I lived in São Paulo, if you can survive life in a big Brazilian city and not become a victim that translates to life skills that can be useful everywhere.

It’s even more important when you’re older. I live in Portugal own my seaside T3 condo outright. condo fees 170.0 quarterly. Full time housekeeper/ Cook. Fresh Sea bass, Cod. Have not cooked, cleaned done laundry in years. Average 5k spend maybe a little more with a car service or home repair. In the Bay Area I made 140k and felt barely middle class. Too tired to cook after work spent all my money on sushi and sake. My quality of life improved dramatically. No car jacking, car thefts, or swarms of shoplifters where I live. The U.S. no longer thinks there should be consequences for criminal behavior which is only a recipe for norm less ness and anarchy.

My parents were Danish immigrants to the states, we left when I was 3. It’s a pleasant culture shock now when I return. A sense of holding in developmental terms. No need to shout to be heard. In Copenhagen there are more bikes than cars. I lived in San Francisco for years till I moved back to Europe. The 38 Geary Bus was so loud it would shake my windows out near Point Lobos. Why they never bought MAN or Mercedes is beyond me. Americans put up with incredible Noise Pollution.

Sorry to hear about this. I am a Psychoanalyst and coach and have had long term clients in all areas affected by layoffs, even the pharmaceutical industry in Switzerland has been affected by redundancies over the last six months. There is a lot of anxiety in Europe over energy costs, the war, nationalism all affecting economies. Brexit being the example of people voting against their own economic interests.

Well my Comparison to Switzerland in Europe is Portugal. Transferring my U.S. Drivers License in Switzerland was like dealing with Hertz with Gold service. I was in and out in 15 minutes. I received a call at home at 1800. “Mr Hansen I was going over my days work and noticed in the US you had an Ambulance and Motorcycle endorsement. Would you like to continue your unlimited motorcycle endorsement and I have friends on the local volunteer fire department I can introduce you if you like” all in accent-less English.

Going into the DMV in Lisbon resembled more a Rugby scum than a line. The agent wanted me to take a test even though there is a treaty in place. The agent accused me of printing the Swiss abstract off my home computer.

I would describe the difference as the Swiss treated me as if they worked for me and the Portuguese acted like my military drill Sergeant.

My Costco run includes the two pack of Tylenol 1000 about the same price of 40 in Europe, 40 oz Neutrogina rain dance bath wash the same price as 7oz in Europe and one big bottle of Sky Vodka. Alcohol is absurdly expensive in the Nordics, a government monopoly sold in government stores like some conservative states. I paid the equivalent of 26 usd for a vodka Martini in Stockholm. My parents are Danish and the BYOB to parties in the Nordics I thought was kind of cheapish till I priced alcohol.