I wanted to seek the group's advice regarding a serious subject that has been on my mind for a very long time.
It's on the subject of moving. Both my spouse and I have wanted to move from where we currently live, Vancouver, BC Canada.
And yes, I am fully aware of the "who you are, that's important, not where you are" concept.
True that no matter where you go it's the lessons that are important. but to me we can all choose how those lessons are presented.
So why do we want to move?
Well, I can't fully talk for my spouse, but I think the major factor for us is the cost of living.
Also, people in Vancouver are cold both in their relations to one another and to their current world. There is elitism here, as the city is very expensive to live in, so decent and hard working people are filtered out financially.
The food here is awful, as we in British Columbia have had the "honor" of being one of the first test communities among north America, to receive massive genetically modified foods and hydroponically created foods. Ya sure, there are organic markets, but the prices are unreasonably high. For example, a dozen truly, normal organic free-range eggs here will cost you about $8-9. Another example is regular organic dirt-grown bell peppers cost $ 4-5 each. And as a hobby farmer that just infuriates me, as I know the actual cost of growing the stuff.
We have some of the highest taxes anywhere in North America, but some of the worst services. Most Americans think in Canada we have good health care, well I can assure you that it may have been in the past but it's no longer true. Average emergency wait time in most hospitals is about 1-3 hours. The public transportation has become a joke, and public education is absolutely crumbling. One of the reasons most local people here hate the Olympics is because its a local fact that so much taxpayer funding went into the thing, and that most of it was diverted from education and infrastructure. Schools are cancelling programs left, right and center, and parents accept them like obedient sheep.
And this is what irks me the most. MOST PEOPLE UNDERSTAND FULLY WHAT'S GOING ON but want absolutely nothing to do with the solution. "whatever", is the usual response. It's not like they are rejecting the ideas as conspiracy, but actually understand and tolerate them. Slowly as the heat increases they keep adjusting to except the new status.
Yes okay I will admit that perhaps I am describing life in north America as a whole, and that's why I want to move. I know the grass is not greener on the other side, but no one can deny the many shades of grass. I think after 20 years living here, and exactly because of "who I am and what I see", I need to move.
The other reason I really want to move away from Vancouver is because of my financial dependency of my family's business (my father). And I want to get away from my parent's micro-management of my life. We've also tried moving to another city, which did not work out. The people were worst, because they were very conservative and close-minded, and might I say... downright racist. I can go on and on about the reasons why, but that's beside the point.
So I want to share possible locations, and would like some objective advice on them.
Barcelona Spain. Very beautiful location, and overall very nice and kind people. I know in general that its difficult to immigrate to Europe, but I don't think it's too difficult if you have some finances and are able to open up a business.
Perhaps a member that is familiar with the area, could shed some light on the cost of living there, and the general quality of food.
My second location choice is Margarita Island in Venezuela. Venezuela has a long and rich history of fighting imperialism and currently the people there under Hugo Chavez seem to be really practicing participatory democracy. I know the cost of living there is very low and moving there is not that difficult.
The last option is actually in the same area, but a totally different country. I speak of Trinidad and Tobago. I don't know much about there except that they are very modern, speak English, and have lots of sun.
Of course, with help, networking, and the approval of the group we want to eventually start a branch of the Fellowship in any place we go. At first maybe start some business that will lead naturally to expanding into a Fellowship branch. Businesses like, book store, internet cafe, alternative healing, and that sort.
As we have already visited Barcelona, and have some idea of what life there would be like, we are in the planning of taking a trip next month to Venezuela and Trinidad. To see firsthand if living at either place would be realistic, and also get a general feel of the areas.
In the end, more than anything I am really tired of the rain and the cold. And from what the C's said in the latest transcript about the airline industry, if there is a place I would like to be "stuck at", I want it to be somewhere that at least I'll be able to grow my own food.
Without the sun that is difficult if not impossible.
