where would you live if you were starting over?

I did a study abroad trip to Montevideo last year for grad school. We toured like 90% of the country in a week. It's roughly the size of Washington state.

Very stable politically, everyone I met there was pretty well educated and liberal. Definitely have some poverty (in rural areas/the interior), but they have a ton of social spending/programs. Definitely a little brother syndrome w/ Brazil and Argentina.

They all think Uruguay is boring and while they enjoy the political stability, there isn't a ton of prospects for new industry/economic growth. Argentina specifically is also much cheaper than Uruguay, so Uruguayans will travel there to buy certain things (something like 50% cheaper for most goods).

But overall, very dope country and great people. They are super laid back and sort of have just accepted their position in both the region and world order.

 

Good stuff appreciate the info. This is sorta what we are looking for. Get as far away from the noise and chaos of the society we currently live within.

 

For sure. Like every SA country, they have a wild history and even had military-rule as recent as 1985. But Uruguayans seem to be intentional about remembering the scars and championing democracy/good government. Pretty unheard of in Latin America, but they avg like 85-90% turnout in General elections, legalized same-sex marriage & legal weed in 2013, very few (if ever) dramatic political pendulum swings.

 

I might have too much of a stranger danger attitude, but it seems like Brazil you definitely can't just wander around a city finding random things to do, you'd have to plan stuff out and research in advance.

 

How is Chile? My former neighbors were from there and visited a whole bunch, although they were both lawyers and high earners. Santiago seems like it'd be dope to visit, but no idea on the crime level outside the main tourist areas.

 

In Rio and Sao Paulo, I wouldn't go down a dimly lit street at night, or really an empty street during the day. In popular spots, you can wander around just fine. But there are a lot of no-go areas.

In the rural areas, you'll be fine.

There's no like cafe culture in Brazil. You don't leave your cell phone on the table, pretty much anywhere. You don't work from your laptop on a cafe with outdoor seating. You don't walk down the street looking at your cell phone. Lots of people carry dummy cell phones so that if they are robbed, they can hopefully use the dummy phone.

Huge language barrier, not a lot of ppl speak English and Portuguese is very difficult.

I've only been to Chilean Patagonia, but my understanding is it's the most politically stable and has the best economy in S America. Santiago is a beautiful, very modern city. @Room15 (RIP in pieces) went for a few weeks.

 

I had friends go for a couple of weeks. He said they felt extremely safe at all times but they had a driver who told them where to go and where not to go. He also said you need to have a good understanding of Spanish because outside of touristy stuff most people don't speak English.

 

i halfway called it. this now just reads “LGB Travel” they literally removed the T.

 

I recently visited Colombia and was pretty impressed. It's not without its problems, but it was not at all like the negative stuff I read about it before visiting. People were really nice, relaxed, funny. Had a good time, never felt like I was in any kind of danger other than when I was on the road. Insanely aggressive driving is the norm.

 

I’ve been infatuated with Uruguay since discovering Jose Mujica. He’s so dreamy

 

Most Costa Rican expat Americans I’ve met just make passport runs to Nicaragua and don’t even worry about a visa. Maybe that has since changed.

 

We’ve been hanging out with a couple down the street from us a lot lately. The wife is from Cali, Colombia. Planning a trip with them. Very excited to have a local show us the country.

 

she hot?

 

Costa Rica for me. Been twice, love the people and vibe. Pura vida is 100% real. Don't love how Americans have changed some awesome little spots, but I guess that's the price of being a cool neighbor. I'm actually approaching retirement/pension age, and that's where the wife and I plan to head once that's a reality. Esterillos is where I'd really like to end up, but I'm afraid it'll be Americanified by the time we can get there. Laid back, chill, mostly Tico tourists rather than North Americans, which is what I want. I'm not interested in moving to another country and hanging with more Americans/Canadians - I want to integrate into the local community as much as possible.

 

also considering thailand. i have a co-worker from the US who basically lives there full time these days and has a side gig as a DJ. the way he talks about it has me very interested.

 

I have a former coworker that just came back from three years there. His wife had to spend some time to get the CFO job so he was on sabbatical. Took fucking trampoline jump exercise classes every day and just hung out with the Thai wives for three years since he couldn’t work.

 

where do I get this deal

 

I've been really close to moving to Thailand, never pulled the trigger but have been several times, including a month+ stay.

Can't really recommend it enough, but there's also the reality of being like 2-3 days and thousands of dollars away from the US if you need to suddenly come back for any reason. Probably going to miss a lot of weddings, birthdays, and other events with friends and family.

Other than food, it's not super cheap anymore, but still a lot cheaper than the US.

 

Thailand

 

Domestically speaking, are there any legs to the idea that blue states and cities will be significantly targeted in coming months, therefore staying put in red areas until smoke clears might make sense?

 

I think you’re right on that point. The concern for me is my wife and her rights and healthcare, my kid in school. Like if we head for seemingly greener pastures, are we potentially walking from somewhere that will be mostly left alone into somewhere where they may try to purposely make the situation much worse.
It’s possible I’m overthinking it or too online and need some leveling out.

 

Mainly the question is to move to a blue state and city with good schools and heathcare accessibility, or stay put and see what comes in the next couple of years in Iowa. How real is the possibility that we make a huge investment and life changes just to be in the same boat anyway.

 

You can guarantee yourself total shit for free, or you can spend some money and give yourself a possibility of not total shit. As for me and mine, we are spending the money.

 

I have no idea what income and savings even make you a certain class at this time with eggs costing like a billion dollars

 

If they want my abortions and gender affirming surgeries they’ll have to come and take it. Don’t tread on me!!!

 

to my knowledge, Chicago hasn't been assisting ICE and is getting sued for their sanctuary city policies. And the Illinois AG announced that they would continue to allow trans healthcare for people under 19, defying the EO. i'm very happy i'm here.

 

I'm being probably wayyyyy too paranoid but I have the sick feeling Trump will try to send in the National Guard to the cities (under some evil pretense about safety) that had huge BLM protests in 2020, that is the ones where Fox News acted like they were burned to the ground

 

It's a little cringe but JB really let's his nuts hang, god I love him.

 

Looking like MSP or Chicagoland area are becoming an inevitability for us, from Iowa. Starting to map out logistics, find a balance of quality schools and affordability, and the like.

 

Fiji

 

Questions about Chicagoland SW suburbs I can try to answer

 

Same here on MSP

 

Sea level rise will mess up a lot of fine beaches there

 

Woke up this morning and decided it’s time to relocate. Thinking Chicago or Indianapolis if I can find the right gig.

 

Where tf are you now that going to Indiana would count as escaping

 

Indiana, South Bend. Want to stay close to family but get out of this city.

 

Very likely we will be moving to Seattle in the next year or so. I’ll need to probably pivot careers.

Super excited for most of it until I glance at my real estate app. Lordy

 

We moved to Denver in December and it’s been amazing so far.

 

CO is my goal. I want rural though. Hour outside of Steamboat somewhere. I'm running and hiding and that's just the way it is.

 

Washington, too