Then I have good news for you: for not that much effort, you can move to Europe. Several cities here are bike friendly and becoming more so every week.
As an American honestly considering this because I hate the car-dependent lifestyle… any advice on where to start? I’m OK with lower compensation. I suspect I have the savings to purchase a home or at least rent for a year. I speak… modest french, and I’m willing to learn another language.
Emigration seems tough without a company sponsoring you, though.
If you're able to work as a freelancer, consider looking into the Dutch-American Friendship Treaty (DAFT). Basically, you start a company in the Netherlands with €4500 set aside for it, and you get residency for two years. You can continue renewing the visa every two years as long as your business isn't dormant. This is how my wife and I moved to the Netherlands last year. The main catch is that you legally will not be allowed to be a full-time employee anywhere, so any money you make has to come through your business. You can have a full-on "BV" where you pay yourself a salary, which comes with nice tax benefits, but it's more complex to set up than the "eenmanszaak," which basically just means you're a freelancer. Alternatively, you could just get a job at a company with an office over here. However, your residency will of course be contingent on your employment. Many companies here don't require that you speak Dutch since virtually everyone in the country is fluent in English, and much business is conducted in English.
My understanding is that Portugal is another easy place to move to. However, it's a bit more difficult. I don't know the specifics, but I think you need to buy property valued at €200k or higher or something. It's cheaper than the Netherlands, but English is less spoken, and my understanding is that there's a huge influx of immigrants (especially American) which are driving up the cost of living for locals.
If you have money for a house the look into countries that incentivize investment immigration. Some of them might even consider real estate for that purpose. And once you get through the door aren’t EU open border anyways?
I would expect suggesting possible immigration/leaving extended family/taking a massive pay cut over improving ones home would be a preposterous response! I suspect you know its preposterous but are enjoying some sort of pride in Europe? The idea that you need to move to a different continent for something so simple and attainable by other means is... Idk, you've lost me. Have a good one!
You’re way overthinking this. OP said they’d “give anything”. Moving countries is a far cry from giving anything. It’s a very pleasant experience in fact, for many, especially if you’re in software engineering as most people here likely are.
It is completely ignoring common aspects of life. People have kids, pets, families. The list goes on. Moving to another continent and dealing with the legal ramifications is absurd as a single dude. It is a beaurocratic nightmare for a family. I can’t believe I have to explain this to adults but here I am!
I’ve moved over twenty times in my life, countries over ten, I know exactly how difficult it is. Which is to say: yes it’s a big step, but no it’s not that big a deal.
And again, this isn’t what this little interaction was about, and you’re making assumptions about the person I replied to. I am not forcing them to move, jeez.
Then I have good news for you: for not that much effort, you can move to Europe. Several cities here are bike friendly and becoming more so every week.
Here are the streets that are becoming pedestrian in Brussels, two weeks from now: https://www.brusselstimes.com/brussels-2/248559/the-brussels...