Thread Drift

[snapdragen]

I'm with you. I told some friends that if it were not for my mom, I'd be packing my bags.

Well I honestly believe none of this matters today. For the first time in my life I am truly ashamed to be an American. I am literally sick to my stomach thinking about the future.

[Pax]

We discussed Canada again last night, we wanted to go several years ago but we having a hard time finding jobs there. But we keep running into that wall, without jobs it's almost impossible for us to immigrate now, we are too old and we don't have enough money to compensate for our age. I understand that, they don't want a bunch of us 50+ year old people moving up and using their healthcare... but sure wish it was an option.

[Pax]

Have you ever checked into New Zealand?

Too far from what little family we have, and from what I've read, even tougher requirements. The key to places with Universal Healthcare seems to be, do it before you hit 50, or be sure a local company there employs you, or have a skill that is in high demand, or finally, have a lot of money in the bank.

[smilingcat]

One of my German co-worker (naturalized American), just to have some fun with his relative in Germany asked if he could apply for refugee status and emigrate to Germany. One of his relative worked in the German government. Reply was USA was not listed as one of the countries where refugee status was given. If you are given a refugee status, I think they'll pay you two years of living expense, a school to attend so that you can learn German and integrate into their society. But their are lot of animosity toward immigrants some have gotten to be rather violent.

Places where I would like to relocate would be most of the northern European countries, Denmark, Netherland, Norway, Sweden (they are also having lots of trouble with immigrants so much so that Swedes are emigrating out). Other places are Pyrenees, because its so pretty or Alsace, is it French or German??

Maybe we could apply for political asylum if you are gay. Pence is vehemently against the gays...

[lph]

I'm half-way between wanting to move (Caliexit? Norway?) (...)
I'm working on a masters of renewable energy.

Sounds like you're all set up to come work with me :-) This is what I do. In honesty though, I don't think it's particularly easy getting a work permit here, and last time we had an opening we were swamped with applications. Still, renewable is just going to get bigger and bigger as our oil production tanks.

I've been thinking about this whole "what just happened"-thing. The general impression here, in the media and among everybody I talk to, has been that there was no way he could possibly win. I've been more sceptical, not that I knew it was going to happen, but I had a bad feeling about the whole situation and wasn't able to joke about it. In general I've been getting more aware about how much I live in a bubble, surrounded by people and opinions I agree with, and how vulnerable that actually makes us.

For instance, social media: on FB I see no pro-Trump comments, not surprisingly, because my feed is basically my friends and family that I like and choose to keep in touch with. On Twitter, pretty much the same. But I noticed that even on Instagram, where I follow quite a few people who are total strangers to me, but post photos I like, often climbing, skiing, mountaineering or just attractive nature photos. Or just humor accounts. But every single one of these ALSO posted "OMG, what just happened, it's a disaster"-photos right after the election. That is actually pretty strange. It may reflect that Trump supporters in general are less active on Instagram, or that my so-called "neutral" interests actually are dominated by people with similar political views.

But no matter the reason, the end result is that every day I go onto the computer, surf around, and feel I've got an idea of what's happening in the world. I haven't. I've got an idea of what's happening in MY side of the world, and hardly any impression at all of how people who disagree with me view the world. I'm in a bubble or an echo chamber, just like I like to complain about the far right being.

Last time I reflected over this I made a conscious choice to follow some people and accounts on Twitter I really dislike and disagree with. It sounds trivial, but in fact it's surprisingly infuriating, to read very strong opinions that go against everything you believe. I will be doing more of this now. It's the only way I can get a small reality check. And I regularly try to join the open debates on the news media, because the first comments often set the tone of how things are discussed. Maybe every now and then I can change somebody's mind, or they can make me see flaws in my own reasoning. If at all possible, it's much better to "win" by making people want to join you, not by shaming and bludgeoning down the opposition.

Anyway. This is the inside of my head right now. Thanks for reading. I wish you all the best :-)

[Crankin]

This is tounge in cheek, but I thought some of you might like this article on the subject of moving.
It kind of echoes how I feel.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle...low%3Afacebook

[Catrin]

This is tounge in cheek, but I thought some of you might like this article on the subject of moving.
It kind of echoes how I feel.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle...low%3Afacebook

Fun! The winter would certainly compare with much of Canada Seriously one of the things I enjoyed about Vancouver (BC, not Washington), was the very moderate winter. Similar to Seattle, of course it changes quickly before you get very far inland.

[emily_in_nc]

This is tounge in cheek, but I thought some of you might like this article on the subject of moving.
It kind of echoes how I feel.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle...low%3Afacebook

I enjoyed that -- thanks, Crankin! Wish DH and I enjoyed cold weather more. I actually lived in Mass. the first four years of my life. My dad went to grad school at MIT. I love that part of the country (and the people there).

[Pax]

This is tounge in cheek, but I thought some of you might like this article on the subject of moving.
It kind of echoes how I feel.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle...low%3Afacebook

It's pretty tempting. I was born on the Cape and have loads of Family in Boston, Melrose, Medford, etc. Not people I know well, but there's a couple of hundred of them.