If there's one thing that will drive me away from living in this country, it's the pathological

[mnhtnbb]

27. We made the decision to find an 'escape' after Bushie boy took the election in 2004.

Considered a lot of places, but we were nearing retirement. Canada was out for that reason
and so were most European countries (too expensive and no family connections). We looked
seriously at Belize and ended up buying in to a development in Panama (Bocas del Toro area) being
built by Americans. Talk about disaster. The thing turned into a financial nightmare--but eventually
the investors got together to salvage the place. We were very lucky--after going through all
the paperwork and getting our permanent resident visas--to eventually get our money back,
but we had to wait several years. The development has been up and running now for several
years and is beautiful. Bocas has gotten a lot of attention in the last few years.

Last summer--after the Charleston shootings--I told my husband I wanted to go take another
look at Bonaire (off the coast of Venezuela). We have friends who've had a place there for
almost 20 years. Several years ago the relationship between Bonaire and The Netherlands changed,
and it's now possible for Americans to become full time residents. I would move there in a heartbeat
but my husband has vetoed the idea. He doesn't want to give up the features of living in a classic
university town.

We have a friend who moved to Lyon, France two years ago to marry the love of his life. He was
from Kansas City area and had gone to Lyon for a summer ed class to gain credits towards his
Master's in French (he's a teacher) and met his husband to be. After they got married, he was hired as an elementary school
teacher at an International School in Lyon. He's very, very happy.

I have another friend from college who has lived her entire adult life abroad. She and her husband
are teachers. They lived in Japan for many, many years, then went to Georgia (former Soviet Union)
and two years ago relocated to Cairo. They are approaching retirement--but I don't know where
they will retire. I'd be surprised if they come back to the US.

I really think the country is on the brink of what could become disastrous violence. Racism, hatred of immigrants and
Muslims, misogyny, fear and bigotry towards gays...it just feels like the whole thing could blow at any time. It scares
the crap out of me to think there are 360 million--give or take a few--guns in this country and millions of them are in
the hands of people who have no business owning firearms.

The other thing I've considered is that living in Hawaii might not be too bad, either. Still the US but very isolated.