Seems to me life in Britain is getting worse by the day – soaring taxes with nothing to show for it, bankrupt NHS, hospitals full of superbugs, education standards plummeting, unaffordable housing, roads clogging up, trains filthy and overcrowded, welfare services unable to cope, crap Olympics logo. On top of all this, global warming means in the long term exponential numbers of migrants will be heading north (ie to Britain) putting everything under even more strain than it is now. How many of us have thought the only long-term answer is to escape and emigrate somewhere nicer? And if you did, where would you go?

I fancy New Zealand myself – low cost of living, beautiful empty spaces, friendly people. Who’s coming?

Las Vegas or Amsterdam

I will, if I sit next you on the plane.

32 hour trip With 22-26 in the air (depending on which way around the world you fly)

Recovered from the Marathon then

Money no object Switzerland is hard to beat

On a budgets The Keys are attractive

Talking to a Dutch friend of mine recently, he explained that the Dutch were the highest taxed people in Europe. 50% tax + all the stealth taxes, so watch out.

For me, Italy I think, though the lingo would be a problemo.

English speaking places like Scotland maybe or even just a change in the way I live, rather than just chasing a dream.

Spain or France for me. Not that far away, I speak French well and Spanish adequately, good golf courses, much better climate, people seem friendlier and there are much fewer chavs.



Web Link re Polaris World Forum:

http://www.polaris-world-forum.org.uk

It would have to be Spain for me but not sure where - I'd like to pop back to England whenever I wanted to and even though I understand very little Spanish at the moment - mmmmm men speaking Spanish.

Is it really that bad? At the risk of sounding like an I'm-all-right-Jack, I really like living here. Sometimes I think the media gets off on telling us how bad everything is - I quite like this article by John Nicholson:

http://www.football365.com/john_nichols ... 34,00.html

If I were to do it and was being adventurous I'd move to the States... probably California.

More realistically I'd love to live in the Med... either Greece or Menorca. Beautiful islands...

Oz for me, went there a couple of yers ago...Great country & I wouldnt want to live in a non english spesking country. I agree with Fancy Dan though, although things arn't great here, there are far worse countries to live in.

Ireland, Canada, USA

As Nicholson acknowledges, his article is itself guilty of the very thing he's complaining of: trashing a part of our culture (in his case, the media, an easy target). Funnily enough, if you ask immigrants/long-term visitors what they most like about Britain they'll often mention the media. Either because where they come from the media is state-controlled, or it's just full of boring reports. Even American newspapers like The Washington Post or USA Today are so dull they're almost unreadable. So I think we have a love-hate relationship with our media. As he says, we are to some extent addicted to it, and part of the package is the bad news that comes with it - human nature being what it is, bad news is nearly always a better story than good news.

South Florida

There's no right answer for everyone of course.
Choosing to build a new life in a different country with a different culture is an immense decision. If you feel that restless urge it can be wonderful, as it has been for me. If you will always be English no matter what, I fear you will always miss what you leave behind too much.
I agree that NZ is a very tempting alternative. A beautiful country with warm, friendly, sporty people. Exactly like the place I'm living in. I've always hit it off with the Kiwis I've met on my travels. Even had a few come to visit. Great company. Both living in an oudoorsy country in the shadow of a dominant neigbour, Canucks and Kiwis connect easily.
Europe is attractive for other reasons. One thing Canada (and NZ and Oz) does not have is the sense of history you find in Europe, in which I include England and Ireland. The oldy worldy buildings, the centuries of great art. Those cultural riches are hugely attractive. But long term I would feel crowded. I'm used to the sense of open space western Canada provides.
In the end a lot of it comes down to family. My kids are too old to come along now and I would like to be close to where they live because they are the biggest thing in my life and always will be. At my age I'd still rather slap on a backpack and walk the dusty roads of the Third World, rather than start life anew in a different country. I could enjoy breaking up each winter with a walk in the mountains of Nepal, a very special place. Or another trip to the great game parks of Africa, or the ancient cities of the Andes. Looks like a short walk in the Hindu Kush is no longer an option, however.
I came to Canada from the US as a 19-year-old and it is the best decision I've ever made. The perfect place for me to build a new life. Canada, not the US, is the true land of opportunity. A place where people actually live the values America was built on when it was still a great nation. I sense the same is true of life Down Under, one of the few places I've never been.
The time to choose another country to live in is when you're young or have a young family. Some people will always be drawn to a land of opportunity such as Canada, NZ or Oz. A young, raw land whose history is still in the making, whose institutions aren't so rigidly set. I can certainly see the attraction of Spain or Italy as well, however.
If I could do it all again I would still have chosen Canada, although Kiwiland would be an excellent second choice for me. If they played hockey that is.

Canada or New Zealand for me but it would take some doing dragging me out of Scotland.

Keep in mind the need to possess skills of which there is a shortage,if considering trying to get into countries outside the EU,and age is also a consideration in some countries e.g forget it if you're over 40(or 44 ?) if thinking about Australia,where if you're a policeman, nurse etc you'll be welcome,but tough otherwise,and I think the same applies to NZ these days.

