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Which would you choose?

(63 Posts)
nanna8 Tue 14-Apr-26 09:05:11

If you could choose a country to live in, other than the one where you live now, which country would it be ?
I was thinking New Zealand or maybe Canada but I think Canada is a bit cold in Winter for me so New Zealand would be the one. Bay of Islands, perhaps, because they get the good weather.

B9exchange Tue 14-Apr-26 09:08:58

I agree probably New Zealand, it is so beautiful, and on the whole sensible, although very expensive!

ferry23 Tue 14-Apr-26 09:10:05

Canada, but because my best friend of 60 years lives there. It's a beautiful country, but you're right nanna winter can be brutal.

So we'd snowbird it down to Florida or Arizona for those nasty months. Best of both worlds.

Chocolatelovinggran Tue 14-Apr-26 09:14:31

I have family in Norway. It is a beautiful country with an appealing system of government, but, sadly, far too blooming cold .

Oreo Tue 14-Apr-26 09:16:21

New Zealand without a doubt and I wish our whole family had gone there many years ago when we had the chance.

J52 Tue 14-Apr-26 09:29:38

Canada for me. We’ve travelled across the country on different holidays. It’s quite spectacular, with so much history, we’ve always found the Canadians very friendly.
We haven’t been to the Canadian Sheilds area, a bit cold perhaps.

Casdon Tue 14-Apr-26 09:33:05

Italy. They really live, I love the weather, the art and history, the food, the lifestyle, the chaos, and the people.

Magenta8 Tue 14-Apr-26 09:40:24

I would choose the Republic of Ireland as I have family connections there and it would be handy if I wanted to pop back to Britain for any reason.

New Zealand has its attractions too. One of my grandfathers was born and grew up there so I have family there too.

LizzieDrip Tue 14-Apr-26 09:55:01

I’m with Italy too Casdon🍕🇮🇹🍷

Kate1949 Tue 14-Apr-26 10:37:32

Italy is my favourite but having just returned from Seville I would choose there. We have been a few times now. I love the culture, the lifestyle, people eating out day and night, lovely people.

Cossy Tue 14-Apr-26 10:39:01

Canada with winter in the Caribbean!

TerriBull Tue 14-Apr-26 11:08:30

Having been to both Canada and Australia, too cold and too hot! So I'd opt for the more temperate NZ although we haven't been there, we do have friends in Auckland and from their many communications and pictures, both North and South Islands look wonderful. We regret never having visited, it was on our list, but it's sooooooooooo far away and a killer of a plane journey. Our friends miss aspects of Europe though and I think I would too, particularly Italy, France and Spain, various areas in those three would appeal as places to live too, I have cousins in France, one very near Aix- en -Provence so I could always land myself on him grin

nanna8 Tue 14-Apr-26 11:14:43

Yes the downside of living over our side of the world is that it is so very far from wonderful Europe ! As you get older you just don’t want to travel that far. On the other hand you do have the South Pacific and all those places to visit like Fiji, Vanuatu, and SE Asia which are reasonably close.

GrannyGravy13 Tue 14-Apr-26 11:15:19

Having spent time in Australia, as much as I adore Victoria and particularly the Melbourne suburbs, I had a feeling of being so far away.

It would have to be Spain for me, close enough to the beach, but not too close to the tourist trails

M0nica Tue 14-Apr-26 11:24:44

France, Normandy in particular. We had a holiday home there for over 30 years. Our son goes to Normandy and Brittany regulalry where he does research and has contacts in Caen university He also speaks French well and out 18 yearold DGD is totally enamoured of the country. Although, obviously, she prefers Paris, but since we sold the house she has missed her annual visit to Christian Dior Museum.

Normandy is an area we know well, we know and understand the culture and the language. It has wonderful beaches and awonderful local cuisine. Of course, it is also so easy to come back to the UK to visit friends and family.

Jane43 Tue 14-Apr-26 11:29:12

Canada, but on Vancouver Island which is not cold at all and very beautiful.

Rocketstop2 Tue 14-Apr-26 11:31:37

Casdon

Italy. They really live, I love the weather, the art and history, the food, the lifestyle, the chaos, and the people.

Yes , me too. if I had to be nearer than that it would probably be Ireland.

Chocolatelovinggran Tue 14-Apr-26 14:18:25

Italy would be good - I am one quarter Italian, and share Kate's affection for Seville.

Maggiemaybe Tue 14-Apr-26 14:45:03

I wouldn’t want to live abroad again but if I had to choose it would definitely be somewhere in Europe, probably Italy.

lixy Tue 14-Apr-26 14:54:20

The Netherlands please for me. I just love the open air way of life and the practical nature of the country. We have family there too.

If not there then what used to be East Germany. Much more space than the old West Germany, and a great cuisine based on fresh, local foods. We visit whenever we can.

Curlywhirly Tue 14-Apr-26 15:04:06

I'm half Italian, so no surprise that I'd choose Italy! I do sometimes feel more at home there than here in England - I'm small, olive skinned, with brown eyes and hair (well it was brown, now dyed much lighter to disguise the grey 🙄) and I can be quite animated, so I fit right in! I think I could be quite happy in Spain too, but I don't have a good command of the language, whereas I do speak some Italian, (but sadly am not fluent, but get by fine).

aonk Tue 14-Apr-26 15:13:50

You may think I’m mad. I love to travel but will never live anywhere outside the UK especially England. It’s the country my grandfather and father fought for and has my loyalty.

Fallingstar Tue 14-Apr-26 15:20:03

I would love to live in the highlands of Scotland but the weather is not great. So would have to be Andalusia in Spain.

adrisco Tue 14-Apr-26 18:06:16

Definitely New Zealand. Beautiful country.

Romola Tue 14-Apr-26 18:19:39

Switzerland, but only if I'd won the lottery because (a) they accept only the very rich as immigrants (b) it's super-expensive to live there anyway.
But it is rather heavenly and you can get to all parts of wonderful Europe so easily.