If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why
 

I like Dubai but I was considering where else i would move to... most of my friends have suggested Australia but it has never appealed to me

Re: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why
 

Oz is amazing mate, we'll be there for NYE and hopefully living there in a few years.

Mrs Spugsy got a call from some headhunters about a job in the Maldives, I was hoping to lie on a hammock all day with my laptop freelancing and going fishing and diving and drinking rum, but nowt happened in the end.

Gutted.

Re: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why
 

Really... its just so far from anywhere (could be a good thing i guess)

Re: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why
 

There's hundreds of places on the planet which i would live and none of them would ever include a country or city in The Gulf .

I'll take Hong Kong , Bangkok , Singapore , New York , London , Sydney , Copenhagen , Kuala Lumpa , Madrid and Tokyo .

Dubai wouldn't even get in my top 10 , the city punches well above it's weight compared to the big boys

Re: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why
 

you are probably right but for me the low crime issue is a major plus for Dubai. That and its only 7hrs from London

Re: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why
 

South of France, Portugal, Greece. Somewhere sunny but relatively civilised.

Re: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why
 

There's plenty crime in Dubai mate , you're just not affected as you're higher up the food chain .

Just like Jemima and Tabatha in Holland Park don't see the crack dealing dens in Stoke Newington ...;)

Re: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why
 

Agree - full of Australians.

I fancy Hong Kong, or, believe it or not - the States.

Re: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why
 

My old man retired to one of the Greek islands - his opinion is that it was a bad move (albeit 10 years ago)....the country is a mess.

That being said, outside of Athens the place is lush.

Re: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why
 

i am half Greek so of course biased but i love the islands, naturally beautiful !

Re: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why
 

I actually looked at the states too

Re: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why
 

It's not a long way from places not far away. Just a long way away from far away places.:lol:

Re: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why
 

That makes more sense.

I love the place, just don't think it'd be a wise one to be buying into at the moment....that aside, Western Crete (where the old man lives) is amazing.

Re: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why
 

[During a late lunchtime...]

Nirvana—that special place with:

England's pubs, heritage, clouds, greenery, and sense of fair play and humour
Monaco's per capita GDP
Japan's restaurants, punctuality and code of honour
Scandinavia's fjords
Ireland's Guinness
Germany's economic drive
Italy's style
Egypt's casinos
Paraguay's hyroelectricity
Monaco's climate and image

So where come's closest?

If I weighted (scoring 1-10) the above in terms of what's most important, it would be:

England's pubs, heritage, clouds, greenery, and sense of fair play and humour: 10
Monaco's climate and image: 8
Japan's restaurants, punctuality and code of honour: 8
Italy's style: 7
Germany's economic drive: 6
Paraguay's hyroelectricity: 6
Qatar's per capita GDP: 4
Scandinavia's scenery: 4
Ireland's Guinness: 2
Egypt's casinos: 1

And then scored the top 10 countries in each category…

My quasi-scientific results?

1st Japan
2nd UK
3rd Canada
4th Italy

Abu Dhabi didn't register, but then I don’t live here :(

Re: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why
 

Isn't Japan and especially Tokyo somewhat over-populated and prone to natural disasters? It really depends on whether you still have to work in the country concerned or if you can simply retire gracefully. Oz is definitely out of the equation for me, primarily because it has 90% (or thereabouts) of the world's most poisonous spiders and snakes living there. The islands of Madeira and Cephalonia would be high up on my list.

Re: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why
 

Helsinki

Re: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why
 

Finns , mad as a box of ferrets . They've got a penchant for getting mortal drunk and women that look like Goddesses and shag like Serbian Paratroopers !

Re: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why
 

now that you put it like that, it does sound rather compelling.

Re: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why
 

Utterly potty. Utterly hilarious! Russians without the depression.

Re: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why
 

Scandanavia does appeal, although the coldness puts me off a tad.

Re: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why
 

Hence the enthusiastic alcohol intake.

Re: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why
 

Mr Meow would like to move to Australia, but I really don't fancy living there. I like the idea of living in the South of France, but not their taxes.

I really don't know where we'll end up, but suspect it could be the Far East somewhere. Climate, food and reasonable taxes would do it.

Re: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why
 

Sounds to me as if Singapore might suit you.

Re: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why
 

It's a possibility, especially as I spent a lot of my childhood there. Malaysia is on my list too.

Re: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why
 

The Lake District, probably near Rydal/Grasmere

or failing that, New Zealand.

Re: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why
 

Nicaragua. Beautiful country, nice people, excellent weather and beaches. Food is not bad either.
Nice bargains on property too.