Few will be allowed to live in the USA for more than 6 months of the year.
Now I understand that even when USA residency is granted,it can still be revoked after 3 years.

I'm not up to date on the current immigration legislation overseas,though I've been to most continents,and considered emigrating to several of them when I was younger.

The point I'm making is that you can't just decide to go and live wherever you fancy,unless you're a renowned brain surgeon,or England footballer, or possess some other such valued skills,such as those mentioned above !

In which case,securing a job offer in advance will greatly assist your application.

Having such skills AND a young family should greatly enhance your prospects.

Alternatively,a few million £/USD in the bank might help otherwise, providing you're prepared to invest it locally.

Kruger Park, South Africa. Wonderful place, wonderful people, wonderful wildlife.

Puerto Banus for me

Seriously tho,... be South Thailand,.. Krabbi area in particular,.. been to Thialand 4 times now and absolutely love it

My mate went out to teach English 4 years ago and he hasnt been back....

If only i hadnt met my wife

There's always divorce, or amnesia........

Cyprus.

Maybe when I retire, or maybe in there fledgling Pharma industry picks up......

Canada Vancouver or Kelowna.

New Zealand - North Island - Mount Manganui

SA would be my third choice - spent 3 weeks there a few years back for my mates wedding over christmas and I kid you not, there's not a week goes by that I don't think about the place.

A few people want to go to NZ including the threads author.

One thing to consider about New Zealand, if you need to, what will you do for work NZ (job) market is very small. Not many people, so not many jobs too. Bearing this in mind, there is not much scope for specialist types, and job descriptions encompass a broad set of skills.

Mala Mala,a private game reserve north of the Kruger is even better - you go through the Kruger Park to get there. I've been fortunate to go there a couple of times,the first being when it was little known,in 1969.

There at the same time in what was a small camp then - I gather that there are several camps there today - were Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin, back on terra firma,following their trip to the moon ! I guess they needed to escape from the human race for a while to contemplate their trip,and was told the holiday was part of their reward from the US Government.

As an emigration choice though,I think the job opportunities might be a bit limited - unless you happen to be an experienced game warden or chef -or witch doctor ?

isle of lesbos

Sheep shearing ? Plenty of sheep - I travelled from North to South once without seeing anything else, though the trip on the Silver Star Express train from Auckland down to Wellington remains a treasured experience.

Mike,you're a Kiwi yourself aren't you ? If so,maybe you can offer advice to anyone seriously contemplating moving out there. I very nearly did so myself some 30 years ago, but whilst I was out there having a good look, one of my parents was taken ill,and I realised how far from home I was.

This is a factor for those with family in the UK to consider - takes so much longer to get back in an emergency, compared with even the USA for instance.

I also noticed even then,and it must be more so today,how NZ's links with the UK had weakened for the new generation compared with my own.
The UK joining the EU had a lot to do with it,and casting adrift our Commonwealth family in the process,in terms of trade etc,for which I'm not sure we've yet been forgiven,as it hit them very hard at the time.

The sons and daughters of my generation felt no special allegiance to UK like their parents and grandparents had always done,and were increasingly looking towards Asia when seeking trade links,rather than UK

I still wouldn't mind living there though,as the way of life there is so tempting to any sportsman,and especially to rugby fans naturally.

But in general,they seemed to work to live,rather than vice versa.

One thing in particular struck me - everyone seemed to have a half built yacht in their back garden,working on it whenever they had time,with a view to selling their house one day, and sailing off to live on their boat from the proceeds and explore the world - or at least,their own country !

As a Welshman, I felt a special affinity with the Kiwis,as NZ seemed so similar in many ways - the rugby,the mountains,and the SHEEP !

Murf would really feel at home there,but would go unnoticed I'm afraid !

It's also quite a few years since I was last in SA, Barry,but I used to go there several times a year for a decade or two,and I lived in J'berg for a while.

The country has changed dramatically in recent years though,from what S African friends still living there,and the many who've emigrated to the UK, Australia and Canada tell me, from what you and I probably recollect so fondly.

Obviously SA's breathtaking natural beauty remains an attraction,but the big problem is the huge increase in crime.

Places that I remember as being totally safe to walk around without a worry, are just too dangerous now, and yet I must admit I still find Cape Town a tempting prospect, despite being aware of the risk of being hijacked even travelling from the airport to the City,if you use a hire car.

Not J'berg though, but that's where the jobs are,unless you're in the tourist business.

I'd only emigrate if I no longer had to work. No point trying to live a good life if you could only get a McJob.

When we went to NZ I did try and figure out a way of affording to stay there but even though life is cheap it ain't that cheap.

Love France now. Beautiful countryside, better weather, less chavs, footie would be on TV at sensible times, easy enough to pop 'home'. The lingo would be a problem but we aren't very sociable so we'd be OK! Got half a plan to 'semi retire' there but still cant quite get the numbers to add up. Maybe after 2 of 3 big FF wins.....