I had a foreboding feeling it was going to get difficult moving around the world.
But something is happening here in the US that isn't being addressed, acknowledged, or even being spoken of in mainstream conversation.
It is getting extremely challenging to move around inside our own country.
Housing is outrageous. I can't find a decent affordable rental anywhere worth living. I have been searching for almost six months. The closest I've come is a studio for $970 a month in Huntsville, Alabama. I suppose moving to Nebraska or Iowa might yield better results but I don't want to get trapped on the plains. If I want to move to an area with excellent medical, things to do, and a mild climate... $3,000 a month for a one-bedroom, a decent one bedroom
Hotels (really crap chains) are charging near $170 a night. Going to recon pleaces before moving costs as much as a once small vacation. Heaven forbid you have a pet, $100 a night.
The electric car thing is a joke. Try driving from Buffalo to Los Angeles. Bring a tent. You will somewhere to rest during charging.
Let's not go into the airline industry... but I am doing so, but briefly. $700 to fly from Grand Rapids, MI to Las Vegas. NV unless you choose to ride in their deluxe cattle car accommodations.
I don't have an answer. But this started around 2021. When I was roaming around the country in 2020 I saw the beginning of it.
At the moment i'm trapped inside a mortgage at 2.15%... my husband died, I don't want to live here anymore... but my choices have narrowed considerably. I'm 68 years old. I can't afford to make mistakes. I still hold out hope I can move to Colombia. But the door is closing.
I have no solutions. But there is a chaos and world order being shifted... and only God knows who will come out on top and be the next superpower. We can blame it on us and Trump... but I believe that this is too narrow a place to blame.
Here's the thing. My issue is that I have no idea how long I'll live. Will I outlive everything save? The last thing I want is to end up on the street inside a tent. This stuff its a real fear, especially for women - and I don't care how much they have saved or are earning.
Wow, Patti, I hadn’t even thought about that. We spend most of our time outside the U.S., so aren’t well versed in what you’re describing. But we’re currently back for six months, and have been amazed at the price of groceries and the cost of eating out.
Eating out is insane. I end up buying fairly high-end food and drink and justify it by saving $200 to go out for dinner, $100 for lunch, and $60 for breakfast! I can go buy a few pounds of Dungeness crab and feel like I'm getting a bargain after perusing restaurant menus!
I just returned from 6 weeks in Thailand and felt no ill will. I did have three Thai people on three different occasions bring up Trump. Usually Thai people mind their own business and aren’t that concerned about the politics of other places. However, they all told me that there is a general feeling of dislike for Trump amongst Thai people and that they fear that he’s trying to take over the whole world. They are paying attention.
Yeah, that’s been our experience as well. As I note in the article, I fear that eventually people might start feeling ill will toward Americans. Understandably so…
I think it is true that the vast majority of people outside the US can distinguish between US policies and its citizens. That has nearly always been my experience.
For me, the problem has been the unpredictability of future air travel, and the reciprocal moves by certain governments who rightly feel insulted by US visa policies. I recently became persona non grata in a country I sought to visit.
That's been true for us too, but I do wonder if views could change it the world economy tanks. And it only takes a small minority of America-haters for travel to become very unpleasant. 🫤
I cancelled plans to visit British Columbia this year because I feared my own government’s policies would make it too difficult to safely return home. We are headed for the modern version of the French Revolution.
Don’t pussy foot around it. Trump has destabilized the world. USA is feeling it and we are wrecking havoc on other nations. This is a sad sad time to be an American.
(Even before the incident at the Embassy here in Oslo occurred — I had just been saying I was happy we had just completed the renewal of my daughter’s passport there so we didn’t have to go during this awful “War” — I was thinking how it might be good to keep my “American-ness” from being too obvious when out and about, even here.)
I get what you're saying. The thought has gone through my mind. But then I feel icky worrying about my luxury of travel and living abroad when the foreign policy is killing people and destroying lives and homes. You know?
I do know and I try to speak up about that. My Facebook feed has been filled with my fury over the destruction of USAID and the lives that has cost, the murder of the little girls in Iran by our bombing, and so forth.
But all of us still have to live our lives and navigate the reality of the impact of our government’s actions on our own lives.
While many do separate a government from its people, the more the US government continues bombing other countries and making hostile statements the more people wonder why the american public elected Trump or fails to stop him. It's not about pocket money anymore when there are innocent victims of US military actions. So yes, it's a dangerous time to be an american abroad.
Thank you so much for updating us. This is such a painful topic. My travel and living has definitely been impacted by these things. Three of my relatives were murdered in Mexico ... cartel gangs were blamed ... no mutual government investigative oversight ... local US investigative reporter determined it was more likely directed by local US law enforcement on the down low in Mexico ... three innocent people, one working for justice, murdered ... so bad local US cops could not be held accountable for other crimes. You never look at governments the same.
