best place to live

[flipnflap]

The weather, economy and immigration are tempting me to move abroad, ideally somewhere with constant sunshine. But the likes of Greece, Spain and Portugal have their own economic problems. Where would you consider the perfect place to live these days, and why?

[Answerprancer]

Immigration is going to make you become an immigrant !?
IMO (based on your reasons for wanting to leave): Australia.

[atalanta]

Friends of mine have moved to Cyprus and love it

[ummmm]

Depends on your budget.

My Aunt & Uncle live in Thailand. They get to do lots of island hopping.

[237SJ]

I could cope with living in Barbados. A few of my colleagues commute from there but it takes a while to get immigration status apparently.

[beegeebee]

Why not France, especially down toward the South. Plus the French don't give a b@@gger about the EU! They ismply do what suits them.

[PuraVida]

I moved to Costa Rica 9 months ago from Canada. It was the best move I made. The economy is stable, cost of living lower, weather is fantastic, people are very friendly, and the schools for childern are great.

[lilyflower]

from what you are saying I guess you want to stay in europe. Spain and Portugal are great, but do you also want to work? If so, South France and Cyprus are a very good option...

[emmie]

New Zealand, friend out there say it's beautiful, the people are very friendly.

[tonyav]

Canada, I have quite a few relations there, great place.

[Tilly2]

You can't just go to Canada and Australia can you? Don't you need a sponsor or something like that? Or take a job in one of their 'needed' professions. Not sure you can retire out there without loads of money.

[tonyav]

Tilly one of my cousins emigrated to Canada in 1974 as a coal miner ( he saw an ad in the Sun newspaper ) he is now a very successful Tattoo artist !.

[Tilly2]

Good for him, Tony.
When I was a child my Dad considered going to South Africa, as a miner, but my Mum put the cybosh on it because she didn't ant me to be brought up in a compound.
We would go to Canada like a shot, if we could but we dn't know anybodt here and we dont have 100,000 Canadian dollars

[askyourgran]

I wish we'd emigrated to Australia years ago, it's a wonderful country for young people to get on in life.

[snags]

''it's a wonderful country for young people to get on in life''

Depending on where you are. If considering Australia think carefully about Sydney: OH's sister lives there with Aussie partner and they can't wait to get out to somewhere else. Yes the weather is better but they have big immigration problems of their own and even though they both have decent jobs they find it's very expensive day to day. He is originally from Perth and they are considering moving there... or back here!

http://www.australian...ttle_in_Australia/192

[shoota]

There is a little area of Western France where the gulf stream hits the coast that has a climate almost the equal of the med coast but manages to avoid the really high temps that the south can reach - Charente Maritime, Poitou Charente, Deux Sevres and the Vendee.
It has fantastic coastal towns (La Rochelle) great 'natural areas' (Marais Poitevin) miles of stunning beach (la Terriere) and inland you have woods, lakes and fields and really pretty villages.
There is an expat presence for socialising but it is not too prominent and house prices are sensible, much more reasonable than the south and it has two airports (La Rochelle and Poitiers) which both do budget flights to the UK and the Brittany ports are only 3/4 hours drive away.
I have a house in Deux Sevres and will eventually be there full time......the sooner the better!

[atsgran]

Cyprus would be my choice