Yes, this Trump era is consuming too much of my soul. For the first time in my life, at age 70, I’m seriously thinking of leaving the country for my own peace of mind, and maybe basic safety. I had let my passport lapse, but it’s being processed now.
Yes, this Trump era is consuming too much of my soul. For the first time in my life, at age 70, I’m seriously thinking of leaving the country for my own peace of mind, and maybe basic safety. I had let my passport lapse, but it’s being processed now.
Let us know where you'll head. My research on emigrating is convincing me this is still the best place to be. I have kids and grands, and won't leave them. Many nations require huge amounts of money, and have age restrictions (for example, I think New Zealand won't accept anyone over age 45, plus you have to have over $5 million to invest and live on) Europe looks too dangerously close to Russia. I have friends who will head into central and south america. I'd be okay with Canada or Scotland, but Canada can't take us all (and won't). After full consideration I've concluded this is my country, and I will fight (in an underground if necessary)... and I will die fighting (also if necessary).
Being an elder is a big disadvantage for emigrating to most desirable locations. Portugal is popular but might soon be over saturated with Americans, because they put out the Welcome mat. Costa Rica is definitely over saturated with U.S. expats.
My most viable option seems to be as a perpetual tourist in Canada, returning across the border occasionally as required by their law. It won’t be cheap. But at least I prefer cold to heat.
Both my adolescent grandchildren are planning to attend college abroad. And I’ve told both my adult children (with advanced degrees) I’ll finance them to move abroad. Maybe they can establish beach head for Granny.
I actually have a friend here who just sold his house to move to Portugal. So that made me chuckle.
My adult kids don't seem anywhere near my level of concern. Which is a concern to me! They aren't politically active (oh, my heart!). And it's great you and your kids can all get out together if the time comes.
I do see myself "fighting"... nope don't have guns, don't like them or want them, but I'm willing to learn, like those old Ukrainian grannies picking up a gun for the first time.
But I'm not afraid to die (truly, it just seems like part of life). And I'm sure you'd agree that grandchildren (and children, even grown up ones) are worth fighting/dying for.
I just honestly don't see any place on the globe as a true safe haven. Because...
Climate Change. (turns out it's not a Chinese Hoax after all...)
You're right, of course. There is no safe place on earth while human nature (greed for money and power and such) controls it all. And it will continue to disintegrate. I'd go to Canada if I had the money but I don't so I have to stay here too.
I believe we might be needed here more than ever. If the poop truly hits the fan, there will be a lot of people who will need help. We're in it together, Suzanne. 🙏🏽
It’s definitely a conjectural flight of fancy, at this point. Both my adult children are very concerned. My daughter’s husband is a retiring Navy pilot, so they have a lot of options since there seems to be a shortage of pilots world wide. My son is in an interracial marriage, and they are super concerned, but somewhat reluctant to pull up roots, having made a baby and bought a house during the pandemic.
You’re definitely right that the children and grandchildren are worth fighting for, but also putting before myself if fleeing becomes urgent - which is why I’ve offered to finance them.
It’s kind of a dystopian “bucket list” thing for me, really. I want to FEEL what life is like without the background of fearing my fellows, and fearing random gun violence. But it would be a hollow pleasure if the family is still in harm’s way.
Maybe I’m trying to make myself psychologically prepared for the possibility. I truly don’t know if I have the gumption to pull it off. But I want to be ready. And that is so sad. It wasn’t in my mental retirement portfolio.
I know how you're feeling. I have friends my kids' ages who are also in a mixed race marriage. They've scoped out everywhere and decided on Ireland if things go according to the GQP. Another place (if you don't mind the midnight sun) is Sweden. I saw a ton of mixed race couples, both cis and gay. But I imagine winters that far north are pretty dreary, when the sun never goes above the horizon for awhile.
GG, I don't know your situation, but if you live alone it's easy to over-worry. Especially as we age. My friends and I have been discussing that lately. Often.
I think planning for possibilities is useful and helps us regain a feeling of control (that's exactly why Ive researched potential new countries.)
But I still hope and pray (literally) that it won't come to that. It's going to be hard and maybe long, but I have to believe a democratic American republic is still salvageable.
Oh yeah, over thinking is easy to do when the daily news is a fire hose of astonishingly bad changes. In truth, my daily life won’t change at all. It’s the big picture that sucks out your soul; now we need to brace for a ruling that will basically prevent the EPA from regulating pollution in the waterways. It’s like the proverbial frog in the pot over a low flame; we won’t notice for a while. (Although that’s definitely not the case for young women right now.). It’s the disenfranchisement and minority rule, and a general feeling of betrayal, that my sense of justice cannot ignore.
Ireland is appealing! I think Sweden is hard to get into for legal residency - most of the Nordic countries are that way, although they would be my first choice. Paradoxically, I think the long summer days would be harder on me than the short days of winter there. I currently live at a fairly northern latitude (46.2 degrees N) and I’ve found I get so tired in the summer! The birds start singing at about 3:45 a.m.! In the long winter nights, I’m happy to cocoon.
Much will be revealed in November. But one thing that’s irreversible, revealed by Trumpism, is the new knowledge of how hateful so many Americans have become. It’s really creepy!
Anyway, thanks for the chat, Dee Dee! You cheered me up!
I’m actually in a peaceful spot in a very established blue state. I’m just unsure how long that will be protective. Things are moving quite rapidly in a fascist direction. I can’t help thinking of the people who waited too long to leave Nazi Germany, because it was all so unbelievable.
