Where Would You Move Out of the USA?

[CuriousByNature]

8 hours ago, BSR said:

After just 2+ weeks in Madrid, I’ve heard from both of my teachers and a few fellow students that Barcelona has changed a lot lately, much for the worse unfortunately.  The school I attend has a branch in Barcelona, and the Madrid staff has heard way too many ugly accounts from their peers in Ciudad Condal.  One of my fellow students visited Barcelona 3 times and was robbed all 3 visits (most recently in October).  She’s a Brazilian who grew up in São Paulo and currently lives in NYC, comes off as pretty street-smart, and has never been robbed in Brazil or the US.

Of course, I still plan on visiting because I can’t imagine being in Spain for 3 whole months without going to Barcelona.  Plus I have to make my bucket-list trip to Sauna Thermas!  But I will definitely have my antenna up, a bit more than the normal caution one exercises in any big city.

I’m also curious to see if barceloneses have indeed gotten too carried away with the whole Catalan thing.  They can’t expect an Asian foreigner to speak Catalan, can they?  Well, I guess I’ll find out.  Any glares will be met with the world’s biggest eyeroll.  A friend who grew up partly in Andorra insists that when in Barcelona I should ask first if it’s OK to speak Spanish.  My response to her advice was the world’s biggest eyeroll.

As for the original topic, I can totally see living the rest of my life in Madrid.  The city has everything:  history, architecture, nightlife, museums, performing arts, amazing food from cheap eats to Michelin 3-stars, and it rivals any place on earth for gay-friendliness.  My only reservation is I have no family here, or anywhere near.  Closest family would be ~8 hours to New York or Florida or a whopping 18+ hours to Manila, yikes!

Do you happen to know what the medical system is like there?  Is it all public, or is some of it private?  I'm Canadian and so I'm used to universal health care with all of its benefits and drawbacks, but I wouldn't mind spending when necessary for faster and more efficient services.

[+ José Soplanucas]

6 hours ago, BSR said:

What other people?  There is no apples-to-apples comparison between the Catalans and any other language group, specifically, that Catalans all speak and understand Spanish with the comfort level that comes only from immersion or at least semi-immersion in the language during the critical years between 3-8yo.

I would never go to Quebec and assume any random Quebecois speaks English because I know many don’t.  Even the Quebecois whose English is excellent obviously speak it as a second language.  When I was in Manila recently, I always told people that I don’t speak Tagalog but understand it well.  90% of Filipinos continued to speak to me in only English, but some security guards and cab drivers took me up on the offer and spoke to me in Tagalog.  By the way, excellent English is a requirement in the Philippines for all jobs that deal with the public.  Just to be a Starbucks barista, they require a university degree in Hospitality & Hotel Management.

I am not asking Catalans to address the UN General Assembly or to defend a doctoral dissertation in Spanish.  I am asking them to take my order in a bar/restaurant, to check me into a hotel, or to assist me in a retail store — things that I feel comfortable doing as a Spanish-as-a-2nd-language speaker with a C1 level, plus I didn’t know a word of Spanish until my early 20s.  As for the conflict between Catalans and the rest of Spain, I see it quite differently:  Catalans are wrong to impose their nationalist psychodrama on foreign tourists, especially since Catalan is not taught anywhere outside of Spain & Andorra.  As you once said in another thread, all Catalans speak and understand Spanish, although a few like to pretend they don’t.  If I run into a Catalan who likes to pretend he doesn’t, bye Felicia.

Back on topic, Barcelona as a place to move permanently:  housing costs have skyrocketed, the humidity can be sweltering in the summer, sexual assaults have increased 125% since 2013.  When I went to Barcelona almost 40 years ago, everyone warned me about pickpockets but it was all petty theft BS.  Now people are warning about violent crime and for female visitors sexual violence. Maybe it’s not that bad.  I’ll find out for myself because Barcelona is too good to pass up, as a visitor.  But as a place to move to permanently?  Hell no.

PS:  @azdr0710, you think that’s bad??  The biggest Karen in Catalunya actually called 112 (Spain’s 911) to report, get this, that a hamburger joint did not post their menu in Catalan.

I tried

[+ Pensant]

15 hours ago, BSR said:

As for the original topic, I can totally see living the rest of my life in Madrid.

I’m in the minority, but I find Madrid far preferable to Barcelona. Barcelona’s best days are behind it. I love most other Spanish cities, especially San Sebástian.

[d.anders]

On 3/11/2025 at 5:03 PM, Lucky said:

If I had to pick only one place, it would be Manhattan.

