a good (long) read / balanced view

[Rockhopper]

All I see is myself having moved "up" in the world from a country that is not even on the map to a country that is 3rd!  Not too shabby hey Nige!    

If I had to constantly compare NZ with some UK/Europe countries, I would go absolutely nuts and totally depressed!  I normally compare it with where I came from - which is still a very good move in my book.  If SA overtakes NZ in any way on these types of scales, I would gladly go back.  But Zuma said they will be in power until Jesus comes, so I guess the chances of SA improving soon is very little. 

[Savayla]

If I had to constantly compare NZ with some UK/Europe countries, I would go absolutely nuts and totally depressed! 

I could have moved to Norway without immigrating.  My sister lived there for 12 years, came back to SA for 4, went back for 1 year. She is now in Asia.  The country is clean, it is a socialist country so the government really looks after its people, but they have so many problems now with the refugees that they welcomed into the country.  The muslims want to practice their own law, when the prime minister refused, they actually threw a bomb into her house, setting it alight, one night when she and her family were all asleep.  She has kids.  It is incredibly expensive.  There are so many people on the dole.  When I was there, there were other racial issues which freaked me out a bit.     I would never go and live there.  They are completely different from us.  And Norway is No. 1. 

Have a good friend from the UK.  She is looking for a better country to live in.  With her husband, child and dog, they went to Portugal, Spain and France for 1 year.  Living with with people, working, etc.   They discovered that life is not so rosy as your dreams, in these foreign places.  They thought it would be France for them, but have now chosen Portugal. 

As I often say, we are all so different.   And these places are not all cool.  IT is what you want out of life that is the deciding factor. 

Like Rockhopper, I am quite happy in my little piece of paradise here. 

[SusanJ]

Portugal is a beautiful, relaxed and amazing place.
BUT
Compared to the rest of Europe, alot more backward. Big beurocracy (sp?) in trying to get anything done (personal experience!). When I was there last - 12 years ago - I went out with cousins and was astounded at how big the drug culture is.  Not the "soft" drugs but hardcore stuff like heroine.  And this is a peaceful, little country on the edge of Europe.

So absolutely! No matter how awesome the country, it will always have its warts.  Its up to every individual how they handle the warts though.

[Wayne and Kath]

IT is what you want out of life that is the deciding factor. 

That is so true. Its very difficult to judge the quality of life in a country based on statistics. It would be quite possible to design a very comfortable jail where the inmates are completely miserable but are never the less well fed and live to 80 yrs. We're very open space, outdoorsy type folks, so living in London or New York, surrounded by concrete, would the ultimate punishment whereas many others love it.