I am having to flee Los Angeles due to the wildfires and toxic air affecting my already existing long COVID respiratory issues. I am so heartbroken in so many ways, and yeti I am using or at an opportunity to explore a curiosity I’ve held my whole life: to live in Europe. I fly home to DC on 1/22 to drop my cat off with my mom (another heartbreak), and then on 1/31 to base from London for the first 6 months. Per usual, your writing is giving me full confidence verging on excitement to finally be taking this step.
Hi Ally, thank you so much for your comments and I'm SO SORRY to hear that you're suffering and have to leave your cat for now. But sometimes things like these are the unexpected push we needed.
I am so excited to hear about your new life and can't wait to hear more when you're a little settled!!! BIG HUGE HUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Truly is wild how desensitized we are (in America) to majority of these issues - Cost of living, safety & health)
We had such an eye opening moment walking around in Japan where our shoulders were so loose, nervous system was the most relaxed we’ve ever felt and looked at each other like.. whoa
Hi Kenny, yeah it's wild and devastating, right?! But it also makes sense. If we haven't experienced another way of life, we don't know there is one--theoretically we may know, but don't really KNOW.
I love hearing how tranquil you felt in Japan!! Even Tokyo is more affordable than Los Angeles, SF or NYC.
it isnt purely fear but an overall sense of anxiety in the air (in the states) with guns, crimes etc.
Wifey and I lived (truly lived, bought a car and lived a local life) for a year - and yes, of course if you're looking for trouble, it's easy to find; but for us, it felt very safe.
We currently live in Hawaii now - a much slower pace, sunshine and beach next door.
Oh that's wonderful to hear--that you lived there for a year and loved it and that you're now in Hawaii! It's a magical place and yes much slower paced but soooo pricey!!!
That's a really good point about not having that feeling/sense of anxiety that's so prevalent in our lives in the US.
Oh wow! I guess it's just $ for tourists! That's a very low tax rate!! Which island are you on? Ohhh that's right, I remember now that you need to wait for her citizenship!! What a wonderful place to wait :) If you love islands, I hear Tenerife is great (haven't been but it came up as #1 for expats for awhile) and here in Portugal is Madeira. Of course there are lots of other amazing places. I can't wait to hear where you go next!!!
Hi Ororo, yes I understand, not 100% as I can't since I'm not a POC, but partly. I never felt safe as a female in the US but I did feel safer as part of the LGBTQ+ community in California. Look up CR on travel safe abroad: https://www.travelsafe-abroad.com/costa-rica/ --- I'm not sure I completely agree with their assessment as I looked up the US and it got a great score LOL
Gosh, I’ve had a LOT of living life experience in the USA/mostly in Texas, yet am surprised at some of the totally justified reasons you moved on internationally.
I’ll be subscribing to some of your other areas of experience, plus this specific one. I’m a Family Therapist by formal education/training and a business coach by also education, training and a zillion hours of client-experience in both.
Now - partly for similar to your own reasons - stated fiscally, I’ve had a very good ‘health’ diagnosis to prep for a well-life (organ-wise) to be comfortably here physically until age 104. Since that has been repeated by excellent physicians every year through 2024, I’m finally taking it seriously as to WHERE is life happily happening, including as daily affordable for ME with existing monthly income.
Colleagues/friends plus a family-visit with my (now grown) kiddos - pointed to Ajijic, Mexico - outside of Guadalajara/Jalisco, Mexico on Lake Chapala, backgrounded by mountains and year-round almost perfect weather.
The natural beauty in this village of 11,000, plus the Seasonal influx of (mostly) Canadian/USA expats - but mostly the village culture, cuisine, history, art, and welcoming nature, solidified where I want to also become an expat for future exploration.
Hi Sherry!!!!! Wow! Thank you so much for your comment and sharing a little about you. I love, love, love your positive health diagnoses and your wonderful experiences as a Family Therapist and Business Coach!! Those are both transferable if you need to keep working once you move.
I've heard wonderful things about Ajijic Mexico as well. I haven't been there but I know there are a lot of expats there and I had a patient who planned to move there.
The way you describe it, sounds absolutely perfect!! I can't wait to hear about your experiences there!!! :)
I’m curious, when did you move to Portugal? I understand the safety issue and have some stories to tell as well. I’m glad to no longer anticipate garnering more of them.
