If you could live in another land...

[centauro]

Having grown up as an Air Force Brat I'd have to say returning to Germany would likely be my logical choice.

Yes!
I was not an Air Force brat, but a USAF veteran with 2 tours of duty there, totaling 11 years. I'd live there, given the opportunity.

[Dave Swanson]

There is no other place in the world I would rather be than the USA.  But there are plenty of wonderful places in the world I would like to make an extended visit to.  Anywhere around the Alps,  Tuscany, Scandinavia, and so many others.   

[ejs]

If not living in Norway/Scandinavia, I would like to try Italy or Spain.

[siabeid]

That's easy for me. I would move about 50 miles north to British Columbia.

[oldbike54]

That’s refreshingly surprising Dusty.

 Maybe , dunno . That little museum sees folk from several countries on any given day some in small groups doing an unguided tour , some on guided group tours riding mostly HD and lately some Indian rental bikes .

 On a busy day one will meet Spaniards , Croats , people from the UK , Germany , China , Malaysia , Japan , Serbia ...well anyway , from lots of countries . Haven't yet met anyone at the museum who didn't represent their home country well , and always attempt to represent my country in the same manner .

 Then we had the two blokes from OZ spend the evening with us at the Oklahoma camp out about 8 years ago , it saddened me to learn that one had passed a couple of years later , we had a lively conversation over coffee . Of course then there was an evening with Jude and Pete , just the 3 of us sharing a meal then a few hours just hanging out . Pete may be a Pom, but he loves his adopted country .

 Dusty

[Muzz]

New Zealand.  South Island.

We can always use good contractors John, what with our roads washing away in the rainstorms, houses falling down in the earthquakes and of course, those beautiful motorcycling roads that you have already experienced need being kept in tip-top condition.

When are you emigrating?

[lucian]

I can' t believe no one has  mentioned Maine. Seems everyone from around the planet is moving here lately.

[Joliet Jim]

Iceland, if we ever get our shit together and can get the borders back open I have another trip to make up there. That said I just bought a new RV so I need to stick around here for a while and use it.

[Mayor_of_BBQ]

I love being in America, and I think I have settled in the best place America has to offer, so not itching to move away.

It would have to be Spain for me. Sevilla is nice, lived there for 6mos in my 20's... Been a couple times and just loved the food, culture, and the cities of Spain. Now that you can't smoke like a chimney everywhere, my final 'strike' against Spain has been eliminated.

Costa Rica/ Caribbean/ Guatemala would be second choice, but I am probably too attached to my first world conveniences to make that jump. Also, if I went there it would probably have to be as an innkeeper/BnB owner, and I am sick to death of cooking for and serving other people.

[Knuckle Dragger]

You lads all seem to like extremely cold climates - with correspondingly short summers - instead of more amenable biking climes.

I'm not about to criticise peoples choices & fantasies but I don't get it.... as I age I more & more absolutely HATE riding in the snow & ice!  It's scary & damned cold.

Give me an endless summer please!

[blu guzz]

Niagara on the Lake, Ontario, Canada.  If I could afford it.  Vacation home somewhere warm.

[F-Fred]

Northern Portugal (Douro River valley) would be fabulous if I can learn Portuguese.

[Testarossa]

I need big-mountain skiing and a Mediterranean lifestyle. France, Italy or Switzerland, with a summer retreat in Norway.

[Guzzi Gal]

I have thought about southern Italy or southern France but my account tells me that for Canadians moving to Costa Rica is very popular as it has universal health care similar to Canada and property owners can acquire it, I would still keep a place in Canada and plan on staying here for at least 5 months if the year to retain my Canadian health coverage. Have also considered Baja California particularly Loreto, nice quiet seaside town. I sold my place in Phoenix this spring, loved Arizona but it was time for a change, need to get near the ocean.

Ahhh, Loreto. What a wonderful place to while away your time. Costa Rica is my fave though. The people are wonderful, the countryside is gorgeous, and the food is fantastic! The cost of living doesn't hurt either. Time to learn some more palabras.

[Wildroamer]

I can' t believe no one has  mentioned Maine. Seems everyone from around the planet is moving here lately.

LOVE Maine! What area are you in? We're 2 states over, my other half is from Maine. We head to Wells any spare weekend we get, regardless of season. Of course her Dad likes to say, "That's not really Maine." Lol

A trip there on the bike next season is certain, and one that I mentioned in the "planning" thread.

Lobstah' is great, but the steamah's are wicked good!

Cheers from a co-New Englander!

[Mr Pootle]

Any part of Europe's Mediterranean coast would suit me, and to narrow it down, either Sete, in France, or Syracuse in Sicily. I speak a little French and restaurant Italian, and have a cloth ear, so it'd be a little difficult.
Unfortunately none of the far-flung English speaking countries have much appeal.

[nick949]

Don't do it!

You'll never be completely satisfied in your new country as it won't have all the things you remember fondly from your old country. And what you remember of your old country will be a glorified memory of halcyon times that never really existed.

Stay home. Bloom where you're planted. Fix that broken wagon.

I'm an immigrant - I know these things.

Nick

[Knuckle Dragger]

Don't do it!

