AustinCountyAg said:
With the way America is headed what would be the best, safest, most conservative country to live in?
I've always loved the idea of just saying F it and moving away, especially once the kids are grown and moved out.
Having lived and worked overseas, I've already reached the conclusion that I likely won't find a country as awesome as the one we inhabit. The goal then becomes to find my place to "disappear to" in retirement, the place where I can dump social media, get away from hustle, and just live. The options I'm currently considering in no particular order.
1) East Texas. A home on a lake, live life out by the water.
2) Dillon/Keystone/Idaho Springs, CO. Remote. Isolated. Beautiful summers. Brutal winters.
3) Scottsdale. Expensive, but dry, hot weather. Excellent amenities. Close the hustle without being bustle.
4) Maine. A coastal town somewhere. Become old and crusty. Talk at the local breakfast spot about how much better things were "back when".
5) San Diego. Best weather in the world. Laid back attitude, beaches, friendly. Super high property point of entry. Traffic and numbers could be a problem.
6) Idaho. The ultimate off-the-grid fantasy. Load up on guns, die a martyr to the far-right and inspire a horrific anti-government terrorist attack.
7) The Keys. The ultimate beach bum fantasy. Find my love of guitar late in life. Write island songs about parrots, Paris, and alcohol.
8) Vegas. The ultimate desert fantasy. Live life in my beloved dry heat. Cheap real estate, low cost of living, everybody comes to visit me. Try not to somehow die in a Nebraska cornfield.
Wherever it may be, and I'm still 20-25 years from it, the goal is to live quietly, dump social media, and enjoy the gift of each day. I'm lucky to live when and where I live, and I want to maximize the time I have left by being productive physically and mentally.
If I'm forced, gun-to-head, to move outside the U.S., I will give preference to (1) English-speaking countries, (2) warm climates (3) outdoor meccas. That leaves something like:
1. New Zealand
2. Australia
3. Costa Rica
4. Canada
But none of those are my preferred options.