions you have signed and your allies.
i think bush is among the worst presidents we've ever had.... but you're not losing money merely because of george w. bush. this problem is a lot bigger than george w. bush.