Hi John, I moved here in 2022. I've heard from many Portuguese that there were areas here that were extremely unsafe 10-15 years ago. And as with everything, things change and will change again!
I lived in Maryland most of my life and whenever we went down to Baltimore to see the Orioles play my parents were always on edge. I've lived in Mexico City for 4 years now and I feel loads safer here than I ever did in Baltimore. Some of the stories you wrote about here are horrific. Many foreigners I talk to bring up gun violence when talking about the states. They have a point.
Hi Tom!!! Thank you so much for your comment!!! I LOVE that you're living in Mexico City and thriving there!!! We're led to believe (in the US) that Mexico is super dangerous but the US is much more so. Yeah the gun violence in the US is really off the charts though I constantly have to remind myself that it's a much larger country than many other with a much larger population. I mean, you can fit 2.5 Portugals in 1 California... And yes, unfortunately, I have a slew of horror stories and even more if I include friend's horror stories but... we survived and we learned and we grew and we escaped!
I did not know that about Baltimore as I've never been there but sadly I'm not surprised to hear that :( Have your parents visited you in Mexico? How do they feel about you living there?
So pleased to hear you now live day to day feeling safe. The safest countries and cities list is fascinating reading, especially when so often we are told that travelling is dangerous, certainly more dangerous than staying in our home countries when in fact the data suggests quite firmly otherwise!
Hi Lauren, thank you so much for your comment!! Yes, fear is a big thing in the US, it keeps us complacent. I worked for a short time in TV news and it's part of what you have to sell. I see how it affects people like my 86 yo mother who is afraid to leave her house much of the time. She watches the news for hours each day and it just feeds the fear. I've also traveled solo for 22 years all over the world (not everywhere) and have never felt as unsafe as I do in the US. Do you feel the same way in France?
I am having to flee Los Angeles due to the wildfires and toxic air affecting my already existing long COVID respiratory issues. I am so heartbroken in so many ways, and yeti I am using or at an opportunity to explore a curiosity I’ve held my whole life: to live in Europe. I fly home to DC on 1/22 to drop my cat off with my mom (another heartbreak), and then on 1/31 to base from London for the first 6 months. Per usual, your writing is giving me full confidence verging on excitement to finally be taking this step.
Hi Ally, thank you so much for your comments and I'm SO SORRY to hear that you're suffering and have to leave your cat for now. But sometimes things like these are the unexpected push we needed.
I am so excited to hear about your new life and can't wait to hear more when you're a little settled!!! BIG HUGE HUGS!!!!!!!!!!!!
I will also be in Portugal as I’m launching a luxury sex positive nightlife event there in the summer.
That sounds amazing! I'd love to hear more about it :)
Shoot me a DM for more info 😉
Truly is wild how desensitized we are (in America) to majority of these issues - Cost of living, safety & health)
We had such an eye opening moment walking around in Japan where our shoulders were so loose, nervous system was the most relaxed we’ve ever felt and looked at each other like.. whoa
Is this what not being anxious feels like?
Hi Kenny, yeah it's wild and devastating, right?! But it also makes sense. If we haven't experienced another way of life, we don't know there is one--theoretically we may know, but don't really KNOW.
I love hearing how tranquil you felt in Japan!! Even Tokyo is more affordable than Los Angeles, SF or NYC.
I hope you get to experience more tranquility :)
Totally!
it isnt purely fear but an overall sense of anxiety in the air (in the states) with guns, crimes etc.
Wifey and I lived (truly lived, bought a car and lived a local life) for a year - and yes, of course if you're looking for trouble, it's easy to find; but for us, it felt very safe.
We currently live in Hawaii now - a much slower pace, sunshine and beach next door.
all is good :)
Oh that's wonderful to hear--that you lived there for a year and loved it and that you're now in Hawaii! It's a magical place and yes much slower paced but soooo pricey!!!
That's a really good point about not having that feeling/sense of anxiety that's so prevalent in our lives in the US.
shhh, don't tell anybody but it's cheaper than LA/Bay :)
tax is 4.2%
we're not here for long, waiting for wifey (italian) to finish her citizenship then we'll prob head out to asia or join you in portugal!