Yes, this Trump era is consuming too much of my soul. For the first time in my life, at age 70, I’m seriously thinking of leaving the country for my own peace of mind, and maybe basic safety. I had let my passport lapse, but it’s being processed now.
Let us know where you'll head. My research on emigrating is convincing me this is still the best place to be. I have kids and grands, and won't leave them. Many nations require huge amounts of money, and have age restrictions (for example, I think New Zealand won't accept anyone over age 45, plus you have to have over $5 million to invest and live on) Europe looks too dangerously close to Russia. I have friends who will head into central and south america. I'd be okay with Canada or Scotland, but Canada can't take us all (and won't). After full consideration I've concluded this is my country, and I will fight (in an underground if necessary)... and I will die fighting (also if necessary).
I admire your determination to stay and fight. That does give me pause.
Being an elder is a big disadvantage for emigrating to most desirable locations. Portugal is popular but might soon be over saturated with Americans, because they put out the Welcome mat. Costa Rica is definitely over saturated with U.S. expats.
My most viable option seems to be as a perpetual tourist in Canada, returning across the border occasionally as required by their law. It won’t be cheap. But at least I prefer cold to heat.
Both my adolescent grandchildren are planning to attend college abroad. And I’ve told both my adult children (with advanced degrees) I’ll finance them to move abroad. Maybe they can establish beach head for Granny.
I actually have a friend here who just sold his house to move to Portugal. So that made me chuckle.
My adult kids don't seem anywhere near my level of concern. Which is a concern to me! They aren't politically active (oh, my heart!). And it's great you and your kids can all get out together if the time comes.
I do see myself "fighting"... nope don't have guns, don't like them or want them, but I'm willing to learn, like those old Ukrainian grannies picking up a gun for the first time.
But I'm not afraid to die (truly, it just seems like part of life). And I'm sure you'd agree that grandchildren (and children, even grown up ones) are worth fighting/dying for.
I just honestly don't see any place on the globe as a true safe haven. Because...
Climate Change. (turns out it's not a Chinese Hoax after all...)
You're right, of course. There is no safe place on earth while human nature (greed for money and power and such) controls it all. And it will continue to disintegrate. I'd go to Canada if I had the money but I don't so I have to stay here too.
I believe we might be needed here more than ever. If the poop truly hits the fan, there will be a lot of people who will need help. We're in it together, Suzanne. 🙏🏽
🙏
It’s definitely a conjectural flight of fancy, at this point. Both my adult children are very concerned. My daughter’s husband is a retiring Navy pilot, so they have a lot of options since there seems to be a shortage of pilots world wide. My son is in an interracial marriage, and they are super concerned, but somewhat reluctant to pull up roots, having made a baby and bought a house during the pandemic.
You’re definitely right that the children and grandchildren are worth fighting for, but also putting before myself if fleeing becomes urgent - which is why I’ve offered to finance them.
It’s kind of a dystopian “bucket list” thing for me, really. I want to FEEL what life is like without the background of fearing my fellows, and fearing random gun violence. But it would be a hollow pleasure if the family is still in harm’s way.
Maybe I’m trying to make myself psychologically prepared for the possibility. I truly don’t know if I have the gumption to pull it off. But I want to be ready. And that is so sad. It wasn’t in my mental retirement portfolio.
I know how you're feeling. I have friends my kids' ages who are also in a mixed race marriage. They've scoped out everywhere and decided on Ireland if things go according to the GQP. Another place (if you don't mind the midnight sun) is Sweden. I saw a ton of mixed race couples, both cis and gay. But I imagine winters that far north are pretty dreary, when the sun never goes above the horizon for awhile.
GG, I don't know your situation, but if you live alone it's easy to over-worry. Especially as we age. My friends and I have been discussing that lately. Often.
I think planning for possibilities is useful and helps us regain a feeling of control (that's exactly why Ive researched potential new countries.)
But I still hope and pray (literally) that it won't come to that. It's going to be hard and maybe long, but I have to believe a democratic American republic is still salvageable.
Oh yeah, over thinking is easy to do when the daily news is a fire hose of astonishingly bad changes. In truth, my daily life won’t change at all. It’s the big picture that sucks out your soul; now we need to brace for a ruling that will basically prevent the EPA from regulating pollution in the waterways. It’s like the proverbial frog in the pot over a low flame; we won’t notice for a while. (Although that’s definitely not the case for young women right now.). It’s the disenfranchisement and minority rule, and a general feeling of betrayal, that my sense of justice cannot ignore.
Ireland is appealing! I think Sweden is hard to get into for legal residency - most of the Nordic countries are that way, although they would be my first choice. Paradoxically, I think the long summer days would be harder on me than the short days of winter there. I currently live at a fairly northern latitude (46.2 degrees N) and I’ve found I get so tired in the summer! The birds start singing at about 3:45 a.m.! In the long winter nights, I’m happy to cocoon.
Much will be revealed in November. But one thing that’s irreversible, revealed by Trumpism, is the new knowledge of how hateful so many Americans have become. It’s really creepy!
Anyway, thanks for the chat, Dee Dee! You cheered me up!
I think we are living similar lives. Im happy to meet you GG.
And yeah. All this trumpy political BS is keeping us from addressing the one truly urgent issue which is Climate Change. We live in interesting times.
Sweet dreams, my friend.
Move to a quiet area of a blue state. Europe is too dangerous right now, Canada too cold.
I’m actually in a peaceful spot in a very established blue state. I’m just unsure how long that will be protective. Things are moving quite rapidly in a fascist direction. I can’t help thinking of the people who waited too long to leave Nazi Germany, because it was all so unbelievable.