We’re headed to Europe. Aiming for early next year.

I’m just going take my family and leave the country. I know that’s not an option for everyone, but it is for us, so we’re choosing that option.

Then you have to be willing to do economics like in Europe and redistribute (the GDP) wealth to basically make everyone middle-class. But Americans are also unwilling to do that. That’s “socialism” or “communism” or whatever label conservatives like to add to it. The US may have a somewhat higher GDP than many European countries, but most Europeans feel much more financially secure than most Americans.

Yes, which is why I do think the foundational trade framework will remain and possibly strengthen. That’s what originally created the EU and ended many of the conflicts.

What I don’t see happening much going forward is countries giving up sovereignty on things like immigration and judicial issues or social and cultural issues. I also think stuff like a banking union and further economic integration are hanging by a thin, thin thread. There are simply too much disagreement and too many differences in how the economies work. It’s not like states within the US at all.

Which is exactly my point. Many Americans don’t feel like the economy is better in their own lives. But, overall, from a macroeconomic perspective, the economy is doing great.

If you look at the average salary, it has kept up or exceeded inflation, but it has taken some time to catch up. But again, it’s the sentiment. If people feel poorer, they are poorer, even if they are not actually poorer.

Maybe they need it, but that may not be happening. Over the past decade, Europe has been moving decisively to the right, just like the US is doing, which means less internal European cooperation and a further move toward sovereign nation states. The EU will maybe be able to maintain the overall trade cooperation among countries, but there’s very little chance of further European integration in other policy areas as it stands. Even the Schengen open-border cooperation is hanging by a thread.

The economy is actually great. Most people just don’t have the brains to understand why when they feel like it isn’t. Sentiment is king.

Apparently, the majority of Americans believe they won back their country yesterday. Looks like Trump is going to win the popular vote. That’s where we are.

FREEDOM!!!

Yes, definitely give everyone treats. Not everyone has the opportunity to dress up for various reasons.

I was once a proponent of cashless societies. Not anymore. Too many vulnerabilities, too many ways for governments to take control of your finances.

Also a very interesting run style.

Sure. As long as he goes, I’ll support it all day long.

I’m sure it makes money and he may not F it up, but that’s not the point. The point is that Elon has turned into the douche of the century along with his butt-buddy Trump.

As with X, I’ll support it as soon as he’s out.

Stop supporting Elon.

Do everything you can to learn the language quickly. Take any language class offer you get. It will make life much easier in a new country, especially if you’re looking to make friends. Immerse yourself in the culture immediately.

Remember that Europeans, especially Scandinavians, are not as openly friendly as Americans. They can seem cold and distant at first. It’s not because they are not friendly, it’s just a cultural feature. Once you get to know them, most open up and they are awesome.

On financials, keep all your bank accounts and credit cards open in the US and use a US address for them (and get a credit card with no foreign transaction fees). Don’t advertise to the US banks that you moved overseas. Just use a family member’s or friend’s address. Also note that European banks don’t have rewards credit cards, so I only use US rewards cards with no foreign transaction fees when living overseas. They’ll send you replacement cards overseas if you ask them to, even when your account address is in the US.

If you don’t already have retirement IRA accounts set up (not just 401k), do it before you leave the US. Also, open a brokerage account (e.g. Schwab or Fidelity) with a US address before you leave and don’t change the address to your overseas address, ever. Leave as is. It can be very hard for Americans to invest because foreign banks are required to report different things to US authorities about customers who are American citizens. They don’t want the bother, so they may not allow you to open an account there. And once you move it will be much harder to open the account in the US. Use a service like Wise to move funds cheaply to your US accounts for investments and paying off credit cards.

Get a cheap eSIM phone subscription with a US phone number for two-step verification abroad. You can use Wifi-calling to connect.

Finally, remember that you are eligible to vote in the US as a US citizen living overseas. You’ll still be registered as a voter in the state and county you moved overseas from. You’ll use your most recent address, and you don’t have to have any attachment to that address any longer. It’s only for voting purposes. If you’re not already registered to vote when you move overseas, you’ll also use your most recent address to register to vote. More information here: https://www.fvap.gov/citizen-voter.

Good luck!

Weird mustache-man is making a comeback.

This stuff is eventually going to be the end of the EU.