Re: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why
 

The grass is always greener.....innit?

Re: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why
 

Don't know about that. It always seems to be more expensive, though....

Re: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why
 

Penang , there's a little tax and residency dodge with the property ;)

Re: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why
 

Until someone pisses on it...;)

Re: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why
 

Interesting your perspective on Nicaragua,I have been around that part of the world and found Nicaragua (and Panama for that matter) pretty much quite depressingly dirt poor countries with huge crime and drug problems. So many of the shops or hotels had armed security guards outside.

If you made it there I am surprised that Costa rica isnt on your list, as its much nicer imo, educated people, good food, great climate and surroundings.
If I had a choice I would have a nice beach house on the pacific side :thumbup:

Re: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why
 

Wow really? Have to admit , have not been myself, just looked at info on the net, specialized retirement/travel mags, and spoken to people...I got a very different outlook on things. BUT, thanks for your post, will look into it more and hopefully soon go there to see for myself.
When have you been there last?

Re: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why
 

I had to get my passport to check and depressingly it seems to be end of 2007/2008 and previously end of 2005/2006. It seems much closer than that to me.
Anyhow if its not some totally gated community or compound (like the ones they have in Jamica or Dominican republic) maybe its worth a look, but if you go to check it out, definitely cross the border into costa rica. well worth a trip or holiday for its own sake or investigation.

Re: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why
 

Ah yes, you are right, it was pretty bad back then...have read about it. apparently things have changed, particularly in Nicaragua.
Will be making my way soon to the general area, will report back!

Re: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why
 

As I currently live in Saudi, just about anywhere else in the world would be fantastic...

Places I've visited that I'd consider are:

Singapore - climate, civilised asia, food, but pricey
Malaysia - beautiful place, alcohol is a tad expensive
Thailand - A bit crazy, cheap as chips, never a dull moment
Ireland - my spiritual home, the people, the culture

Places I've been that I'd never consider:

USA - christian fundamentalism, boorish oafs, healthcare
France - some nice parts but too many arseholes

Re: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why
 

My old man lives in DR. A bit outside the capital in a compound. The wife was shocked first time we went as there were dudes with shotguns on the street corners (see: Security guards). It's a small golf course compound, and the surrounding walls are laughably low. Crime is pretty rife, but not a real issue in that particular part. Whenever I go I borrow his push-bike and cycle around and lounge at the family beach bar eating and drinking free. It's also somewhat outside the main tourist drag, so it has a good local feel. Loads of poverty, but it really does look like an actual developing country unlike so many 'not developing at all' countries. But meh..I hate merengue so could never live there. The locals just hate the Haitians..

As far as places I'd like to live..Well, I guess my list is something like:

New Zealand, not sure on town or city..but I do like cities that are not too big and close to something else but suburbs.

Buenos Aires, never been..more of a fantasy I guess.

Brazil, probably Sao Paolo..so much good thrash metal that's come out from there.

Lebanon, although it has it's fair share of problems, I've always enjoyed it.

Perhaps an Island somewhere in the Philippines, definitely an island in the pacific somewhere

Somewhere in Germany perhaps, Hamburg maybe..it's got a bit of a debauched reputation I'd think would fall into my liking..not heard anyone speak bad of the place ever in fact (go ahead, prove me wrong..)

I was thinking to add an African location perhaps, but not sure my demanding self could happily live in sub-saharan Africa again..SA is off the cards, that shit is too nuts..I hate living in fortresses or needing to have a security guard. Haven't needed one for a decade, and I see no point in beginning again. They're usually the first to run anyway, 'lol'. But Swaziland was always nice, perhaps as Maputo wasn't at the time, but I'd love to get back to Mozambique.

But for now it's sunny Norway, moved here from Bahrain a few months back. I don't regret leaving the ME one bit. I get paid well, yes, I pay alot of taxes..but I'm happy, I survive and then some.. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but Norwegians seem to be quite pragmatic in thinking about it (taxes)..they do complain, but mostly because they have to, but they are quick to point out the things they get in return. There appears to be a bit of a rape epidemic here in Oslo atm, but besides that..it was pretty much as I hoped. Relaxed, quiet and friendly. It is just beginning to get cold. And as long as there isn't a complete collapse in the Euro just yet, I reckon I'll be safe here for a bit. It's surprisingly international here as well.

And before I leave, I'd like to state I'd never want to move back to lurvly Ingerland. I'm british by birth, but it ends just about there. Couldn't go back to just being a regular joe.

Re: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why
 

Definitely New Zealand for moi

Re: If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be & why
 

A houseboat on Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe