Zone1 Is Living in the U.S. A Life Wasted?

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

I belong to a group on Facebook for people who have or are interested in dual citizenship. My mother is an immigrant from Singapore and my wife and I have discussed the likelihood of us retiring outside the U.S. when we reach that age. Someone posted a question today simply asking why people wanted dual citizenship. Most people had very short and basic answers: the ease of visiting family, staying longer, wanting a second home abroad, but this one individual wrote something far more intuitive and rather profound.

Note: I can't link to this post as it is a private group, so I took a screenshot.

It's hard for me to argue with many of her points. I've travelled all over the world and most people live substandard lives compared to those us in the United States, but there are also plenty of places where people have it better than us, depending on what's most important to you. We do work harder than our industrial counterparts. We do spend less leisure time and less time with our families. We do have a lot of chemicals in our food that other countries do not allow. It does seem like in the United States we're all in a constant rat race, whereas my experience in many European countries is that people live more relaxed and less stressed lives, even if they don't have all the commodities we're accustomed to. I brought up in a thread a few months ago that while Americans make up only 5% of the world population we consume 50% of the world's pharmaceuticals. That's a damning statistic regarding our people.

Are we doing it wrong? I'm curious as to everyone's thoughts.

 

[Moonglow]

I've been to other countries and after a while always yearn to come back where it is luxurious and comfortable the US, plus we speaka da English here..You know, we got it easy and we got it made compared to just one hundred and fifty years ago...

 

[Votto]

I belong to a group on Facebook for people who have or are interested in dual citizenship. My mother is an immigrant from Singapore and my wife and I have discussed the likelihood of us retiring outside the U.S. when we reach that age. Someone posted a question today simply asking why people wanted dual citizenship. Most people had very short and basic answers: the ease of visiting family, staying longer, wanting a second home abroad, but this one individual wrote something far more intuitive and rather profound.

View attachment 830667

Note: I can't link to this post as it is a private group, so I took a screenshot.

It's hard for me to argue with many of her points. I've travelled all over the world and most people live substandard lives compared to those us in the United States, but there are also plenty of places where people have it better than us, depending on what's most important to you. We do work harder than our industrial counterparts. We do spend less leisure time and less time with our families. We do have a lot of chemicals in our food that other countries do not allow. It does seem like in the United States we're all in a constant rat race, whereas my experience in many European countries is that people live more relaxed and less stressed lives, even if they don't have all the commodities we're accustomed to. I brought up in a thread a few months ago that while Americans make up only 5% of the world population we consume 50% of the world's pharmaceuticals. That's a damning statistic regarding our people.

Are we doing it wrong? I'm curious as to everyone's thoughts.

Nothing matters in the US other than getting democrats elected and hyperinflating the currency to fight the air with increasing debt.

Oh, and unrestricted immigration and abortion, but I think that is only common sense.

 

[Alan Stallion]

T'is all about the choices we make, whether or not to be content with what you have or try to get the latest gadget, the newest car with the newest features, the dream house. It's about choosing to deny yourself in the short term to make things better in the long term, or you can try to have it all now and stress out and be in debt much of your life. You can make things simple, you can make things difficult (challenging), depending on what drives you, what is truly important to live a fulfilled life (in your mind).

Regarding pharmaceuticals, that is often a choice. Sure, there will be pre-existing conditions that are out of your control, genetics happens, accidents happen. But often it's a choice we make. We can make healthy living a priority, in diet and exercise (and in spirituality, let's not neglect that), or we can live "better" through chemistry and live with the results of your choices. We can choose to turn off and ignore the plethora of advertisements pushing the chemicals. We don't have to take the drugs that are prescribed (discernment comes into play here, is this drug truly necessary or are there suitable alternatives?).

America is lauded, and simultaneously condemned, for the opportunities and choices we are allowed to make. I would prefer the opportunity to make my own choices rather than government dictates. But that's the danger of government control and that can happen anywhere in the world. Despite our flaws as a nation, there are people all over the world still want to come to America. They see something special here.

 

[Kruska]

I belong to a group on Facebook for people who have or are interested in dual citizenship. My mother is an immigrant from Singapore and my wife and I have discussed the likelihood of us retiring outside the U.S. when we reach that age. Someone posted a question today simply asking why people wanted dual citizenship. Most people had very short and basic answers: the ease of visiting family, staying longer, wanting a second home abroad, but this one individual wrote something far more intuitive and rather profound.
our people.

