How is your life in the US better than the UK?
Jan 14th 2015, 11:28 am
#1
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2010
Location: Sussex
Posts: 98
How is your life in the US better than the UK?
Feel free to be as general or specific as you like -- what are the things you and your family are finding beneficial about life in the States? (Maybe indicate whereabouts you are and how long you've been in the US.)
Jan 14th 2015, 3:49 pm
#2
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?
How about you? Still planning a move to Portland?
You've posted a lot of comparison type questions over the past couple of years...did you come to any meaningful conclusions for yourself?
You've posted a lot of comparison type questions over the past couple of years...did you come to any meaningful conclusions for yourself?
Last edited by Hotscot; Jan 14th 2015 at 4:07 pm.
Jan 14th 2015, 5:10 pm
#3
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: How is your life in the US better than the UK?
It's not.
It's different.
It's no worse.
Except when the bog froze.
It's different.
It's no worse.
Except when the bog froze.
Jan 14th 2015, 5:50 pm
#4
Austin. TX.
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 5,930
Re: How is your life in the US better than the UK?
cheese and crackers spattered all over my desk!seriously though my son was talking about life in USA compared to France (for us) the other day and said that he thought life was harder here - we do less, (no skiing, no mountain hikes near us) the kids homework takes up most evenings and quite a bit of time on the weekend. He says everyone is more tired here.
Last edited by petitefrancaise; Jan 14th 2015 at 5:53 pm.
Jan 14th 2015, 5:55 pm
#5
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,439
Re: How is your life in the US better than the UK?
If I lived within commutable distance of London my house would have cost me probably £2-£3million. In London I lived in a tiny terrace house on 0.03 acre. I now own 5 acres, and have deer wandering through my back yard, woodpeckers in the trees, and wild tortoises, among many other animals that live here.
Also:
This one isn't mine, but it is the same year, model, & colour.
Also:
This one isn't mine, but it is the same year, model, & colour.
Last edited by Pulaski; Jan 14th 2015 at 5:59 pm.
Jan 14th 2015, 6:04 pm
#6
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?
Wild tortoises? How much trouble do they give you?
(Are you allowed to go near them? Big no, no here.)
We also have our Woodpecker variant that comes and eats berries this time of the year.
The Northern Flicker...gorgeous bird, unattractive screech.
(Are you allowed to go near them? Big no, no here.)
We also have our Woodpecker variant that comes and eats berries this time of the year.
The Northern Flicker...gorgeous bird, unattractive screech.
Last edited by Hotscot; Jan 14th 2015 at 6:09 pm.
Jan 14th 2015, 6:19 pm
#7
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,439
Re: How is your life in the US better than the UK?
Protection doesn't stop people driving over them when they get on the road though!
On all but the interstates and major highways I usually stop and carry tortoises off the road whenever I see them.
Jan 14th 2015, 6:58 pm
#9
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Aug 2014
Location: Cambridge
Posts: 388
Re: How is your life in the US better than the UK?
Very small sample size, and a lot of selection bias, but:-
Of Brits that I know in real life (excluding me) who had a realistic choice (*) between the two countries, 5 settled in the US, and 2 in the UK. So its not unanimous either way.
(* counting a realistic choice as either being a marriage to a USC, or an L1/H1B visa, or in one case both)
Of Brits that I know in real life (excluding me) who had a realistic choice (*) between the two countries, 5 settled in the US, and 2 in the UK. So its not unanimous either way.
(* counting a realistic choice as either being a marriage to a USC, or an L1/H1B visa, or in one case both)
Jan 14th 2015, 7:02 pm
#10
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Joined: Jan 2013
Location: Monterey, CA
Posts: 2,554
Re: How is your life in the US better than the UK?
In the UK, I had my dream job earning very good money. I had my mates and my family. Here, I live on the CA coast. The weather is great all year round, the golf courses are superb, I too have bought a Mustang which I've lusted over for years, I have my wife (although that's not always a positive LOL), and most importantly of all, I have my beautiful daughter who turned 8 weeks old yesterday. My job is shit (although I also work for myself too which I love), and have little hope of getting anything better in the area I live (Monterey), although even that maybe about to change as we are looking into the feasibility of moving to the Bay Area with the wife's work.
Jan 14th 2015, 7:53 pm
#11
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Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Dreich Alba
Posts: 12,005
Re: How is your life in the US better than the UK?
In the UK, I had my dream job earning very good money. I had my mates and my family. Here, I live on the CA coast. The weather is great all year round, the golf courses are superb, I too have bought a Mustang which I've lusted over for years, I have my wife (although that's not always a positive LOL), and most importantly of all, I have my beautiful daughter who turned 8 weeks old yesterday. My job is shit (although I also work for myself too which I love), and have little hope of getting anything better in the area I live (Monterey), although even that maybe about to change as we are looking into the feasibility of moving to the Bay Area with the wife's work.
Jan 14th 2015, 8:01 pm
#12
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 238
Re: How is your life in the US better than the UK?
No debt, tropical climate ( well not right now but a lot of the year ) self-employed & semi-retired at 50. I love living in US except for I can't seem to fathom healthcare and get that to work ( but I'm not sure I would in the UK either! )
Jan 14th 2015, 8:14 pm
#13
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 2010
Location: Maryland (via Belfast, Manchester, Toronto and London)
Posts: 4,802
Re: How is your life in the US better than the UK?
Even in a single category such as healthcare, some things are better and some are worse. If you have good health insurance in the US, it's great to be able to see doctors and specialists at short notice and the care is generally top class. However, if you don't have good health insurance (or none at all), US healthcare can be a very expensive and frustrating experience.
In terms of travel, I enjoy easy access to other parts of the US, Canada, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. On the other hand, I miss parts of the UK and its easy access to the rest of Europe.
I have serious concerns about the gun issue in the US. On the other hand, it's easier to find space and affordable housing. I might feel safer in the UK but it has a higher population density (which means more competition for things like housing, jobs, schools etc).
Swings and roundabouts.
Last edited by MarylandNed; Jan 14th 2015 at 10:11 pm.
Jan 14th 2015, 8:36 pm
#14
Joined: Mar 2009
Location: Google Town
Posts: 7,532
Re: How is your life in the US better than the UK?
In the UK, I had my dream job earning very good money. I had my mates and my family. Here, I live on the CA coast. The weather is great all year round, the golf courses are superb, I too have bought a Mustang which I've lusted over for years, I have my wife (although that's not always a positive LOL), and most importantly of all, I have my beautiful daughter who turned 8 weeks old yesterday. My job is shit (although I also work for myself too which I love), and have little hope of getting anything better in the area I live (Monterey), although even that maybe about to change as we are looking into the feasibility of moving to the Bay Area with the wife's work.
