Hi folks. I've read most of the posts in this forum and I'm just wondering why those folks who pick up and relocate are leaving North America 'these days', and in particular why they decide on Uy.
I'm in my late 50's, a businessman, and a fairly active fellow. I have lived in Costa Rica for a year, about a decade ago. My Spanish is limited and rusty, but i can recover on that with some work. For the past few years i have been toying with the idea of getting the heck out of Dodge so to speak. I have some long-time good friends in Uy (business colleagues in MVD) and so i know a bit about the country as seen through their eyes. Having once lived in Latin America, i'm fond of the culture and Uy seems to me like a place i would like. I'm aware of some of the pros and cons.
I'm not looking for adventure, as my cup runneth over in that category. After many years of jetting around the four corners of the earth, living in various places, the wanderlust which once preoccupied my soul for a few decades has finally settled down. However, that said, i really don't like the 21st century North America all that much. 9/11 was a game-changer if you catch my drift. There is getting to be just too many rules, too many wars, too many taxes, and the people... well, this ain't the 60's and 70's that's for sure. I can't drive anywhere without someone instantly right on my tail, pushing in a mad rush and i live in a small town. Every second phone caller is yet another telemarketer,(those do-not-call lists are a sham). Absolutely everything you buy is junk made in China, its all crap, and lasts about 3 mo if you're lucky. (yup, I know that will be the same in Uy too).
The one thing i didn't like about Costa Rica was the crime. One needs to watch their P's and Q's very carefully; know where to avoid, and when, or you can end up robbed at gun point, or worse, kidnapped and driven around in the trunk of a car for 5 to 10 hrs. And watch those taxi drivers too.. there's more than the odd bad apple in the bunch.
As for the future, in my humble opinion, the G7 countries are 3 years into a world class depression that will probably last a generation, the depths of which our fathers and grandfathers did not even experience. This one, like the last one, IMHO is going to end in global violence. Canada will be dragged into it. Of course i hope i'm dead wrong, but that's the way i see it. Uy from a distance, looks to me like a potential safe haven.
I'd like to hear other thoughts on this storyline. I expect the views will be widely diverse.
All the best,
James