Are we doing it wrong? I'm curious as to everyone's thoughts.

My thoughts or impressions:

I grew up in Singapore (15 years) - lived and worked in S-Africa 3 years and lived and worked about 25 years in Asia. The other 20 years I spend all over the world - mostly Germany. I have a dual citizenship German & Austrian and hold 3 PR's. Therefore I am acquainted with a lot of people who regularly discuss as to where to spend their retirement or move to new horizons.

The two main prominent reasons given are: Financial issues and Political issues.

Financial issues: it if far cheaper to e.g. spend retirement in other countries that also behold/offer a respective social environment. Those who are really rich or posses higher financial assets - don't really bother as to what citizenship they hold. They mostly hold PR's.

Political: most are not satisfied with the political development of their countries and are therefore constantly frustrated - living in another country frees them of their "perceived national devotion" and they view upon a political situation in a foreign country far more relaxed.

Environmental issues e.g. healthy food - might play a role - but can't be considered to be a significant part of their decision or thoughts.

 

[toobfreak]

I belong to a group on Facebook for people who have or are interested in dual citizenship. My mother is an immigrant from Singapore and my wife and I have discussed the likelihood of us retiring outside the U.S. when we reach that age. Someone posted a question today simply asking why people wanted dual citizenship. Most people had very short and basic answers: the ease of visiting family, staying longer, wanting a second home abroad, but this one individual wrote something far more intuitive and rather profound.

View attachment 830667

Note: I can't link to this post as it is a private group, so I took a screenshot.

It's hard for me to argue with many of her points. I've travelled all over the world and most people live substandard lives compared to those us in the United States, but there are also plenty of places where people have it better than us, depending on what's most important to you. We do work harder than our industrial counterparts. We do spend less leisure time and less time with our families. We do have a lot of chemicals in our food that other countries do not allow. It does seem like in the United States we're all in a constant rat race, whereas my experience in many European countries is that people live more relaxed and less stressed lives, even if they don't have all the commodities we're accustomed to. I brought up in a thread a few months ago that while Americans make up only 5% of the world population we consume 50% of the world's pharmaceuticals. That's a damning statistic regarding our people.

Are we doing it wrong? I'm curious as to everyone's thoughts.

You make a lot of good valid points I agree with. I'd just be curious to know why you think you are wasting yourself here or can't be happy? Don't want part of the rat-race? Move to the country and get out of it. Want less chemicals in your food? Just don't buy packaged, processed food! I'd just be curious to know what you can have or do in Europe that you CAN'T in the USA? You see, while other countries have good qualities, they also have fewer CHOICES. Here, you can choose the commodities, or you can choose the nice, slow, leisurely life.
I was just to England last January, in the SE where the affluent live. Very much a beautiful, lovely country and people to visit, but honestly, I wouldn't want to live there.

 

[TroglocratsRdumb]

If I were 18 years old today, I would move to Australia.
America is turning into a banana republic.

 

[odanny]

Are we doing it wrong? I'm curious as to everyone's thoughts.

I could say "of course we are", but instead of that being a subjective statement, just look at about every available metric that one can use to define prosperity, health, and happiness in industrialized, first world nations, and Americans will likely be dead last, or close to last, in all of them.

 

[FranklinRoosevelt_FTW]

I belong to a group on Facebook for people who have or are interested in dual citizenship. My mother is an immigrant from Singapore and my wife and I have discussed the likelihood of us retiring outside the U.S. when we reach that age. Someone posted a question today simply asking why people wanted dual citizenship. Most people had very short and basic answers: the ease of visiting family, staying longer, wanting a second home abroad, but this one individual wrote something far more intuitive and rather profound.

View attachment 830667

Note: I can't link to this post as it is a private group, so I took a screenshot.