Thanks for reading, and I appreciate any advice.
It's on the subject of moving. Both my spouse and I have wanted to move from where we currently live, Vancouver, BC Canada.
And yes, I am fully aware of the "who you are, that's important, not where you are" concept.
True that no matter where you go it's the lessons that are important. but to me we can all choose how those lessons are presented.
So why do we want to move?
Well, I can't fully talk for my spouse, but I think the major factor for us is the cost of living.
Also, people in Vancouver are cold both in their relations to one another and to their current world. There is elitism here, as the city is very expensive to live in, so decent and hard working people are filtered out financially.
The food here is awful, as we in British Columbia have had the "honor" of being one of the first test communities among north America, to receive massive genetically modified foods and hydroponically created foods. Ya sure, there are organic markets, but the prices are unreasonably high. For example, a dozen truly, normal organic free-range eggs here will cost you about $8-9. Another example is regular organic dirt-grown bell peppers cost $ 4-5 each. And as a hobby farmer that just infuriates me, as I know the actual cost of growing the stuff.
We have some of the highest taxes anywhere in North America, but some of the worst services. Most Americans think in Canada we have good health care, well I can assure you that it may have been in the past but it's no longer true. Average emergency wait time in most hospitals is about 1-3 hours. The public transportation has become a joke, and public education is absolutely crumbling. One of the reasons most local people here hate the Olympics is because its a local fact that so much taxpayer funding went into the thing, and that most of it was diverted from education and infrastructure. Schools are cancelling programs left, right and center, and parents accept them like obedient sheep.
And this is what irks me the most. MOST PEOPLE UNDERSTAND FULLY WHAT'S GOING ON but want absolutely nothing to do with the solution. "whatever", is the usual response. It's not like they are rejecting the ideas as conspiracy, but actually understand and tolerate them. Slowly as the heat increases they keep adjusting to except the new status.
Yes okay I will admit that perhaps I am describing life in north America as a whole, and that's why I want to move. I know the grass is not greener on the other side, but no one can deny the many shades of grass. I think after 20 years living here, and exactly because of "who I am and what I see", I need to move.
The other reason I really want to move away from Vancouver is because of my financial dependency of my family's business (my father). And I want to get away from my parent's micro-management of my life. We've also tried moving to another city, which did not work out. The people were worst, because they were very conservative and close-minded, and might I say... downright racist. I can go on and on about the reasons why, but that's beside the point.
So I want to share possible locations, and would like some objective advice on them.
Barcelona Spain. Very beautiful location, and overall very nice and kind people. I know in general that its difficult to immigrate to Europe, but I don't think it's too difficult if you have some finances and are able to open up a business.
Perhaps a member that is familiar with the area, could shed some light on the cost of living there, and the general quality of food.
My second location choice is Margarita Island in Venezuela. Venezuela has a long and rich history of fighting imperialism and currently the people there under Hugo Chavez seem to be really practicing participatory democracy. I know the cost of living there is very low and moving there is not that difficult.
The last option is actually in the same area, but a totally different country. I speak of Trinidad and Tobago. I don't know much about there except that they are very modern, speak English, and have lots of sun.
Of course, with help, networking, and the approval of the group we want to eventually start a branch of the Fellowship in any place we go. At first maybe start some business that will lead naturally to expanding into a Fellowship branch. Businesses like, book store, internet cafe, alternative healing, and that sort.
As we have already visited Barcelona, and have some idea of what life there would be like, we are in the planning of taking a trip next month to Venezuela and Trinidad. To see firsthand if living at either place would be realistic, and also get a general feel of the areas.
In the end, more than anything I am really tired of the rain and the cold. And from what the C's said in the latest transcript about the airline industry, if there is a place I would like to be "stuck at", I want it to be somewhere that at least I'll be able to grow my own food.
Without the sun that is difficult if not impossible.
Thanks for reading, and I appreciate any advice.