Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depends on where in Italy you are and what makes you happy but yes, it's very close to perfect for me

All the talk about taxes is BS. Between my property tax, insurance, healthcare, state and fed taxes and tuition for K-12 public school for my 2 kids, no way I am I saving money on the tax from living in US. I do not believe people truly understand the definition of value.

Expensive things are not unreasonable providing ROI. Nobody complains if they spend money on an expensive vacation or dinner if it's worthwhile. Paying tons of money upfront so you don't worry about paying more money in 10 increments is not paying more - you really need to analyze ROI.

Your tax dollars support a functioning (for now!) and leading economy that allows you to hold a high earning job. Wages are much, much higher here in the US and there are reasons why. Go do some research on what salaries look like in even Northern European countries. Of course you need paid parental leave for a year when you’re an engineer who earns 60k at 44 years old.

Anonymous wrote:Good god no.

Over 20% of Italians face food insecurity.
The population is aging.
The bureaucracy is insane and complicated.
Corrupt politics.
Violence against women and girls
Discrimination

It's very difficult to change the status into which you were born.

Just..no. Stop romanticizing it based on your experience in vacation.

Anonymous wrote:I mean, you’re there on vacation. You’re not working, commuting, managing health care, paying bills, voting in elections, etc.

I love visiting St John but I think if I lived there I’d lose my mind from boredom for example.

Never judge how good or bad a place would be to live when you only go there on vacation!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Everytime I visit I am in awe and get depressed going back to the US.

Same goes for when I travel elsewhere in Europe like Spain and Portugal. The food, weather, beautiful people, work-life balance, cost of living.

The cost of living is low because the salaries are low. The average salary in Italy is 1200€/month for a professional with experience. My friend is a teacher and hasn’t had a raise in 19 years.

I’ll take any Weatern European country over the US, but all the countries have their own issues. You just need to pick the issues as they align with your must/nice to haves.

The US is highly individualist and it’s very hard for most of them to be happy in more collectivist societies. There are a lot of sacrifices to be made in the name of the well-being of the group.

Anonymous wrote:You are on vacation, not living there. But, yes, it is close to perfect. Clothes are better, food is better, sitting in a cafe having a glass of wine is a thing.
Now imagine being a nonna cooking Sunday dinners for your closest 20. She loves it, too. That is the difference; they love having a lot of people there and enjoy cooking.
However, if you live there, then it's also day-to-day work, cooking, and I think women are exhausted there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A friend moved their for her husbands job a few years ago. She couldn’t wait to move back home. She was treated like an outsider, it was far too religious for her, she hated the inefficiency, found it deeply isolating and more. She still likes being a tourist in Italy but would never live there again.

Typical American.

Anonymous wrote:I did not want to leave Portugal and was planning to fake my death to stay. I had major depression following my return to work and family life.