It's hard for me to argue with many of her points. I've travelled all over the world and most people live substandard lives compared to those us in the United States, but there are also plenty of places where people have it better than us, depending on what's most important to you. We do work harder than our industrial counterparts. We do spend less leisure time and less time with our families. We do have a lot of chemicals in our food that other countries do not allow. It does seem like in the United States we're all in a constant rat race, whereas my experience in many European countries is that people live more relaxed and less stressed lives, even if they don't have all the commodities we're accustomed to. I brought up in a thread a few months ago that while Americans make up only 5% of the world population we consume 50% of the world's pharmaceuticals. That's a damning statistic regarding our people.

Are we doing it wrong? I'm curious as to everyone's thoughts.

Have you lived in the Philippines? Or Thailand and if so, how was your experience.?? I’m looking forward to going to Thailand soon.

America is the most obese country in the world, other than the island nations that nobody knows about. Our obesity rate is something like 40%. It is astonishing. Whereas say something like Cambodia the obesity rate is 5% and people live longer there. There is poverty in some of those countries in the east but what good is a life in America if it’s an unhealthy one.

To your point much of the food in America is garbage. Lots of porn working class people eat TV dinners which are packed with preservatives and very bad chemicals. They’re eating McDonald’s and Burger King all the time. Where as you go to some of the other countries in the world, even the countries that are poor than us, they’re eating fresh food, they are physically fit.

It wasn’t like this in America’s past our country had a beautiful history where we did not have the high obesity rate.

It is 100% true that money does not buy happiness. Look at the high levels of suicide and depression in America. Also, most importantly, look at the fact that patriotism is at an all time low I’m on the youth of America. Because of the evil ways of the far left, and how they brainwash some segment of young people to believe that America has a Racist imperialist history. But they never talk about the history of slavery in Africa. It’s just the history of slavery in America.

 

[FranklinRoosevelt_FTW]

Has anybody here visited Or lived in Thailand? . What was your experience in a place like Bangkok or pattaya beach?

 

[Kruska]

Has anybody here visited Or lived in Thailand? . What was your experience in a place like Bangkok or pattaya beach?

Bangkok would be one of those cities I would try to avoid - just too chaotic - noisy and polluted. And certainly not cheap if one want's to maintain a European style of living.

Pattaya, I was there last in 2017 - the majority of Europeans seem to be Russians. Most of them in the 40'ies with their Families and mostly engaged in running businesses of their own - construction/property and import-export. Whilst other Europeans are mostly in their 60's+ and are simply retirees. The Chinese contingent is also very visible. Whereby most of them make their living of those expats and provide services to them.

There are many well build and maintained condo and villa compounds in and around Pattaya, running their own foreign schools/ hospitals and infrastructure. Aside from the retirees, the vast majority of expats does not really mix or integrate with the locals, and their language skills are very rudimentary. They preferably set up and live in their own communities - taking the advantage of a cheaper life and simply enjoying the climate.

As for food - naturally most of the seafood is fresh. However South-East-Asia and especially Thailand are known for their feeding of antibiotics and other contaminated or "questionable" animal feeds and fertilizers - as such the factual quality of nutrition is hardly different form those countries where the Expats come from. And fast-food-chains are still the most rapid growing food-restaurants in South-East-Asia clearly favored by those below 25 years old.

The amount of obese kids in SEA since 2015 is actually quite frightening. Those that are slim usually can't afford fast-food - or are simply more attached to their local cuisine - especially those above 40 years of age. And home cooking is still the main source for having food in SEA.

 

[Care4all]

I have duel citizenship, without actually having it on paper, because my father married an Italian born woman when he was stationed overseas, and my sister and I were born in the USA before my mother obtained her American citizenship....it took 5 years of living here with Dad before she could take the citizenship exam and become a citizen.

Only recently have my older sister and I considered pursuing the Italian citizenship on paper, because we want to live there half the year and pursue owning property together over there....so while my mom is still alive, who speaks and reads Italian perfectly, (along with 6 other languages) can help us fill out the paperwork. It's easier to buy property there and less costly, with citizenship.

As far as living life, before you get too old to enjoy it and die.....you CAN do that here in the USA as we have, here in Maine and plenty of other beautiful, isolated places in America...if Nature and God's beauty is what makes you happy!

But it takes a complete attitude adjustment on money, the fast lane, and the material life. We gave up everything...Broadway shows, fine dining, 3 overseas vacations a year, the newest clothes, the newest cars, the biggest house, food delivery ... and learn to rid oneself of the mortal sin of The Love of Money, and Covetting thy neighbor's goods....basically, give up....keeping up with the Jones's....and learn to appreciate slowing down and pursuing the Smelling of the roses....you don't have to leave!

