Moving to somewhere else

[Euro-commuter]

Never been there but how about Gibraltar or Malta ?

Possible. Gib a bit claustrophobic. How about Madeira (M'dear)?

[Cowboy Bob]

Apart from the links to the EU, certain parts of the Carribean would fit your criteria.

[Euro-commuter]

Curious as to what your nearest fit is?

BTW Nowhere is my answer. Unless you count some parts of spain, then again I'd consider those bits my version of living hell.

I had in mind parts of Holland. Fails cost of living but otherwise congenial.

I had thought of parts of Spain, or Portugal, but I don't want to put low cost first. Contrary to what DA probably thinks, I'm not looking to parachute into somewhere whose only attraction for me is low prices. And while I'm no stay-at-home, my wandering days are over and I'm looking for serious places to live: no bush country where living is cheap but hell.

Given that I can choose quite widely where to live (and do not want to live where I grew up, thanks), I want to look at it. To be a shade pretentious, I want more to see the questions better, than to find the answer.

[Euro-commuter]

Apart from the links to the EU, certain parts of the Carribean would fit your criteria.

Which parts would let me live there? The French DOM-TOMs perhaps? Are there bug-free islands?

Note to all: this is doing what I wanted, getting a discussion going and drawing out a diverse selection of contributions.

[DimPrawn]

Cyprus has very low taxes, in EU, 4.5 hrs flight to UK, cheap(ish) flights, speaks English and Greek, drives on the left, sunny (bit hot in mid summer), good infrastructure, strong expat community, low crime, plenty of space, good culture, food and drink is cheap, can smoke where you like.

Proper mans country.

[DimPrawn]

I had in mind parts of Holland. Fails cost of living but otherwise congenial.

I had thought of parts of Spain, or Portugal, but I don't want to put low cost first. Contrary to what DA probably thinks, I'm not looking to parachute into somewhere whose only attraction for me is low prices. And while I'm no stay-at-home, my wandering days are over and I'm looking for serious places to live: no bush country where living is cheap but hell.

Given that I can choose quite widely where to live (and do not want to live where I grew up, thanks), I want to look at it. To be a shade pretentious, I want more to see the questions better, than to find the answer.

Isle of Man
Ireland
Wales

Where do you live now?

[DimPrawn]

Here's what I want:

Low amount of violence and crime (UK - stay away from cities and move to a rural community)
A bit of space and pleasant scenery. (UK - rural community)
Lower cost of living (i.e. not looking to be an expat in the 3rd world, just want to get away from overpriced tiny cramped accommodation). (UK - parts of rural England, Wales and Scotland).
More or less temperate climate (no 6-month -30 winters, not constant sunshine and melting temperatures) (UK)
No bugs. That counts out NW Scotland BTW. (Most of UK, although bugs exist everywhere except the poles).
English-speaking. (Some of the UK except multicultural cities)
Either smoking allowed in bars, or plenty of outdoor bug-free possibilities in a comfortable climate. (Smoke and home, smoke outside pub).
Somewhere I can go and live despite being over 55 years old. (skilled worker visa limit for Aus 45, NZ 55). (UK)
Somewhere with either work available, or good cheap air links to EU. (UK)

Does anyone have better research that I do? I can't find anywhere that fits even that short list, never mind the longer one. I do have a "nearest fit", that gets all but two, one of which is cost of living. But the smoking will probably go from all of the EU soon. That just means never going out, as we now don't in the UK.

You are already in or close to your dream country.

[Euro-commuter]

Isle of Man
Ireland
Wales

Where do you live now?

Southern England.

What about the smoking? It may sound trivial but it isn't. I don't smoke but my partner does. So in a non-smoking place like Scotland, and now England, the consequence is not a bit of inconvenience, it is that we never go out eating or drinking. Never. Because it just wouldn't be enjoyable.

[alreadypacked]

Sounds like Zurich to me.
pleasant scenery done.
Lower cost of living: no, but higher wages to cover it.
Not many bugs, Swiss even have special equipment to clean the litter bins.
Most of the tobacco companies have their HQ in Switzerland so you don't have to pay higher health insurance if you smoke.
Best hospitals I've ever been in, they ask you when you would like to come in. To them a ward is two beds. At 55 that's important.

Good luck

[DimPrawn]

Southern England.

What about the smoking? It may sound trivial but it isn't. I don't smoke but my partner does. So in a non-smoking place like Scotland, and now England, the consequence is not a bit of inconvenience, it is that we never go out eating or drinking. Never. Because it just wouldn't be enjoyable.

FFS, you are going to have to compromise.

You want cheap, nice climate, freedoms, low taxes, employment, cheap cost of living, scenery, space.

Anywhere that is nice, with good employment, cheap air links to UK, is going to be expensive.

Anywhere that is dirt cheap is going to be 3rd world or somewhere only the retired can live in (no jobs).

Smoking is going to be banned in most of EU over the next few years.

Tell the wife to give up before the cancer sticks finish her off.