Any Americans here who have emigrated? Reasons? Politics, Jobs? Whats your experience?

[Locut0s]

I know during the Bush administrations 8 years many, well some, people talked about emigrating overseas if things continued the way they were. Did anyone here actually do so? There are of course many other reasons people emigrate including simply falling in love with a place for example or jobs, family, health care, etc etc... For all Americans living overseas, whether you emigrated or not, what's your experience like?

I'd like to hear your stories!

[cyclezealot]

1. Moved to the south of France..

Not really Bush's doing.. But US health care. .Our employer's lousy HMO... We could not get a referral as my wife's cancer spread.. It almost got out of control.. Finally after months of delay, we got one of the best oncologist surgeons , but the struggle was a dozzie.
.. I think US health care. They think if they kill you, they'll get out of paying..
So after that we did an early retirement.
As much as we love California, southern France is comparable.. in climate. and expense are less . Much cheaper than Calif but less crime and the health care is excellent.. We pay for the French national plan what we would pay for just a dental care policy in the US... And even our rightists neighbors support universal health care..
Services are excellent doctors involved..Only a 2 euro deductible. Doctors are in charge..
Other than that, other expenses are less. Utilities maybe 1/3 of what they were in Calif.. And we don't have any insecurities about crime and a greater sense of community. Our little village of 2500 has over a dozen clubs.. No need for paying huge bucks for a health club.. It's a village service.

[cabluedem]

2. Not missing much in CA. Looks like another drought year ahead, so far. Wish we could move to FR.

glad to hear your wife is better too. France is a very nice country. Am so ashamed how they were called names during the * term by the ignoramuses here in the US.

[ejpoeta]

3. so instead of just talking about prevention and living better, they make it possible for a person to

do things like be more active!! see, that's what I don't get. you turn on the tv and all you see is how you are supposed to do this and do that to be healthier. ok. well, when a person works at least 40 hours a week... or maybe they have three part time jobs for a total of 60 hours a week...plus they have kids to take care of and get no rest... and then even though they are stretched thin they are supposed to be able to fit exercise in... join a club that costs like $800/year!! or more!! i know how much it costs to join the YMCA. the sad thing is that i can't even afford it AFTER they gave me a scholarship that i would pay $40 down and $20 a month! but some will say to just go for a walk. if you saw where i live, you'd see how difficult that can be with a 4 year old and soon to be baby with a stroller. I used to try with my oldest who is 10 now... but there is no real side of the road and cars come barreling down this road like it's a racetrack. though they do open up the elementary schools in the evening for people who want to walk.

I think it's the whole mindset here. I mean, it sounds like countries like France set it up to make it easier for everyone to be healthier. And I bet they don't work themselves to death over there like we do here. Those who get vacation time here tend to use it not for vacations but in case something happens... Like when i have this baby, bob will use vacation time to be home for a few days. I hate that he has to use his vacation time for this. When we had the fire five years ago he used vacation time.... and when we moved the house he used vacation time.... We've never actually taken a vacation. I don't count going to Florida last year either because we went because my husband's father had a stroke.

[Locut0s]

4. Sorry to hear about your wife hope that goes well. I LOVE southern France!...

Was never there more than a few days but I'd definitely consider moving there if I could ever learn the language (and I'm Canadian lol) and had an assurance of a job. I love the small village life, like so much of Europe!

[Locut0s]

5. Bump