This is a tough one for me and it’s interesting to look through the list above. I see a lot of people choosing New Zealand and while I like the country, it’s too much like home (a warmer version) and too expensive overall. We go in order to visit our grandkids. I love Canada obviously and I’ve seen a lot of it, as well as some parts of the US, but for me, there’s nothing like spending in time in Europe.
My top choice is a three-way split between the UK, France, and Italy. I love the history and architecture of all three, especially the small villages, the countryside views, the walks, and the food (primarily in France and Italy).
But if I had to pick one, it would be the UK because it has all of the above plus the ease of the language. I can get by in France, even in the smaller places where English is practically non-existent, and it’s fun to try to get along in Italian as well, but the UK is totally non-stressful in that regard. And nothing beats the green countryside views of England.
Fo me it’s Canada … I say I was born in the UK but Made In Canada. I immigrated to Alberta in the 70’s and became a citizen.
@Debbie BC has very similar weather to the UK & Vancouver Island the most temperate weather in Canada. I’ve been fortunate enough to have seen this amazing country from coast to coast. Winter in the prairies can be a challenge, especially driving on and ice rink for half the year but it’s a dry cold and I’ve been colder at 0 degrees in London. it’s close proximity to the States is another draw for me, the one thing it lacks of course is history and I do miss thatched cottages, old pubs, the medieval towns and villages of the UK & Europe, love Italy, we lived in Ravenna for a year, another favourite is Vietnam, we spent a year in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh) …
I’m British and love the UK, it is definitely my favourite country, however Sweden comes as close second, where my son and his family live. I love the wild and plentiful space, they have over there. Not so keen on the prices of everything though!
I spent my childhood traveling back and forth between the UK, Ireland and Canada and feel strongly connected to all three countries. In a way, I feel at home in all three, but am also never quite 100% at home in any of them, even though Canada has been home for the majority of my life now.
It sucks feeling like a tourist even when visiting friends and family (thanks to my accent now sounding much more Canadian!) but that feeling of a magnet pulling me back “home” to the UK has been a mainstay all my life and I often dream of returning to live. I’d also like to hang my hat in the west of Ireland for an extended time but not sure about staying there permanently.
My triple citizenship makes both easy possibilities for me but having a Canadian partner with no UK or EU citizenship makes it tricker - and significantly more expensive!
That’s interesting about the partner. I guess I would have assume that if you are married (making assumptions here I guess), your partner could be with you in whatever country you have citizenship. Obviously I had no clue! And why is it more expensive? Paperwork or having to leave Schengen countries for a period of time or ?
@Kelownagurl I had to sponsor my husband in order for him to get Canadian residency, it took 2 years and the process was onerous, one request was to provide wedding guest list, with photos??? He was also required to provide every address he had lived at for more than 6 months from the age of 18 … included in that time was 15+ years of living all over the world, now that task WAS challenging.
I wish it was that easy! As a Canadian citizen, my partner can visit the UK for up to 6 months but is not entitled to work so we will need to apply for a spouse visa. We’ve been together for 15 years but aren’t married, at this point we’re too lazy to plan a wedding That said we are likely going to pull the trigger in the next year just to make a future spouse visa application easier. You can apply as unmarried partners but it seems to add an extra layer of “no guarantee” to the process.
The spouse visa is expensive, only lasts 30 months - and has no guarantee of approval. You can apply for an extension of up to 5 years (with another hefty fee of course) and after that, the partner is eligible for indefinite leave to remain. I can’t tell you how much I wish we could just pop over for a couple of years to test the waters, this visa process has definitely held us back over the years.
I have not visited the whole world, and I do not believe that I will have time (song by a french singer Michel Fugain: " Je n’aurai pas le temps, pas le temps - De visiter toute l’immensité - D’un si grand univers - Même en cent ans - Je n’aurai pas le temps de tout faire ")
I fell in love with Japan, and I’m waiting for the end of the pandemic to return there. It’s a country that combines modernity and tradition, even if we don’t speak a word of japanese we can get around easily and safely, I traveled alone. The people are very helpful and ready to help. I also really liked Madeira, for its flowers, its lush landscapes …; another small island, Malta; the United States for their diversity ; UK for its castles and gardens; Italy for its cultural richness and la dolce vita and of course France, my prefered.