Are you sure you are living in Mexico? The dire picture you paint going forward does not match my lived reality of living this winter season in Puerto Vallarta. Yes, it was scary for a few hours, and bad things happened in very targeted ways. The media reporting distorted reality, and you might be stretching it as well. Not a single tourist was harmed, and a day later, locals returned to their lives, and now it's almost as if it never happened. Is there a risk? Yes, for sure, but there is also a high risk of visiting, for example, Minneapolis, or the risk of other mass casualty prospects in the US.
Thanks for the comment, DW, but a couple of things. It feels like you are responding to some things I didn’t say. At no point do I assert that as things stand, living in Puerto Vallarta will be dire going forward. We accurately describe what happened based on local reporting and speaking to friends living there when it happened. I did not rely on reporting from American sources. I don’t think I’m stretching anything at all, but we’re all entitled to our opinions.
But the point of the article isn’t about those events in Mexico. It’s about what the future will be like for travelers all around the world because of the different actions of the U.S.
I appreciate your perspective, and sorry if I come off too direct. Now is an interesting time to highlight why Mexico is a good choice for travel. The government has visibly stepped up security presence, and there are incredible accommodation options at great prices. It's also amazing to experience some areas of Mexico with far fewer crowds. The locals are ready to welcome people warmly. If I've learned anything out of prior times of crisis is that shortly thereafter, there are amazing deals and a fantastic opportunity to connect with locals.
No worries, DW. I understand people in Mexico feel strongly about how the country is perceived. As I note in the article, we have spent almost 2 years in the country and love the country and the people.
I will throw in a note of concern that we do have.
Mexico has a big problem with the cartels. Sadly, it’s almost all because of the U.S., which first buys all of the drugs, then sells weapons to the cartels, and then lectures the Mexican people on “their” cartel problem.
It’s insane.
But during all of our time there, people always said the cartels would never ever touch tourist areas.
As we’ve now seen that isn’t true. And as I note in the article, what if Trump ramps up pressure even more? Or, God forbid, sends in US forces to deal with them.
What might the cartels do then?
FYI, we really want none of this to come to pass as Mexico is a place we are very much considering retiring to.
I had a foreboding feeling it was going to get difficult moving around the world.
But something is happening here in the US that isn't being addressed, acknowledged, or even being spoken of in mainstream conversation.
It is getting extremely challenging to move around inside our own country.
Housing is outrageous. I can't find a decent affordable rental anywhere worth living. I have been searching for almost six months. The closest I've come is a studio for $970 a month in Huntsville, Alabama. I suppose moving to Nebraska or Iowa might yield better results but I don't want to get trapped on the plains. If I want to move to an area with excellent medical, things to do, and a mild climate... $3,000 a month for a one-bedroom, a decent one bedroom
Hotels (really crap chains) are charging near $170 a night. Going to recon pleaces before moving costs as much as a once small vacation. Heaven forbid you have a pet, $100 a night.
The electric car thing is a joke. Try driving from Buffalo to Los Angeles. Bring a tent. You will somewhere to rest during charging.
Let's not go into the airline industry... but I am doing so, but briefly. $700 to fly from Grand Rapids, MI to Las Vegas. NV unless you choose to ride in their deluxe cattle car accommodations.
I don't have an answer. But this started around 2021. When I was roaming around the country in 2020 I saw the beginning of it.
At the moment i'm trapped inside a mortgage at 2.15%... my husband died, I don't want to live here anymore... but my choices have narrowed considerably. I'm 68 years old. I can't afford to make mistakes. I still hold out hope I can move to Colombia. But the door is closing.
I have no solutions. But there is a chaos and world order being shifted... and only God knows who will come out on top and be the next superpower. We can blame it on us and Trump... but I believe that this is too narrow a place to blame.
That is so depressing. Yes, we see it too. It must be really tough on a fixed income.
Here's the thing. My issue is that I have no idea how long I'll live. Will I outlive everything save? The last thing I want is to end up on the street inside a tent. This stuff its a real fear, especially for women - and I don't care how much they have saved or are earning.
I hear you. I really do.
I feel the same way
Wow, Patti, I hadn’t even thought about that. We spend most of our time outside the U.S., so aren’t well versed in what you’re describing. But we’re currently back for six months, and have been amazed at the price of groceries and the cost of eating out.
Eating out is insane. I end up buying fairly high-end food and drink and justify it by saving $200 to go out for dinner, $100 for lunch, and $60 for breakfast! I can go buy a few pounds of Dungeness crab and feel like I'm getting a bargain after perusing restaurant menus!
I just returned from 6 weeks in Thailand and felt no ill will. I did have three Thai people on three different occasions bring up Trump. Usually Thai people mind their own business and aren’t that concerned about the politics of other places. However, they all told me that there is a general feeling of dislike for Trump amongst Thai people and that they fear that he’s trying to take over the whole world. They are paying attention.
