America is not enough! What should I do?

[EdNaFargo]

I have lived in the U.S. for over 35 years. I can't complain too much. It could have been much better, though, were it not for modern psychiatry. I've been to NYC twice, out west, California, down South, up North, etc. I have pretty much seen all that I have wanted to see in America except for Hawaii. But now, at this point in my life, I want something new and different. I am at the end of a severe protracted withdrawal (almost 4 years long). I would consider myself 90% healed. I am beyond grateful for that. However, through all those years of suffering, it made me realize that I do NOT much care for my country anymore. In fact, I have never considered myself truly an American. I am not proud of my country although I do not exactly hate it. It is a deeply divided, troubled, and rigged country. With each passing year, it gets worse. I realize no country is perfect but I just want to try something new. Live some place new. Experience altogether new things!

 

 I have always wanted to visit tropical Asia and plan to next summer. Either the Philippines and/or Thailand. I love nature and Asian women and very few places come close to the beauty of such places. Would you make the venture if you were in my shoes?

[DrugfreeProf]

Yes. I too very much want to leave this country, for many of the same reasons you do. I've researched So America, especially Ecuador, a beautiful, simple place, along with Peru. I hear Costa Rica has a high happiness index. I cannot leave now as I'm in the thick of my career, but am longing to retire overseas, at least part-time, within the next few years. I say, if you can pull it off, go for it, but do your homework first.  There are websites that help people move overseas, e.g., international living and liveandinvestoverseas.com   

This country is staggering in its beauty and potential, and I believe most people are good and well-meaning, but the culture is hyper-individualistic, competitive, cruel, deceptive, anti-human, and treacherous.  This type of culture breeds anxiety and depression and other mental health problems. The government is hopelessly corrupt and in bed with the corporations. Everything you hear from the mainstream media is a lie. And the population on the whole, except for the very wealthy, suffers from battered woman syndrome.

[EdNaFargo]

DrugfreeProf,

 

Thank you very much for your thoughtful response and advice. Everything you mentioned about America I could not agree more with!! Few could argue with those facts. Yes, I have heard the same things about some parts of South America. Which country are you leaning towards out of those you mentioned if you decide to move over there? How long have you been drug free?

 

The problem is, I don’t want to be a slave to a corporation for the rest of my life, trying to make it to the top or get ahead. It’s practically pointless. And creating a successful business is merely impossible these days! I don’t like the system; it is a form of slavery and I want out of it before it ruins me. Even if I was lucky enough to make it, I’d be old and probably deep into health problems by then.

 

I long for peace and true happiness which are priceless. I have already been so corrupted by hatred and divisions in this country it makes me sick. I want out. I never even bother with politics or the news for the exact reasons you mentioned!

Furthermore, as you basically alluded to, the super wealthy (I believe) want a divided, dumb, and  uninformed society so the wealth and power never trickles down. It will only get worse! Ignorance is bliss (when I was young) but now that I know exactly what America is and how it works there is no turning back for me!!

 

If I somehow came into millions it might make me happy but only for a short while. It wouldn’t change all that much, honestly. Yet, I dream (perhaps as you might also), of a quiet, peaceful, and happy life of modesty somewhere in a beautiful natural setting such as tropical paradise Asia or Hawaii. 

[DrugfreeProf]

Hey, there, glad we see eye to eye on this!  I bet you a lot of people are feeling this way these days about the good-ole USA. Used to be a great country. Now, not so much.

We are the worst at a lot of things.

I lean toward Ecuador, which I've visited and absolutely fell in love with. My preference would be Cuenca, which houses a good number of ex-pats.

I've heard good things about Costa Rica but haven't visited yet.

I also visited Peru and Machu Piccu---just incredible beauty--but I still lean toward Ecuador.

Lots of people talk about how amazing and inexpensive Asia is--Thailand especially,

I'm sure there is an up side and a down side to wherever you go and that you trade one set of problems for another.

Still . . .the US is not what it used to be and I feel like a fish out of water here.

 

[FarmGirlWorks]

On 4/1/2018 at 9:14 AM, EdNaFargo said:

I long for peace and true happiness which are priceless.

Amen! Love this thread, thanks for the great info.

