Daydreaming of leaving the rat race/moving to Europe

[Anonymous]

I sometimes daydream about moving to Europe, a mid sized city with tons of amenities but without the rat race. Where UMC people live off $7k per month for a family of 4 (or €5k for a couple being a lot of money), top public schools and private schools are €500 per month. Most of all, I wish I could leave behind the competitiveness and one-upmanship. A simpler life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I sometimes daydream about moving to Europe, a mid sized city with tons of amenities but without the rat race. Where UMC people live off $7k per month for a family of 4 (or €5k for a couple being a lot of money), top public schools and private schools are €500 per month. Most of all, I wish I could leave behind the competitiveness and one-upmanship. A simpler life.

At a minimum, move out of D.C. for the sake of your mental health.

[Anonymous]

Well, you could work on making that come true. But keep in mind that you'll always be an outsider.

You could also simply try to live that life here. Nothing requires you to live the rat race here. Downsize your lifestyle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, you could work on making that come true. But keep in mind that you'll always be an outsider.

You could also simply try to live that life here. Nothing requires you to live the rat race here. Downsize your lifestyle.

I feel like I am trapped in this lifestyle until my kids go to college. It’s only a few more years, bittersweet of course because I will miss them a lot. OTOH, I don’t want to yank them out of school when their in HS and firmly rooted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, you could work on making that come true. But keep in mind that you'll always be an outsider.

You could also simply try to live that life here. Nothing requires you to live the rat race here. Downsize your lifestyle.

I feel like I am trapped in this lifestyle until my kids go to college. It’s only a few more years, bittersweet of course because I will miss them a lot. OTOH, I don’t want to yank them out of school when their in HS and firmly rooted.

NP. I hear ya

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, you could work on making that come true. But keep in mind that you'll always be an outsider.

You could also simply try to live that life here. Nothing requires you to live the rat race here. Downsize your lifestyle.

Yup, this. And also even if you’re pretty good at the language, it will always be somewhat tiring to engage in something other than your mother tongue.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, you could work on making that come true. But keep in mind that you'll always be an outsider.

You could also simply try to live that life here. Nothing requires you to live the rat race here. Downsize your lifestyle.

Yup, this. And also even if you’re pretty good at the language, it will always be somewhat tiring to engage in something other than your mother tongue.

I’m an outsider where I live now (Florida).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, you could work on making that come true. But keep in mind that you'll always be an outsider.

You could also simply try to live that life here. Nothing requires you to live the rat race here. Downsize your lifestyle.

Yup, this. And also even if you’re pretty good at the language, it will always be somewhat tiring to engage in something other than your mother tongue.

I’m an outsider where I live now (Florida).

This is a sorta gross comment. Are you really comparing moving to Florida to the struggle of being an immigrant in a foreign land?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I sometimes daydream about moving to Europe, a mid sized city with tons of amenities but without the rat race. Where UMC people live off $7k per month for a family of 4 (or €5k for a couple being a lot of money), top public schools and private schools are €500 per month. Most of all, I wish I could leave behind the competitiveness and one-upmanship. A simpler life.

I don't quite understand this. I live a more hectic life and our expenses are around $7000-$8000 for 3 people. What are you spending on? I could easily downsize and spend less. Maybe $8000 for four people. It doesn't sound like you actually want to downsize and not live the rat race. Just go out to dinner less and buy a smaller place in a less expensive neighborhood. My mortgate is $2000 and food under $1000 Utilities/Insurance another $1000.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I sometimes daydream about moving to Europe, a mid sized city with tons of amenities but without the rat race. Where UMC people live off $7k per month for a family of 4 (or €5k for a couple being a lot of money), top public schools and private schools are €500 per month. Most of all, I wish I could leave behind the competitiveness and one-upmanship. A simpler life.

I don't quite understand this. I live a more hectic life and our expenses are around $7000-$8000 for 3 people. What are you spending on? I could easily downsize and spend less. Maybe $8000 for four people. It doesn't sound like you actually want to downsize and not live the rat race. Just go out to dinner less and buy a smaller place in a less expensive neighborhood. My mortgate is $2000 and food under $1000 Utilities/Insurance another $1000.

Read again. She’s saying she still wants to be rich relative to her peers (“UMC”) but for the peers to make that easier by not engaging in competitiveness or one-upsmanship.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, you could work on making that come true. But keep in mind that you'll always be an outsider.

You could also simply try to live that life here. Nothing requires you to live the rat race here. Downsize your lifestyle.

Yup, this. And also even if you’re pretty good at the language, it will always be somewhat tiring to engage in something other than your mother tongue.

I’m an outsider where I live now (Florida).

This is a sorta gross comment. Are you really comparing moving to Florida to the struggle of being an immigrant in a foreign land?

Not to mention: Florida? Ewwwwww!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I sometimes daydream about moving to Europe, a mid sized city with tons of amenities but without the rat race. Where UMC people live off $7k per month for a family of 4 (or €5k for a couple being a lot of money), top public schools and private schools are €500 per month. Most of all, I wish I could leave behind the competitiveness and one-upmanship. A simpler life.

I don't quite understand this. I live a more hectic life and our expenses are around $7000-$8000 for 3 people. What are you spending on? I could easily downsize and spend less. Maybe $8000 for four people. It doesn't sound like you actually want to downsize and not live the rat race. Just go out to dinner less and buy a smaller place in a less expensive neighborhood. My mortgate is $2000 and food under $1000 Utilities/Insurance another $1000.

Read again. She’s saying she still wants to be rich relative to her peers (“UMC”) but for the peers to make that easier by not engaging in competitiveness or one-upsmanship.

I don’t want to be rich, but I want to have some level of comfort, yes. My PITI is $4200, so with saving for retirement, health insurance etc, a salary of $7k is not enough. Housing is very expensive where I live, it’s not a great house, it’s a ranch, before anyone here calls me spoiled or wasteful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Well, you could work on making that come true. But keep in mind that you'll always be an outsider.

You could also simply try to live that life here. Nothing requires you to live the rat race here. Downsize your lifestyle.

Yup, this. And also even if you’re pretty good at the language, it will always be somewhat tiring to engage in something other than your mother tongue.

I’m an outsider where I live now (Florida).

This is a sorta gross comment. Are you really comparing moving to Florida to the struggle of being an immigrant in a foreign land?

No it’s not gross. You have to fit in where you live - I don’t have friends in Florida where I live, but have very close friends in the city I am daydreaming of. It’s just how it is. If you think this sounds absurd, maybe it is. Maybe my life is totally absurd.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I sometimes daydream about moving to Europe, a mid sized city with tons of amenities but without the rat race. Where UMC people live off $7k per month for a family of 4 (or €5k for a couple being a lot of money), top public schools and private schools are €500 per month. Most of all, I wish I could leave behind the competitiveness and one-upmanship. A simpler life.

Where is this?

I don’t get the impression there is any more or less of a rat race there than here. Depends on where you live but london friends seem just as stressed as NYC friends.

Your problems follow you. You can just as easily live a lifestyle like that here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I sometimes daydream about moving to Europe, a mid sized city with tons of amenities but without the rat race. Where UMC people live off $7k per month for a family of 4 (or €5k for a couple being a lot of money), top public schools and private schools are €500 per month. Most of all, I wish I could leave behind the competitiveness and one-upmanship. A simpler life.

Where is this?

I don’t get the impression there is any more or less of a rat race there than here. Depends on where you live but london friends seem just as stressed as NYC friends.

Your problems follow you. You can just as easily live a lifestyle like that here.

Germany