I've been to a lot of places throughout my life, and this question is one I've contemplated. When it comes to everyday living, nothing quite beats Manhattan for me, and the list of pro reasons is quite long. For instance, I don't need a car or car insurance. I love my senior MTA discount. I love the culture, even though I can't afford a lot of it anymore. I love the energy, the diversity, and the brainpower of the people. I love the good, lengthy friendships I have here. I love the 4 seasons, with winter being fairly mild, compared to my childhood home. I love my doctors, and the fabulous, affordable health care I receive here. I love my Co-Op, and the manner in which we all care for the future of our building. I love the massage community and the gay community here. I love grocery shopping in all the boroughs. I love having 3 major airports less than 1 hour away. Coming and going is incredibly easy, no matter the transport mode. I'm finding NYC a great place to grow old, because there are so many fun distractions if you want them. I just wish someone with power would end the insane sirens. They are killing my eardrums as I walk the amazing streets.

[+ Lucky]

3 hours ago, d.anders said:

I've been to a lot of places throughout my life, and this question is one I've contemplated. When it comes to everyday living, nothing quite beats Manhattan for me, and the list of pro reasons is quite long. For instance, I don't need a car or car insurance. I love my senior MTA discount. I love the culture, even though I can't afford a lot of it anymore. I love the energy, the diversity, and the brainpower of the people. I love the good, lengthy friendships I have here. I love the 4 seasons, with winter being fairly mild, compared to my childhood home. I love my doctors, and the fabulous, affordable health care I receive here. I love my Co-Op, and the manner in which we all care for the future of our building. I love the massage community and the gay community here. I love grocery shopping in all the boroughs. I love having 3 major airports less than 1 hour away. Coming and going is incredibly easy, no matter the transport mode. I'm finding NYC a great place to grow old, because there are so many fun distractions if you want them. I just wish someone with power would end the insane sirens. They are killing my eardrums as I walk the amazing streets.

I did live in New York for 4 years, and the amount of walking I had to do eventually caught up with me.  Worse were the infinite stairs in the subway, which was often very, very deep underground with only really rare escalators or working elevators. The latter usually stunk to high heaven. My knees were in constant pain.

But I loved walking in Manhattan, particularly Central Park. I loved not having a car and its expense. I loved the wide variety of just about anything. New Yorkers were not rude, just involved.

But, mostly, I l loved the theater. Even the one called the Gaiety! And I loved going out with my friends.

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

On 3/11/2025 at 2:03 PM, Lucky said:

If I had to pick only one place, it would be Manhattan. And that's in the US!

#MeToo !

[d.anders]

13 hours ago, Lucky said:

the amount of walking I had to do eventually caught up with me

I do wonder when it will catch up to me. Today's NYC is awash in electric wheelchairs, a growing phenomenon dating back to the 2000-teens. I haven't looked into them yet, but I'm assuming they are either covered by insurance or social services, based on the large number in use. The Access-A-Ride program is very popular. It's a separate bus service for seniors in need. We also have NYC Aging and Project CART, which are also popular. Local government and the senior community have been very proactive on senior care and convenience services. The growth and special attention to our sector has been quite impressive. It's far from perfect, but it's much better than it used to be, and far better than what other cities have.

In addition, NYC has the best Services and Resources for the gay community. We have GMHC, Callen-Lorde, SAGE, PFLAG, Housing Works, ACLU and God's Love We Deliver, just to name a few. I have used several of these services, and they are amazing places with amazing people. True angels of society.

13 hours ago, Lucky said:

rare escalators or working elevators. The latter usually stunk to high heaven.

The MTA has been doing a lot of work on creating more subway elevators. There has been a very active ad campaign for them and this work. Construction in Manhattan, particularly with the MTA, has been at an all-time high the past 3 years. I use and pay attention to the elevators more often than not. The 2nd Ave Q train to the Upper East Side is quite impressive. Those elevators seem spotless. The smells aren't as bad as they used to be. Covid changed a lot of that, but this is still NYC. The word clean has a different meaning here, always has.

13 hours ago, Lucky said:

New Yorkers were not rude, just involved.

There is plenty of rudeness here, unhappy people, but there's a lot more kindness that goes unnoticed, not celebrated or not discussed. NYC is tough town, and its people are tough. You need to be tough to truly survive here. But at the end of the day, when the shells are removed, or when it really counts, the angels are there. I am so grateful.

[+ José Soplanucas]

Oh

I thought the topic was where you would live out of the US.

[musclestuduws]

14 minutes ago, José Soplanucas said:

Oh

I thought the topic was where you would live out of the US.

Wait, Manhattan is still part of the US? 🤣 

[+ nycman]

2 minutes ago, musclestuduws said:

Wait, Manhattan is still part of the US? 🤣 

Don’t remind us.

grin.