[Psvt]

From an outsider looking in and one who has never visited the "States" but, has in his travelling plans once this withdrawal crap shoot is over,

it appears that the United States of 'Merica has the best of everything but at the same time has the worst of everything......(no offense to you crazy "Mericans, just my opinion from an outsider looking in)

 

I am sure there is plenty in the middle ground but a lot of what I see (obviously from mainstream media outlets) is what I have stated above.

 

We in Australia are starting to develop a lot of similar issues like in the U.S.A but we are still a bit of a mixed bag. We are still a very young nation with a heavy European, albeit recent, influence. Australia seems to be adopting a lot of the USA which is a little disappointing in some respects because we are losing a (relatively) carefree, easy going and laidback lifestyle and are going from the "No worries cobber" to the "how can you find a way to relieve you of your money" and "my house is bigger than yours" and "my cars are better than yours" attitude. We used to have friendly loving neighbours who were pretty much part of the family and you always knew all the kids in the street.   

 

Those days are long gone.........very sad

[peng]

Interesting thread.

Scotland has a lot going for it, but a big story just now is the soaring number of kids with ADHD, autism, depression and the limited non-drug resources available to help them.

So getting the same as other "bad" places.

By the way, must get round to watching the classic "Fargo" DVD soon, OP!  I bought it a while ago.

Remember, "Trainspotting" was filmed and conceived in our small country (5.5million pop), so we know about the dark sides of life, too.

Best wishes, all, wherever you are.

Maybe, above all, it is only love that really matters?

[EdNaFargo]

Absolutely! America is far past its best days. I long for the 80’s and 90’s when TV, movies, and music were still quality, original, and innovative. Americans were just Americans regardless of race, gender, political party, etc. I was proud of America. I simply can’t say that now! Social media and smartphones were non existent (I like new tech as much as anyone but it’s doing a number on society). The middle class was strong as ever. The Bill Clinton years, as I now look back, were golden. I love diversity as much as anyone else but when people don’t assimilate and stick with their own groups and only advocate for their own race or ethnicity-diversity fails! It’s a disaster waiting to happen if the trend continues. Again, the super rich want this. Divide and conquer. 

 

Peru and Ecuador sound amazing!! Sounds like you have a plan when you can retire! I wish you nothing but the best in your pursuits! You’re definitely not alone feeling like a fish out of water in NYC I would imagine. I visited there twice. Would never live there but a decent place to visit. Would have been great to live there in the 80s or 90s, however. 

 

It’s ironic you brought up Thailand as I have been researching the country for a while now! Looks beautiful, peaceful, and exciting. The countryside (like the Philippines) looks serene and majestic! I could get used to that easy! Definitely planning a visit there if and when I go to the Philippines. 

 

 

[EdNaFargo]

14 hours ago, PSVT said:

From an outsider looking in and one who has never visited the "States" but, has in his travelling plans once this withdrawal crap shoot is over,

it appears that the United States of 'Merica has the best of everything but at the same time has the worst of everything......(no offense to you crazy "Mericans, just my opinion from an outsider looking in)

 

I am sure there is plenty in the middle ground but a lot of what I see (obviously from mainstream media outlets) is what I have stated above.

 

We in Australia are starting to develop a lot of similar issues like in the U.S.A but we are still a bit of a mixed bag. We are still a very young nation with a heavy European, albeit recent, influence. Australia seems to be adopting a lot of the USA which is a little disappointing in some respects because we are losing a (relatively) carefree, easy going and laidback lifestyle and are going from the "No worries cobber" to the "how can you find a way to relieve you of your money" and "my house is bigger than yours" and "my cars are better than yours" attitude. We used to have friendly loving neighbours who were pretty much part of the family and you always knew all the kids in the street.   

 

Those days are long gone.........very sad

 

That IS very sad to hear how Australia has become like America! If I were an Aussie....that is the last thing I would have wanted for my country!!! Very sad indeed. 

[EdNaFargo]

Yes Fargo is a classic! Trainspotting is an all-time favorite of mine also😀

[Gridley]

We moved to Ecuador eight years ago.  The climate is good (we live in the mountains), it's inexpensive, and the Ecuadorians are friendly and helpful.  We also looked at Peru, Uruguay, Bolivia and Argentina.  It's probably the easiest country in Latin America to get a residency visa.  DrugfreeProf, we lived in Cuenca for two years and liked it.  Lots of infrastructure and ex-pats.  Now we live on top of a mountain up from a tiny pueblo with a kind of New Age vibe--lots of alternative healers and spiritual teachers and seminars.