There are always interesting places to visit everywhere.
It’s a state of mind, to love to leave, to discover and to think that the next trip will be even better than the previous ones. In fact, I want to go everywhere
Wow, I’m pretty unaware of any of this process as well. Glad I married a fellow Canadian (although he was born in Denmark!) - keeps things a bit simpler.
Yes, although I’m not sure exactly of that process yet. I think once you have indefinite leave to remain and have lived in the UK for a certain period of time you can apply for citizenship (and keep Canadian).
Yes, Lindsay - you’re right. 33 months on the first spousal visa; extension to 5 years; then ILR; then citizenship. We’re planning to settle in the UK next autumn and have started to research all the in’s and out’s.
And both Canada and UK allow dual citizenship.
Hola! Nosotros somos argentinos y vivimos en la Patagonia desde hace 31 años. La Argentina es un país con una gran diversidad de paisajes, muy extenso y una pasión para nosotros.
Conocemos algo de Uruguay, Brasil, Paraguay, Chile, Perú, Cuba y República Dominicana… países de América.
Hace unos años pudimos recorrer Italia y España. Esta última es la tierra de nuestras madres y nos maravilló !
Nuestros países favoritos son Argentina y España.
Nos gustaría vivir en España porque nos gusta y porque vive uno de nuestros hijos. Se podría hacer realidad ya que tenemos la doble ciudadanía.
Hi! We are Argentines and have lived in Patagonia for 31 years. Argentina is a country with a great diversity of landscapes, very extensive and a passion for us.
We know something about Uruguay, Brazil, Paraguay, Chile, Peru, Cuba and the Dominican Republic… countries of America.
A few years ago we were able to tour Italy and Spain. The latter is the land of our mothers and we were amazed!
Our favorite countries are Argentina and Spain.
We would like to live in Spain because we like it and because one of our children lives. It could become a reality since we have dual citizenship.
@KelaHugo Hola y bienvenido a nuestro foro comunitario, gracias por acompañarnos desde la Patagonia … Qué afortunado eres de vivir en un país tan increíble, gracias por compartir su belleza.
¿Cómo se comparan Italia y España con su país de origen y a cuál regresaría si tuviera la oportunidad?
Viajar es el mejor educador y aquellos de nosotros que tenemos la suerte de experimentar diferentes partes del mundo podemos compartir nuestras experiencias con los demás y enriquecer sus vidas también.
Gracias por traer el suyo a nuestra comunidad, disfrute de estar aquí y conectarse con nuestros miembros de todo el mundo.
@Angela_L gracias por darnos la bienvenida.
Italia y España nos hacen recordar a Argentina … muchos de sus sabores, comidas, costumbres, formas de hablar son como las argentinas, ya que llegaron inmigrantes de a miles debido a las guerras en Europa.
Con España nos sucede que es más fácil comunicarnos ya que hablamos el mismo idioma.
En breve estaremos por allí durante unos meses.
Hola Provence !
Gracias por escribirme.
Nosotros también somos jubilados y entiendo tu necesidad. Quizás puedan cumplir su sueño.
Nos mantenemos comunicados.
Atentamente
Kela y Hugo
Hello Provence! Thank you for writing to me, we are also retirees and I understand your need. Maybe they can fulfill their dream. We keep in touch. Sincerely.
My heart has fallen in love with South Africa - the wild part! These pics are the reason why
I was born in UK, mum and grandmother were Canadian and I am now Australian. Currently in Norway, moving to Aberdeen Scotland in August until mid next year when I hope we can get back to our 4x4 with a tent on top, in storage in Johannesburg. We spent most of 2020 in lockdown housesitting in South Africa.
I too love South Africa and would return in a heartbeat, what utterly stunning photos, thank you for making our day just a little bit more animal mad and sharing the raw and wild beauty of S Africa, also taking us on a world trip with your family heritage and the next few stops of your journey …
That said we are likely going to pull the trigger in the next year just to make a future spouse visa application easier. You can apply as unmarried partners but it seems to add an extra layer of “no guarantee” to the process.
