3 ms·

Realistically I’ll take my 82.6 years in San Francisco over 78.1 in Berlin, 85.39 in Madrid, or 80.4 in London. The tradeoffs are better for me and I don’t want

Realistically I’ll take my 82.6 years in San Francisco over 78.1 in Berlin, 85.39 in Madrid, or 80.4 in London. The tradeoffs are better for me and I don’t want to make America into Spain to get those last 3 years to Madrid. It’s all right. 82 is a good life.

toomuchtodo 2y ago
To each their own. I’m headed to Spain to live, not to grind unnecessarily. You only get one life, and most of how we spend our days outside of family and loved ones doesn’t matter. I’ll have a glass of Sangria for you (a lie, I’ll take the whole pitcher and drink while reading HN). America gets what it deserves: self defeating turmoil and churn disguised as effort and progress, while objectively being a worse place to exist (happiness, health outcomes, etc). Line goes up, but life is suffering. To win is to know what Enough is.
- ty6853 2y ago
  On a per capita adjusted basis UAE/Dubai blows about every other place out the water for number of incoming rich migration (even on absolute basis they are near top). Much easier to get an investor visa, far lower taxes on business income, you can easily import servants and trade duties are miniscule. Everything is available if you are rich because all you must do is fill out some relatively simple paperwork and whoever you want appears. It looks like in this age for the rich the optimum is something closer to dictator capitalism, as democracies start to embrace more regulation and social redistribution schemes. Singapore and Dubai have been winning choices so long as the people in power don't change their mind and start splitting skulls.
  - toomuchtodo 2y ago
    The Middle East human rights situation is in conflict with my belief and value system. Agency and autonomy are important, as well as shared responsibility and collectivism (as no one is an island). Us, not I. I like taxes, with them I buy civilization, help those in need, and build lasting institutions of value and relevance.
  - adra 2y ago
    And they don't even bother holding their noses tightly sealed as they let them pass. Source of income (you know what I mean) has no bearing on these places. Enjoy your neighbours, definitely don't piss them off without.. consequences
  - ashoeafoot 2y ago
    No rule of law though. One wrong sentence and rich ot not, you dissappear .
- renewiltord 2y ago
  I hope you have a good time! It’s a lovely place. And exactly, because to each his own I’m glad America has made this choice over that.
  - bozinga 2y ago
    [dead]
- inverted_flag 2y ago
  Line doesn't even go up anymore.
  - JohnTHaller 2y ago
    Line goes down hard now
- banqjls 2y ago
  As a Spanish person I can’t even imagine what would make someone come here to live - I suppose you’re already exceedingly wealthy? Almost all of my friends with higher educations have left for northern countries, as the situation here is untenable for young people. Of course if you have money that’s not an issue… and evidently the kind of money that makes that non an issue can only obtained in places like the US.
  - ty6853 2y ago
    Well that explains it doesn't it? One can cheaply employ your youth at bottom barrel wages and buy up or rent the real estate without competition with native professionals. And I'm not damning anyone who does that, it helps the locals more than them not coming at all. The Spanish government has more or less set up the incentives to play out this way -- that Spain is a place to come on holiday or to retire but not a place for native educated professionals to partake in business.
    - banqjls 2y ago
      Bottom of the barrel wages for the uneducated natives are the result of uncontrolled mass migration - we have received millions of immigrants in the last decade, which has basically destroyed wages, and has made the poorest suffer. On the other hand real estate is held by wealthy old natives and laws are enacted to make sure that real estate increases in price forever, the young be damned - no one cares about them since our population pyramid means they’ll always be a minority.
      - toomuchtodo 2y ago
        I’m very interested in understanding the challenges in building more affordable housing in Spain. Do you have any resources you’d recommend or be willing to discuss more offline?
        banqjls 2y ago
        https://www.bbvaresearch.com/publicaciones/espana-motivos-tras-la-escasa-oferta-de-vivienda/ https://www.bbvaresearch.com/publicaciones/espana-motivos-tr... From last year. There is a version in English. Regarding renting, it’s legally almost impossible to kick out a squatter, which means most people choose to leave their empty homes closed instead of renting them, which, added to mass immigration, has led to a surge in rent prices.
lazyant 2y ago
that's assuming the health in the years before dying (or the number of "bad" years) is the same, which may not be the case