 

[Innocynioc]

If you don't like living in the good old USA Delta is ready when you are.

 

[TheParser]

I'm curious as to everyone's thoughts.

1. If a retired American has relatively good health and decent retirement funds, get the blank out of here and find a place with a generally homogeneous population.

2. Wow! I have heard there are actually some countries where you can walk down the street without fearing you will be robbed or sucker punched.

3. Where the people on the subway act in a civilized manner.

4. Where medical costs are reasonable.

5. Where no one insists that a male who claims to be a female can use female restrooms or play on women's sports teams.

6. No wonder a lot of retired Americans have settled in Mexico.

7. And if anyone can move to Singapore, s/he will find it to be what one wag labeled it: "Disneyland -- with the death penalty."

 

[Tommy Tainant]

I have never wanted to live anywhere but Wales.But if I had to I would move to France. Its not Wales but its beautiful and the culture puts people over profit.

I like visiting the US. The standard of living is great. The air con is amazing and there is always something to see or do. But I wouldnt move my family there. It is too dangerous.

 

[DudleySmith]

I loved Singapore, but I wouldn't be able to afford a fraction of what I have here in size of real estate holdings and lots of room to move around, plus the varieties of choices in everything from food to big toys like tractors and trucks, and choices of self-employment options.

Flooding the country with green cards and immigrants legal and illegal drops living standards, so they're actually just complaining about their own self-inflicted problems, really. Most of the 'prosperity' in Asia is a direct result of American military and economic policies. They would all be Japanese slaves or Red Chinese slaves and their 'quality of life' would suck, so enjoy it while you can. We're going away and your own racism and 'cultural values' will eat you alive without an American hegemony to keep you warm and fuzzy.

 

[odanny]

As for food - naturally most of the seafood is fresh. However South-East-Asia and especially Thailand are known for their feeding of antibiotics and other contaminated or "questionable" animal feeds and fertilizers - as such the factual quality of nutrition is hardly different form those countries where the Expats come from.

Always avoid shrimp from Vietnam, most is farm raised and at least some of it is fed human excrement. I wonder if people realize what much of that shrimp was fed, and if they did, they surely would not eat it.

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

You make a lot of good valid points I agree with. I'd just be curious to know why you think you are wasting yourself here or can't be happy?

That was the author's opinion, not necessarily mine. One thing I like about the prospect of living in Europe is the ability to travel so much more easily to different places. I'm an avid traveler and have been all over the world, but it's hard from North America, especially the west coast, because you have to fly all the way across our country first and then fly all the way across the ocean. You lose a whole day getting there and then another getting back, not to mention the time adjusted for jet lag. So much more of the world is accessible.

Don't want part of the rat-race? Move to the country and get out of it.

True, there are certainly plenty of small towns throughout the U.S. one can go to get away from city life.

Want less chemicals in your food? Just don't buy packaged, processed food!

We don't.

I'd just be curious to know what you can have or do in Europe that you CAN'T in the USA? You see, while other countries have good qualities, they also have fewer CHOICES. Here, you can choose the commodities, or you can choose the nice, slow, leisurely life.

That's the tradeoff I've always pointed out as well.

I was just to England last January, in the SE where the affluent live. Very much a beautiful, lovely country and people to visit, but honestly, I wouldn't want to live there.

I've always loved London. I actually applied to a university there, but ended up not going because I decided to get married instead. I always thought it would be a cool place to live, but now that I'm older, not so much. The city has changed quite a bit over the last 20 years.

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

If I were 18 years old today, I would move to Australia.

After the very authoritarian way they handled COVID, I'll pass.

America is turning into a banana republic.

I think that's the concern a lot of people have.

 

[Dont Taz Me Bro]

Has anybody here visited Or lived in Thailand? . What was your experience in a place like Bangkok or pattaya beach?

I've been to Thailand and Cambodia. A westerner living on a western salary could live close to the standard of a millionaire in the United States, but your average local has nowhere close to the standard of living we do. These are still very impoverished countries with just a fraction of the population living an upper-class lifestyle and everyone else is relatively poor. Nobody really in between.