How is your life in the US better than the UK?
Jan 16th 2015, 1:57 am
#46
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2014
Location: Chicago
Posts: 61
Re: How is your life in the US better than the UK?
I'm from Blackburn. I've lived in Chicago for the past 23 years.
I wouldn't dream of moving back to where I come from. Not a chance.
I wouldn't dream of moving back to where I come from. Not a chance.
Jan 16th 2015, 2:20 am
#48
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2014
Location: Chicago
Posts: 61
Re: How is your life in the US better than the UK?
Ha !
Jan 16th 2015, 2:41 am
#49
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2011
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 6,159
Re: How is your life in the US better than the UK?
I just feel the quality of my life isn't tied to geography.
Jan 16th 2015, 3:43 am
#50
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 429
Re: How is your life in the US better than the UK?
It's not a gun culture, it's a control culture..."I'm in control here"
Jan 16th 2015, 12:56 pm
#51
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Re: How is your life in the US better than the UK?
Nobody's is, it's tied to circumstance.
For me, right now at this point in time, I could move back to the UK if I wanted. Yeah, I'd be able to eat Wispa Golds until they come out my nostrils and have the best fish suppers and curry chips till the cows come home, but we'd be throwing away about 75% of our income and have to downsize severely to be able to afford a house. Not to mention constant reminders that my mum isn't around anymore.
When I put away the nostalgia for times long gone by, I realise it's just not worth it anymore. Much better to go back every year or so to enjoy the best of both worlds
It's not even a culture. I could count the number of times I have been directly and negatively affected by the right to carry firearms here on the fingers of the no-handed man.
Being scared of guns in the US is like saying living in Europe means you're in more danger of being caught up in a major war, because most major wars in history have happened there. Ridiculous.
For me, right now at this point in time, I could move back to the UK if I wanted. Yeah, I'd be able to eat Wispa Golds until they come out my nostrils and have the best fish suppers and curry chips till the cows come home, but we'd be throwing away about 75% of our income and have to downsize severely to be able to afford a house. Not to mention constant reminders that my mum isn't around anymore.
When I put away the nostalgia for times long gone by, I realise it's just not worth it anymore. Much better to go back every year or so to enjoy the best of both worlds
Being scared of guns in the US is like saying living in Europe means you're in more danger of being caught up in a major war, because most major wars in history have happened there. Ridiculous.
Jan 16th 2015, 2:37 pm
#52
Nuts and Bolts
Joined: Sep 2006
Location: Palm Tree in the Snow
Posts: 2,116
Re: How is your life in the US better than the UK?
Wild horses could not drag me back to the UK to live. Do love going back for my annual visit though and that is just enough time to spend with family and friends before the novelty of seeing each other wears off.
Jan 16th 2015, 2:48 pm
#53
Under blue skies
Joined: Mar 2011
Location: East Anglia->New England
Posts: 3,624
Re: How is your life in the US better than the UK?
In regard to the OP, like you I'd say it's 50-50 UK-US in terms of life quality, except that the bits that are good here aren't the same as the bits that are/were good there, and vice versa.
My thinking when I eventually made the decision not to pursue this last opportunity, after all of the soul-searching, was (in the immortal words of Danny Glover), "I'm too old for this shit".
My thinking when I eventually made the decision not to pursue this last opportunity, after all of the soul-searching, was (in the immortal words of Danny Glover), "I'm too old for this shit".
Or maybe you just start to distrust that dream.
Jan 16th 2015, 4:10 pm
#54
Forum Regular
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 60
Re: How is your life in the US better than the UK?
I have only been here 5 months; but here's my list:
Housing is affordable - I aim to buy a beautiful 3/4 bedroom detached - which I could never afford in the U.K.
I have a driveway (I had to park on the road in the UK, sometimes 100 yards from my house)
Weather (I'm in NC)
I am away from the drinking culture
I feel I have "moved on"
Learning to live in a different culture - life gets more interesting
Housing is affordable - I aim to buy a beautiful 3/4 bedroom detached - which I could never afford in the U.K.
I have a driveway (I had to park on the road in the UK, sometimes 100 yards from my house)
Weather (I'm in NC)
I am away from the drinking culture
I feel I have "moved on"
Learning to live in a different culture - life gets more interesting
Jan 16th 2015, 5:55 pm
#55
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2014
Location: London
Posts: 556
Re: How is your life in the US better than the UK?
It's great that people are looking out for tortoises and squirrels. I like Pulaski a lot better knowing that! And hey raccoons in the roofspace? My mum had a squirrel in her loft (in Lincolnshire). He sounded like he was wearing hobnail boots too!
Jan 16th 2015, 6:27 pm
#56
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,448
Re: How is your life in the US better than the UK?
* Steel and aluminum I sell to a local scrap yard.
Jan 16th 2015, 7:09 pm
#57
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 8,106
Re: How is your life in the US better than the UK?
I am one of the most politically confusing people you'll ever come across - generally a right leaning conservative with a libertarian streak, but also with a good awareness of conservation and certain "green" issues. We just about fill our 96 gallon recycling wheelie bin every two weeks with paper, cardboard, plastic and glass*, but don't generate enough rubbish (I believe that about 1/3 of it is used cat litter) to fill the same-sized bin more than once every 3-4 months!
* Steel and aluminum I sell to a local scrap yard.
* Steel and aluminum I sell to a local scrap yard.
Jan 16th 2015, 9:37 pm
#59
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2011
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 6,159
Jan 17th 2015, 1:35 pm
#60
BE Enthusiast
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 572
Re: How is your life in the US better than the UK?
I have lived here for almost 37 years, and enjoying it. I own more property and more acreage than I probably could have in the UK, primarily due to the fact I earned considerably more money than I could in the UK. Now that I am retired, and enjoy gardening, I appreciate having a longer growing season. I don't see me ever moving back to the UK. I did not dislike living in the UK, but I am glad that I had the opportunity to move here, and took it.