Yeah, that’s been our experience as well. As I note in the article, I fear that eventually people might start feeling ill will toward Americans. Understandably so…
The world will cheer when he is buried.
It will. But I also think he's a symptom of a greater problem.
Agree. The fatal problem for the U.S. is his supporters. There is no way to fix the damage they have done and will continue to do.
Definitely.
I think it is true that the vast majority of people outside the US can distinguish between US policies and its citizens. That has nearly always been my experience.
For me, the problem has been the unpredictability of future air travel, and the reciprocal moves by certain governments who rightly feel insulted by US visa policies. I recently became persona non grata in a country I sought to visit.
That's been true for us too, but I do wonder if views could change it the world economy tanks. And it only takes a small minority of America-haters for travel to become very unpleasant. 🫤
Which country was that?
Gabon.
I cancelled plans to visit British Columbia this year because I feared my own government’s policies would make it too difficult to safely return home. We are headed for the modern version of the French Revolution.
Yup, every time we return, we wonder what it’s going to be like. And we are headed for something without a doubt…
Don’t pussy foot around it. Trump has destabilized the world. USA is feeling it and we are wrecking havoc on other nations. This is a sad sad time to be an American.
Yes, he has.
Yup.
Important read!
(Even before the incident at the Embassy here in Oslo occurred — I had just been saying I was happy we had just completed the renewal of my daughter’s passport there so we didn’t have to go during this awful “War” — I was thinking how it might be good to keep my “American-ness” from being too obvious when out and about, even here.)
What a sad commentary that we have to feel this way.
I get what you're saying. The thought has gone through my mind. But then I feel icky worrying about my luxury of travel and living abroad when the foreign policy is killing people and destroying lives and homes. You know?
I do know and I try to speak up about that. My Facebook feed has been filled with my fury over the destruction of USAID and the lives that has cost, the murder of the little girls in Iran by our bombing, and so forth.
But all of us still have to live our lives and navigate the reality of the impact of our government’s actions on our own lives.
It's very true.
While many do separate a government from its people, the more the US government continues bombing other countries and making hostile statements the more people wonder why the american public elected Trump or fails to stop him. It's not about pocket money anymore when there are innocent victims of US military actions. So yes, it's a dangerous time to be an american abroad.
Yup. It’s going to start happening more and more I think.
Thank you so much for updating us. This is such a painful topic. My travel and living has definitely been impacted by these things. Three of my relatives were murdered in Mexico ... cartel gangs were blamed ... no mutual government investigative oversight ... local US investigative reporter determined it was more likely directed by local US law enforcement on the down low in Mexico ... three innocent people, one working for justice, murdered ... so bad local US cops could not be held accountable for other crimes. You never look at governments the same.
Oh man, I'm so very very sorry.
Are you sure you are living in Mexico? The dire picture you paint going forward does not match my lived reality of living this winter season in Puerto Vallarta. Yes, it was scary for a few hours, and bad things happened in very targeted ways. The media reporting distorted reality, and you might be stretching it as well. Not a single tourist was harmed, and a day later, locals returned to their lives, and now it's almost as if it never happened. Is there a risk? Yes, for sure, but there is also a high risk of visiting, for example, Minneapolis, or the risk of other mass casualty prospects in the US.
Thanks for the comment, DW, but a couple of things. It feels like you are responding to some things I didn’t say. At no point do I assert that as things stand, living in Puerto Vallarta will be dire going forward. We accurately describe what happened based on local reporting and speaking to friends living there when it happened. I did not rely on reporting from American sources. I don’t think I’m stretching anything at all, but we’re all entitled to our opinions.
But the point of the article isn’t about those events in Mexico. It’s about what the future will be like for travelers all around the world because of the different actions of the U.S.
I appreciate your perspective, and sorry if I come off too direct. Now is an interesting time to highlight why Mexico is a good choice for travel. The government has visibly stepped up security presence, and there are incredible accommodation options at great prices. It's also amazing to experience some areas of Mexico with far fewer crowds. The locals are ready to welcome people warmly. If I've learned anything out of prior times of crisis is that shortly thereafter, there are amazing deals and a fantastic opportunity to connect with locals.
No worries, DW. I understand people in Mexico feel strongly about how the country is perceived. As I note in the article, we have spent almost 2 years in the country and love the country and the people.
I will throw in a note of concern that we do have.
Mexico has a big problem with the cartels. Sadly, it’s almost all because of the U.S., which first buys all of the drugs, then sells weapons to the cartels, and then lectures the Mexican people on “their” cartel problem.
It’s insane.
But during all of our time there, people always said the cartels would never ever touch tourist areas.
As we’ve now seen that isn’t true. And as I note in the article, what if Trump ramps up pressure even more? Or, God forbid, sends in US forces to deal with them.
What might the cartels do then?
FYI, we really want none of this to come to pass as Mexico is a place we are very much considering retiring to.