toomuchtodo 2y ago

To each their own. I’m headed to Spain to live, not to grind unnecessarily. You only get one life, and most of how we spend our days outside of family and loved ones doesn’t matter. I’ll have a glass of Sangria for you (a lie, I’ll take the whole pitcher and drink while reading HN). America gets what it deserves: self defeating turmoil and churn disguised as effort and progress, while objectively being a worse place to exist (happiness, health outcomes, etc). Line goes up, but life is suffering. To win is to know what Enough is.

ty6853 2y ago
On a per capita adjusted basis UAE/Dubai blows about every other place out the water for number of incoming rich migration (even on absolute basis they are near top). Much easier to get an investor visa, far lower taxes on business income, you can easily import servants and trade duties are miniscule. Everything is available if you are rich because all you must do is fill out some relatively simple paperwork and whoever you want appears. It looks like in this age for the rich the optimum is something closer to dictator capitalism, as democracies start to embrace more regulation and social redistribution schemes. Singapore and Dubai have been winning choices so long as the people in power don't change their mind and start splitting skulls.
- toomuchtodo 2y ago
  The Middle East human rights situation is in conflict with my belief and value system. Agency and autonomy are important, as well as shared responsibility and collectivism (as no one is an island). Us, not I. I like taxes, with them I buy civilization, help those in need, and build lasting institutions of value and relevance.
- adra 2y ago
  And they don't even bother holding their noses tightly sealed as they let them pass. Source of income (you know what I mean) has no bearing on these places. Enjoy your neighbours, definitely don't piss them off without.. consequences
- ashoeafoot 2y ago
  No rule of law though. One wrong sentence and rich ot not, you dissappear .
renewiltord 2y ago
I hope you have a good time! It’s a lovely place. And exactly, because to each his own I’m glad America has made this choice over that.
- bozinga 2y ago
  [dead]
inverted_flag 2y ago
Line doesn't even go up anymore.
- JohnTHaller 2y ago
  Line goes down hard now
banqjls 2y ago
As a Spanish person I can’t even imagine what would make someone come here to live - I suppose you’re already exceedingly wealthy? Almost all of my friends with higher educations have left for northern countries, as the situation here is untenable for young people. Of course if you have money that’s not an issue… and evidently the kind of money that makes that non an issue can only obtained in places like the US.
- ty6853 2y ago
  Well that explains it doesn't it? One can cheaply employ your youth at bottom barrel wages and buy up or rent the real estate without competition with native professionals. And I'm not damning anyone who does that, it helps the locals more than them not coming at all. The Spanish government has more or less set up the incentives to play out this way -- that Spain is a place to come on holiday or to retire but not a place for native educated professionals to partake in business.
  - banqjls 2y ago
    Bottom of the barrel wages for the uneducated natives are the result of uncontrolled mass migration - we have received millions of immigrants in the last decade, which has basically destroyed wages, and has made the poorest suffer. On the other hand real estate is held by wealthy old natives and laws are enacted to make sure that real estate increases in price forever, the young be damned - no one cares about them since our population pyramid means they’ll always be a minority.
    - toomuchtodo 2y ago
      I’m very interested in understanding the challenges in building more affordable housing in Spain. Do you have any resources you’d recommend or be willing to discuss more offline?
      - banqjls 2y ago
        https://www.bbvaresearch.com/publicaciones/espana-motivos-tras-la-escasa-oferta-de-vivienda/ https://www.bbvaresearch.com/publicaciones/espana-motivos-tr... From last year. There is a version in English. Regarding renting, it’s legally almost impossible to kick out a squatter, which means most people choose to leave their empty homes closed instead of renting them, which, added to mass immigration, has led to a surge in rent prices.

lazyant 2y ago

that's assuming the health in the years before dying (or the number of "bad" years) is the same, which may not be the case