I’m currently living in Phoenix, Arizona, and I love a lot of things about living here. Some of my closest friends are here, it’s rarely cold, the scenery is beautiful, and there’s never a shortage of things to do. The weather is usually gorgeous and I take advantage of it by mountain biking and hiking on dozens of trails that are just minutes from home. I can drive twenty-five minutes and be on a lake paddleboarding, yet in the winter, a ski resort is just a two-hour drive away. That being said, I think the benefits of leaving the US outweigh those for staying.

Why I Want To Expatriate

Economic Outlook

I steadfastly believe the economic system as we know it is completely unsustainable. With record debts and massive bubbles throughout the economy, the future looks bleak. When the house of cards comes crashing down, it’s doubtful I (or anyone else for that matter) will want to be around.

Entitlement

The feeling of entitlement is a disease that’s spreading like the plague in the US. Record numbers of people are collecting welfare and food stamps. People used to come here seeking freedom and opportunity, now many of them come here looking for handouts instead. Being around people who think they deserve something for nothing is mentally draining. I want to see people with motivation, work ethic, and passion, which I feel is lacking here.

Disassociate from the atrocities of the US government

For years, the US government has had a detestable foreign policy. They go around the world acting like they know what’s best for everyone, and millions have died from their actions, be it sanctions or wars. These people aren’t just numbers either; they were real people, with real families, and real friends, all of whom suffered a tragic loss. I want nothing to do with the government’s abhorrent activities.

Taxes

The US has some of the highest taxes in the world along with an incredibly complex and convoluted 70,000-page tax code. Additionally, every year I spend a week or two sorting through mountains of paperwork to file taxes for my business. It is a total waste of time and resources.

Nationalism

A friend told me he didn’t like Sydney Crosby (professional hockey player). I asked him why and my friend replied: “Because he’s not from the US.” I said Let me get this straight, you don’t like him because he was born on the other side of an arbitrary imaginary line? That is possibly the dumbest reason I have ever heard dislike someone. Similar nationalistic fervor consumes many Americans.

What's next?

The world is a huge place, and I’ve only encountered a small portion of it; I want to explore while I’m still young. To learn new languages, immerse myself in different cultures, and see things from other people’s perspectives. I hope to do things I’ve never done before, see stuff I’ve never seen, and experience things most US residents never will.

After traveling and finding the most enjoyable places, I want to live in a home on the ocean for less than the cost of my apartment in Phoenix. Wake up in the morning, and sit on my patio while a read a book and listen to waves crashing onto the shore. Then head to the market where I buy organic produce from the farmers who harvested them that morning.

Not everything will be “sunshine and roses,” and I will certainly dislike some places I visit. However, you never know what you’ll like until you do it.

Although she wants to travel and explore, my girlfriend @sharingeverybite isn’t fully on the same page. I hope we eventually find a place we both love and can make work. We’re trying to attend Steemfest in Amsterdam, and hopefully, that will be a prelude to many future journeys.