If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?

I absolutely loved NZ when we visited. We have relatives there and stayed with them for some of the time and travelled independently, too. To be honest, we didn’t find it expensive (compared to prices here in the UK), but I’ve no idea what wages were/are like there, so perhaps living there is expensive, but as a tourist, didn’t find it so. (Of course, it was a few years ago now, so perhaps that might play a part).

I’m not sure what the OP means by “restrictive”? We didn’t find that to be the case, overall, but certainly it was different - the pace was generally slower than in the UK, and the opening hours for restaurants differed (closing earlier in the evening than we were accustomed to, for example). A beautiful country (both North and South Island), but could I live there? Probably not, because, as I say, it was a lot slower and places shut early, which we are no longer accustomed to here.

I would like to be some where quiet but near the sea, love the sound of the waves hitting shore. Where I live now- cheshire- was so pretty with lots of pasture, farms and beautiful houses but now its all gone, loads of empty new houses and congested roads. The wildlife has gone, no trees for the owls or pipistrel bats and soon no room for an old un like me.

pollynana

Kate 1949 I too love Venice, only went once but would have dearly loved to have gone again and again. My husband has also said NO to another visit because he was ill there. I can meet you at the airport and we could go together!! 🤣🤣🤣😉😉

We visited Venice twice in the 1990s, second time it was in a heatwave and very crowded, visitor numbers have increased since then. If you do venture there may I suggest February might be good.

Kate 1949 I too love Venice, only went once but would have dearly loved to have gone again and again. My husband has also said NO to another visit because he was ill there. I can meet you at the airport and we could go together!! 🤣🤣🤣😉😉

My choice would be exactly where I live now, Conwy, Cymru.

windmill1

Somewhere in the Outer Hebrides.

It's probably one of the last places on earth to be infested by E-scooters.

Think of the cold and the rain and dark days😲

Mt61

Oreo

Def here in England, but would find a quiet small town in maybe Dorset to move to when we retire.Having said that, Mum and my girls and DGC are all local to where I live now so would be hard to leave at all.In the end people matter more than places.

Is that near Bournemouth?

Fairly near, I was thinking of Christchurch but you can get to Bournemouth easily from there.😃

new zealand, holidayed there and loved it, but closer to home it would be northumberland, my dad was from there and he and my mum always said they would retire there, but unfortunately mum died aged 48

Somewhere in the Outer Hebrides.

It's probably one of the last places on earth to be infested by E-scooters.

My NZ cousin was a physio and regularly used to spend months on end working in NHS hospitals in the UK to gain more experience.
His daughter is a teacher in Hong Kong.
For some reason, NZ doesn't always have enough for some people there.

I used to think NZ, but friends who emigrated there, and who sing its praises also mention the things highlighted in justwokeup’s post.
Being seriously affected by the earthquake in 2011 would have brought them back to the UK, except they couldn’t afford it.
I thought it was lovely . . . for a visit, but I like where we live.

I love New Zealand -it's really beautiful .
I have friends there .
If money were no object then Hawa'ii .
It's incredible and the beaches are breathtaking .
Failing that I think Bali - again very beautiful and I love the gentleness of the people .

Interesting choices- one man’s meat is another man’s poison as they say ! A lot depends on who you are friends with and where your family is I think.

i would never leave scotland, i have never been abroad and i know there is amazing places but scotland has always been home.

silverlining48 you are right about people leaving NZ. A relative has lived there for some years and left last year as their concerns grew about biker gangs, alarmingly high rates of child abuse, too expensive to live there, not having a decent place to eat out within a few hours drive, high import duties on anything they have to bring in including fresh food, and blanket poison bombs being dropped to get rid of vermin. You never would guess unless you lived there. Dorset for me!

We lived in Holland for a few years when the children were small. Nice country and people but I wouldn’t live there forever.

We have gone to Turkey for a holiday 4 years running and I absolutely love it. I think I would be very happy to live there the people are wonderful.

David49

“But ‘restrictive in activity’ from someone who doesn’t or I suspect has never lived here, takes some swallowing.”

I’ve friends living there and I have visited, a lot the variety we take for granted in Europe simply is not available in NZ, whether business, cultural or employment the choices are not there.
There is a very good reason why so many Kiwis live in other places

You don’t come to New Zealand expecting another Europe. We are different. Yes a lot of NZers live in other counties they have migrated. Didn’t the British, the Dutch, the Irish, and many other nationalities migrate? Are we perfect of course not, is anywhere?

‘Restricted’ - rubbish. If you are coming to NZ, expecting Europe, you are going to be disappointed.

Oreo

Def here in England, but would find a quiet small town in maybe Dorset to move to when we retire.Having said that, Mum and my girls and DGC are all local to where I live now so would be hard to leave at all.In the end people matter more than places.

Is that near Bournemouth?

The English Lake District

I agree Orly, seemed much safer, us kids could play out, without our parents worrying so much. I wouldn’t want to be growing up into days world tbh.

Right here - I live in a beautiful county, close to London, and although realistic about the problems the UK has, I can't see a better place to live.

Here! Anywhere as long as I have my health!

TanaMa - Sounds perfect

If I could choose it would be a little village called Zone, near Lake Iseo in Northern Italy. I love the place and the people.

Orrell or Billinge.