You'll never be completely satisfied in your new country as it won't have all the things you remember fondly from your old country. And what you remember of your old country will be a glorified memory of halcyon times that never really existed.

Stay home. Bloom where you're planted. Fix that broken wagon.

I'm an immigrant - I know these things.

Nick

That's really sad Nick.  I'm sure there must be at least SOME redeeming aspects of living in your "new country"!  I'm sure the immigrant experience is much more positive  for many others. 

Is it racism or cultural differences that you're struggling with?  Do you have any friends or family for emotional support that you can connect with from the "old country"?  Stay positive & take care...  Much love from the Antipodes.

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

I doubt I'll ever move from this area - my father's side of the family has lived here since the late 1700s. If I ever was to move from here, it wouldn't be too far - Pocahontas Co., WV maybe.

[Arctic Fox]

Don't do it!

You'll never be completely satisfied in your new country as it won't have all the things you remember fondly from your old country. And what you remember of your old country will be a glorified memory of halcyon times that never really existed.

Stay home. Bloom where you're planted. Fix that broken wagon.

I'm an immigrant - I know these things.

Nick

I think you are partly right ... why would one move away from 1st (to 3rd for example?) 

https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/03/finland-is-the-world-s-happiest-country-again/

And again 2020 ... third time now number ''uno'':
https://www.businessfinland.fi/en/whats-new/news/cision-releases/2020/finland-chosen-as-the-worlds-happiest-country-for-the-3rd-time

More seriously ... many says ... you understand value (see the good points) of your home country ... only as you are abroad. You are someway ''blind'' for those as you are home (how the society works etc.).

[Tom]

Hawaii, I moved back in '81.  I've kept a motorcycle on the Mainland for Summer rides.  I have airline flight benefits so anywhere is essentially 2 flights out of here. 

Northern Italy would be my 2nd choice.  I like the area just south of the Dolomites in the foothills.  Good location to go further South for the weather or North to play in Dolomites.  Close enough to go to the sea either East or West.

[Bulldog9]

Yes, Norway looks amazing enough  .

My grandmother came from Norway with her family when she was 14. I've always wanted to visit and look up family connections. My son visited when he was in college, his university had a large number of Norwegian students.  Beautiful country.

[Huzo]

Norway is lovely, especially from a bike seat. But I am always there at or around the summer solstice, I stay at Svolvaer and although coolish, it’s nice.
However winter is a hell hole of perpetual dark and sub freezing point temperatures, just horrid.

[Arctic Fox]

Norway is lovely, especially from a bike seat. But I am always there at or around the summer solstice, I stay at Svolvaer and although coolish, it’s nice.
However winter is a hell hole of perpetual dark and sub freezing point temperatures, just horrid.

Not for one who has grown up in Finland  .

But yes ... at winter time, country sides ... if there is a traffic problems/accidents on main road ... whole traffic will stop until the road is clear again. Just as often there are no reasonable roundabouts. Mountains have eliminated those. Also roads like theirs (long hills up and long way down) can be pretty dangerous at winter times.

[wymple]

I'm another wannabe NZ guy if I "really" had a choice. Costa Rica would be second. That said, I'm old, and not about to pick up stakes and move.

Looks like I could just hitch a ride. Those are my choices as well.

[ChuckH]

New Zealand.  South Island. 

I agree, probably up in the Nelson area.  Down in the Christchurch area is nice but more prone to earthquakes.  Unfortunately, their immigration laws are strict and, at my age, I'm not eligible.

[kirby1923]

Ah..fantasies!

I'd pick Terlingua or there abouts. Advantages of being X usa (sorta), dry climate and still have my constitutional  rights.
Having lived other places on this planet..scenery is a very small part of life.

:-)

[Lannis]

Ah..fantasies!

I'd pick Terlingua or there abouts. Advantages of being X usa (sorta), dry climate and still have my constitutional  rights.
Having lived other places on this planet..scenery is a very small part of life.

:-)

It's all fantasies.   (Not that there's anything wrong with that; it's a discussion board after all).    People ALL live in a placed based on some combination of these three things:

1) Where they can afford to live.
2) Where there is family or friends or other people like themselves with whom to interact.
3) What they're used to (including what "they" will "let" you do, which covers all the forbidden subjects).

If there's good riding, or surfing, or good weather, well, that's a bonus, but typically not a determining factor, from what I can tell ....

Lannis

[Tusayan]

Decades of migration to the south and west of the US indicates that a lot of people choose to live where the winters are warmer.   It’s just a bonus that those same areas tend to have better roads for motorcycling 

After many years of living near twisty roads, I could not live where there are none.  Winter weather would be less of a problem, especially if I could escape to somewhere warm in winter months.  Hence the idea to spend summers motorcycling etc in the Südtirol area of Italy, escaping to warmer climes just about the time the skiers show up.  The main issue with that is how the US house and properly gets maintained for several months in the summer, because we don’t want to move to a condo or similar.

[kirby1923]

Yes fantasies are more important to some than others but have little to do with the riggers of everyday life.

Seems that most of the posts are bases on the scenery or pictures there of with no real thought after that. Its much much more complicated than that.

Guess I'm being a little too serious as I can recall the problems of changing to a new culture....

I was always very happy to return home!

:-)