[mike carey]

40 minutes ago, José Soplanucas said:

Oh

I thought the topic was where you would live out of the US.

26 minutes ago, musclestuduws said:

Wait, Manhattan is still part of the US? 🤣 

23 minutes ago, nycman said:

Don’t remind us.

grin.

There is a case to be made (surely not a serious one ... surely??) that Manhattan is apart from the US, or even on a different planet. I would never say such a thing, of course!

And The New Yorker would never publish a cover cartoon that implied such a thing.

I can't wait to go back there!

[+ azdr0710]

fun fact:  only one of NYC's five boroughs is directly connected to the mainland

[d.anders]

4 hours ago, musclestuduws said:

Wait, Manhattan is still part of the US?

I'm pretending it isn't.

[+ nycman]

3 hours ago, azdr0710 said:

fun fact:  only one of NYC's five boroughs is directly connected to the mainland

[brettnyc]

any recent report from Barcelona -- thermas, et al. ??

[pubic_assistance]

On 3/11/2025 at 11:33 PM, MaybeMaybeNot said:

 I dream about moving to Japan. A friend traveled there and was amazed how women would leave their purse in public and no one would touch it.  She also said it was so clean.  I could go for that.

This is a product of Japan being primarily Japanese. Virtually no poor immigrant class.

Exactly the kind of social environment that some people in the US call for ..and are being told they are racist for wanting lower crime rates.

 

[+ sync]

On 3/11/2025 at 11:33 PM, MaybeMaybeNot said:

As I walk through Target or CVS noting how everything is locked up,  I drram about moving to Japan. A friend traveled there and was amazed how women would leave their purse in public and no one would touch it.  She also said it was so clean.  I could go for that.

"All that glitters is not gold."

wanderwisdom.com

WANDERWISDOM.COM

 

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

On 4/18/2025 at 7:33 AM, brettnyc said:

any recent report from Barcelona -- thermas, et al. ??

https://www.companyofmen.org/topic/63992-barcelona-sauna-thermas-it-only-got-better/?do=getNewComment

 

 

[+ José Soplanucas]

4 hours ago, pubic_assistance said:

Exactly the kind of social environment that some people in the US call for

IDK whether or not you are racist, but this statement is racist in so many levels. I have to leave it there, as we cannot discuss these topics.

[+ Vegas_Millennial]

6 hours ago, pubic_assistance said:

This is a product of Japan being primarily Japanese. Virtually no poor immigrant class.

Exactly the kind of social environment that some people in the US call for ..and are being told they are racist for wanting lower crime rates.

 

This is so true.  Wherever one decides to move, he must remember why he is leaving and not try to make his new country like his old one.

[+ José Soplanucas]

17 hours ago, pubic_assistance said:

I am far from racist.

 

I want to believe you, but quite often you make it hard to believe.

17 hours ago, pubic_assistance said:

I am however a realist. FACTS matter.

 

Sure. Everyone finds facts to support their stand. I thought you knew that how we interpret those facts is equally important.

 

17 hours ago, pubic_assistance said:

If you would take your emotional triggers out of the conversation for a minute...you would understand two things:

 

I am not emotional, I thought I was stating a fact without drama.

 

17 hours ago, pubic_assistance said:

#1. I said: "some people". Personally I enjoy a multicultural society. That is a primary reason why I moved to NYC. So rather the opposite of racist.. I deliberately moved somwhere to get away from the all-white culture I grew up in.

 

I think you are too concerned about explaing that you are not a racist. My apologies for triggering you. I was just pointing to what I think was a racist statement. Do you think you do not have racist prejudices? Oh. I do, and that awareness empowers me to fight my prejudices and become more tolerant.

I do think that no one would bring "some people" to a conversation without somehow endorsing their views. But I praise you for being so understanding of their intolerance.

17 hours ago, pubic_assistance said:

#2. If you can't accept the fact that in many Western countries poor people were used as cheap labor...then I suggest you avoid adult conversation threads, altogether. Sometimes historical fact makes us sad. History is not always kind and it's not all the Hallmark Channel in the real world. The Japanese openly admit that they are a closed society because they don't want what happened in the US to happen there.

 

Uffff, too many assumptions that have nothing to do with my point, and a not very creative way to justify a closed, racist, culture.

Edited April 20 by José Soplanucas

[pubic_assistance]

2 minutes ago, José Soplanucas said:

not very creative way to justify a closed, racist, culture.

I wasn't attempting to "justify" Japan's xenophobia. Just noting that crime is often a product of mixing cultures and economic classes.