Oh wow! I guess it's just $ for tourists! That's a very low tax rate!! Which island are you on? Ohhh that's right, I remember now that you need to wait for her citizenship!! What a wonderful place to wait :) If you love islands, I hear Tenerife is great (haven't been but it came up as #1 for expats for awhile) and here in Portugal is Madeira. Of course there are lots of other amazing places. I can't wait to hear where you go next!!!
This is disheartening, but not surprising. As a female POC--but also a solo--safety is definitely the reason I want to leave the US.
Hi Ororo, yes I understand, not 100% as I can't since I'm not a POC, but partly. I never felt safe as a female in the US but I did feel safer as part of the LGBTQ+ community in California. Look up CR on travel safe abroad: https://www.travelsafe-abroad.com/costa-rica/ --- I'm not sure I completely agree with their assessment as I looked up the US and it got a great score LOL
Gosh, I’ve had a LOT of living life experience in the USA/mostly in Texas, yet am surprised at some of the totally justified reasons you moved on internationally.
I’ll be subscribing to some of your other areas of experience, plus this specific one. I’m a Family Therapist by formal education/training and a business coach by also education, training and a zillion hours of client-experience in both.
Now - partly for similar to your own reasons - stated fiscally, I’ve had a very good ‘health’ diagnosis to prep for a well-life (organ-wise) to be comfortably here physically until age 104. Since that has been repeated by excellent physicians every year through 2024, I’m finally taking it seriously as to WHERE is life happily happening, including as daily affordable for ME with existing monthly income.
Colleagues/friends plus a family-visit with my (now grown) kiddos - pointed to Ajijic, Mexico - outside of Guadalajara/Jalisco, Mexico on Lake Chapala, backgrounded by mountains and year-round almost perfect weather.
The natural beauty in this village of 11,000, plus the Seasonal influx of (mostly) Canadian/USA expats - but mostly the village culture, cuisine, history, art, and welcoming nature, solidified where I want to also become an expat for future exploration.
Hi Sherry!!!!! Wow! Thank you so much for your comment and sharing a little about you. I love, love, love your positive health diagnoses and your wonderful experiences as a Family Therapist and Business Coach!! Those are both transferable if you need to keep working once you move.
I've heard wonderful things about Ajijic Mexico as well. I haven't been there but I know there are a lot of expats there and I had a patient who planned to move there.
The way you describe it, sounds absolutely perfect!! I can't wait to hear about your experiences there!!! :)
Thank you for sharing! I haven’t read all of your articles - but I will do.
Hi Catherine, thank you so much!!!!!
I’m curious, when did you move to Portugal? I understand the safety issue and have some stories to tell as well. I’m glad to no longer anticipate garnering more of them.
Hi John, I moved here in 2022. I've heard from many Portuguese that there were areas here that were extremely unsafe 10-15 years ago. And as with everything, things change and will change again!
We're gone off…
yeah :(
I lived in Maryland most of my life and whenever we went down to Baltimore to see the Orioles play my parents were always on edge. I've lived in Mexico City for 4 years now and I feel loads safer here than I ever did in Baltimore. Some of the stories you wrote about here are horrific. Many foreigners I talk to bring up gun violence when talking about the states. They have a point.
Hi Tom!!! Thank you so much for your comment!!! I LOVE that you're living in Mexico City and thriving there!!! We're led to believe (in the US) that Mexico is super dangerous but the US is much more so. Yeah the gun violence in the US is really off the charts though I constantly have to remind myself that it's a much larger country than many other with a much larger population. I mean, you can fit 2.5 Portugals in 1 California... And yes, unfortunately, I have a slew of horror stories and even more if I include friend's horror stories but... we survived and we learned and we grew and we escaped!
I did not know that about Baltimore as I've never been there but sadly I'm not surprised to hear that :( Have your parents visited you in Mexico? How do they feel about you living there?
So pleased to hear you now live day to day feeling safe. The safest countries and cities list is fascinating reading, especially when so often we are told that travelling is dangerous, certainly more dangerous than staying in our home countries when in fact the data suggests quite firmly otherwise!
Hi Lauren, thank you so much for your comment!! Yes, fear is a big thing in the US, it keeps us complacent. I worked for a short time in TV news and it's part of what you have to sell. I see how it affects people like my 86 yo mother who is afraid to leave her house much of the time. She watches the news for hours each day and it just feeds the fear. I've also traveled solo for 22 years all over the world (not everywhere) and have never felt as unsafe as I do in the US. Do you feel the same way in France?