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Post by MartinT on Aug 26, 2014 20:20:37 GMT
My sister has lived out here for a number of years now, and is currently in Richmond TX (near Houston). Her husband works in the oil business and she trains horse riders. We have been having an interesting debate on the pros and cons of living and working in the USA and she is trying to persuade Ruth and I to come over. We have been building a list summarising our feelings but I wonder what views others might have who have been here?
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Post by Tim on Aug 26, 2014 20:59:08 GMT
During my time in the Navy I travelled to the States a fair bit and loved it there immediately. Having lived in the Caymans for 2 years, I went there often for holidays, culture and shopping trips (only 80 mins to Florida). Given a chance I would be packing boxes and saying goodbye to the UK and wouldn't ever look back. I find a lot of the people I meet who criticise the US have often never been there, don't know any Americans personally and base their judgements purely on US media and the actions of their Government. Those two things alone do not make a country. I personally don't care much for our media or the UK Government, but it's still a great country to live in - I would however fit better in the US, for more than one reason.
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Post by Pinch on Aug 26, 2014 21:22:34 GMT
I really like the US, and hope to work there at some point. The very beautiful (and very varied) landscape is a huge attraction for me. But also I actually like the people - certain of the social attitudes and tendencies that seem to be quite prevalent here in the UK, and which I find quite grating, seem to be less widespread in the US (at least, I haven't encountered them so much when I've been over there), and the people tend to be frank, down to earth, and friendly. Then factor in all the music...
One thing which puts me off is the state of the politics (though in certain ways it's not much better here), and how polarised it is; though, it's easy to get the impression that things are worse than they are, since the craziest people also make the most noise.
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Post by dvh on Aug 26, 2014 23:37:21 GMT
Can't be doing with living in the US myself, it's way too big.
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Post by ChrisB on Aug 27, 2014 5:35:57 GMT
Re. the thread title, wasn't that the name of an album by Roger Miller?
.....or maybe it was Steve Waters?
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Post by MikeMusic on Aug 27, 2014 8:28:44 GMT
After getting to know Americans face to face, working with them and exchanging emails I turned around from my wrong position of thinking it was not for me in any way.
The image presented on TV is usually the worst and they are pretty much like us. Good bad and indifferent.
The other main thing to me is the sheer size of the place. If you don't like one place go somewhere else and on and on.... Plus you can go on holiday *inside* the country.
I can easily see why they are so US focussed. They have virtually everything they need in that country.
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Post by MartinT on Aug 27, 2014 9:22:12 GMT
Chris - hah, yes!
Mike - spot on, it's a big country and highly varied. I was deliberately vague, but will list our thoughts at some future point.
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Post by Tim on Aug 27, 2014 9:53:41 GMT
Get it done Martin, best thing you would ever do for both you and Ruth IMHO. Make sure you have a spare room available though  |
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Post by Chris on Aug 27, 2014 15:52:27 GMT
I don't know enough about Americans or the States to comment properly but I can never understand why anyone with the ability to make a living abroad would stay here. This country's fucked.
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Post by Tim on Aug 27, 2014 15:58:40 GMT
The country's still great Chris, the politics is what's fucked IMO and the watering down of our culture is worrying, but that's a global issue, not just unique to here. Having said all that, if I can make it out after I retire I will and the US would be very high on my list of preferred locations. If I can't make it abroad I want to move somewhere quieter and Suffolk is looking top of that list.
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Post by Chris on Aug 27, 2014 16:02:43 GMT
Cost of livings far too high and there's too many poxy rules. Everywhere in the wests the same though - there's no real difference anywhere unless yer really rich.
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Post by Tim on Aug 27, 2014 16:46:41 GMT
Hmmm, just the west? Try living in China . . . rules? . . . we don't know we're born |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 27, 2014 16:53:54 GMT
The country's still great Chris, the politics is what's fucked IMO and the watering down of our culture is worrying, but that's a global issue, not just unique to here. Having said all that, if I can make it out after I retire I will and the US would be very high on my list of preferred locations. If I can't make it abroad I want to move somewhere quieter and Suffolk is looking top of that list. Suffolk is great. I moved there in the eighties and lived very happily there until the business imploded. Had to move back to London and the smoke. I'd probably aim for somewhere near the coast if I was going now. I rather like the cold north wind  |
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Post by MartinT on Aug 27, 2014 17:48:21 GMT
The thing is... I'm looking forward to getting home. Yes, this is a great country but don't be too rosy tinted about it, it has a great many drawbacks too (see nine year old shoots instructor for just one). The USA is an interesting set of balances, and the UK is a different set of balances. It would be great if I could find somewhere with all the pros - perhaps Canada or Australia, both of while I like a great deal too.
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Post by dvh on Aug 27, 2014 17:56:04 GMT
The thing is... I'm looking forward to getting home. Yes, this is a great country but don't be too rosy tinted about it, it has a great many drawbacks too (see nine year old shoots instructor for just one). The USA is an interesting set of balances, and the UK is a different set of balances. It would be great if I could find somewhere with all the pros - perhaps Canada or Australia, both of while I like a great deal too. Every country has its pros and cons; in the case of both Australia and Canada it's a few big cities surrounded by miles and miles of fuck-all. Australia has skin cancer and sharks, Canada has lots of ice, snow and the USA on its doorstep. The UK is fine for me, though I might move somewhere warmer as the aches and pains increase. |
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Post by John on Aug 27, 2014 18:02:24 GMT
I know a few people that Love Canada but has harsh winters
If you like the sun Australia pretty cool but in either case visit and get a feel for the place
To be honest good and bad wherever you grow.
The grass is always greener on the other side, whilst in reality its just a different shade. Different things work for different people
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Post by Tim on Aug 27, 2014 18:08:51 GMT
I have to be honest Martin, I know I don't know you that well, but I'm not sure it would be a good fit. For me, perfect and the music, well I would die a very happy boy over there . . . but heck they play Country over there Martin!  |
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Post by MartinT on Aug 27, 2014 18:16:04 GMT
You are all right. All countries are a compromise. I lived in Australia for a while, went to school there. There is a lot to like, but it's true that away from the cities there is precious little. I love the idea of areas like Banff in Canada, but it does get cold, which wouldn't bother me but would be a showstopper for Ruth. For me, my ideal in the USA could just be Washington state. The area around Seattle is outstanding in so many ways and the quality of life would be high.
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Post by MikeMusic on Aug 28, 2014 8:04:32 GMT
The US has so many different types of place, climate, weather and people We had a group of guys over to work on their massive print job and it really underlined to me how different they were. A New Yorker - more or less exactly what you expect ! A guy from the far north, sooo laid back. Other guys from all over, based in Houston - as that was where the work was. My data sample was limited and it could have been their individual characters, but we had conversations about the different ways and it seemed to cement it in. Fargo also underlined the northern, almost Canadian outlook on life too. The one thing you cannot change. It's a different country. If only we'd know a lot sooner in life that an English accent was the key to all sorts !  |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 28, 2014 20:35:31 GMT
Hi Martin
I lived in Austin TX for close to two years working as code monkey to a forerunner for EA with a very respectable salary to
One great place saw SRV live in 89 , ribs the size of A4 ring binders, lots of nice people and it's BIG
Roads far too straight though
Would I go back and live there? Not sure now
Personally prefer NZ buts that's me
I also did not have family out which makes a big difference IMHO
I feel the phrase "try before you buy" would be most apt here
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