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Ask HN: Europe to East Coast, does it make sense to move at 50?

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Re: Ask HN: Europe to East Coast, does it make sense to move at 50?

#111

Post by cameronperot »

koevet wrote: post #102
cameronperot wrote: post #93

I'm an American (Texan) who has been living in Germany for the past 6 years. I would suggest to consider the culture and lifestyle more than the work, as those will play a much larger role in your happiness and satisfaction. It sounds cliché, but money doesn't necessarily buy happiness. I enjoy living in German/European cities significantly more than I did living in big cities in Texas (I can't speak for the East Coa…

Hey thanks for your comment, I feel this thread is turning a bit into a US vs. EU pitfight. We are going to be in NYC in a couple of weeks and we plan to spend one day in Princeton, as you suggest. Regarding the long term relationship, if we move we are going to move as a family (2 kids included :))

Happy to contribute what perspective I can :). I didn't mean to put it as a hostile US vs. EU thing, just wanted to state my reasons for going the other way.

I saw in another comment that you said it would only be for a few years. In that case it's a bit different as I was going off of the assumption it was long-term/permanent, so it could be a more worthwhile experience.

I would say that it could even be beneficial for the kids in terms of their English skills and getting a more worldly experience. Most Germans I know speak good English, but some of those who have done study abroad programs in the US have definitely mastered the language and accent, which is especially useful in STEM as almost all research is done in English these days.

Re: Ask HN: Europe to East Coast, does it make sense to move at 50?

#112

Post by sofixa »

seibelj wrote: post #67
guerrilla wrote: post #55

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> including runaway inflation The same as everywhere... due to a war and pandemic . > a government and social safety net that is rapidly becoming unaffordable Completely false. Do you even read our budgets? Your debt-to-GDB was literally 3x ours last year. European countries aren't even allowed to deficit spend more than a few percent (which is what got Greece in trouble, for example.) > they pretend don’t exist I'm…

I find lectures about American society from Europeans, as the parent comment did, exceedingly ironic and misinformed considering the same issues plague both sides. Even more so as American armed forces and weapons (and our tax dollars and political system) are what protect all of you from annihilation. The grass is always greener but I prefer it here.

> Even more so as American armed forces and weapons (and our tax dollars and political system) are what protect all of you from annihilation.

That's one of the stupidest misconceptions Americans have about "Europe" (the EU).

The EU has a mutual defence elements to it. The EU has a nuclear power, France. The EU doesn't need the US, your "tax dollars and (horrifically broken) political system", and should stop relying on it ASAP. Trump showed you can be an incredibly unreliable partner, why risk it?

Re: Ask HN: Europe to East Coast, does it make sense to move at 50?

#113

Post by the_third_wave »

teekert wrote: post #29
bshepard wrote: post #7

Hello there, I live in Berlin now and used to live in the United States. My family is there, and I go back to the east coast of the US often. The degenerating and dystopian quality of the United States is difficult to overstate, but almost impossible to capture verbally. Whatever one cause attributes to the systematic breakdown of the US, it is difficult to deny the realities of the decline -- massive alcohol and nar…

I’ve been to the US a couple times for work (all over), always travelled around a bit. I found the people to very, very warm and kind everywhere. Racial segregation is sometimes too real in some places but the black people there seem so positively surprised and very kind when you ask them something as a white dude, it’s easy and rewarding to just be the change you want to see in that respect. The only reservation I’d…

> the black people there seem so positively surprised and very kind when you ask them something as a white dude

In ~1999 I was in New York, walking around with a sizeable backpack and asked around in Harlem where to find the Sugar Hill hostel. I'd asked two men about where to find it when I was approached by two young women who advised me not to ask these questions here as that would not be safe. I was rather surprised by this since I thought that time was past. Maybe it was the location, maybe it was the backpack but it was not what I'd expected. I found the hostel by myself and came to no harm in any way or shape.

I'm "white" (more of a shade of tan, really), everyone else in this narrative is "black" (more of a shade of brown, really).

Re: Ask HN: Europe to East Coast, does it make sense to move at 50?

#114

Post by koevet »

cameronperot wrote: post #111
koevet wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hey thanks for your comment, I feel this thread is turning a bit into a US vs. EU pitfight. We are going to be in NYC in a couple of weeks and we plan to spend one day in Princeton, as you suggest. Regarding the long term relationship, if we move we are going to move as a family (2 kids included :))

Happy to contribute what perspective I can :). I didn't mean to put it as a hostile US vs. EU thing, just wanted to state my reasons for going the other way. I saw in another comment that you said it would only be for a few years. In that case it's a bit different as I was going off of the assumption it was long-term/permanent, so it could be a more worthwhile experience. I would say that it could even be beneficial…

yes, the English learning experience for my kids is the first thing I thought when this opportunity started to became concrete.

Sorry, I didn't mean your comment was polarized, the opposite. Yours was one of the few balanced comments in this thread so far (also don't want to discount other HNers comments, this is hugely useful for me)

Re: Ask HN: Europe to East Coast, does it make sense to move at 50?

#115

Post by koevet »

christophilus wrote: post #88

I freelance and love it. The hard part for you will be getting your foot in the door. I’m about your age, and so far haven’t had any problems with employers in our industry. The rise of remote work probably helps you a bit with the employment side of your question. As for the negative comments, what the comments here don’t address is this: the US is almost more like a bunch of countries rather than one single entity.…

Thanks for your thoughts.

I visited the US in the past (hell, me best trip ever was an epic coast to coast with a Marine friend) and I'm aware of the differences.

Cultural differences are ok, this is why we consider moving - and why I moved a lot around in the past.

My main concern is about getting to an age where I can't really afford severe financial missteps.

Our "purchase power" here in Berlin is very very high and as much I consider Berlin a messed-up city the overall quality of life is stellar.

I can afford to stay put for a while (in fact, that is the plan in case we move, so I can support my kids with school etc.), but I want to make sure that, when my stay at home dad period ends, I can get to an income level that is close to our situation in Berlin.

Doesn't have to be the same, but I don't want to end up loosing money over the move.

Re: Ask HN: Europe to East Coast, does it make sense to move at 50?

#116

Post by feet »

guerrilla wrote: post #44
diognesofsinope wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Federal government literally spends over $1T on healthcare for the elderly. The healthcare issues in the country have never been about the old.

What are you talking about, health care for the elderly is terrible! I guess you've never had to take care of an old person in the US? And never been exposed to northern European healthcare?

You bring up a good point, even though the US spends the most per capita on health care we actually have the worst outcomes

https://www.pgpf.org/chart-archive/0252_health_outcomes_spen...

Re: Ask HN: Europe to East Coast, does it make sense to move at 50?

#117

Post by somewhereoutth »

elmalto wrote: post #48
somewhereoutth wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would double check this - assuming your wife will be going over on an H1B or L1 visa (edit: correction: L1 can get you an L2 as a spouse), as a spouse you would not be allowed to work in the US.

As the spouse of L1 you get an L2 which lets you work for any employer including yourself as long as the L1 is active. With the L2 you get an EAD on arrival and do not have to wait for months to get it.

Ah yes correct, thanks. I have updated my comment.

Re: Ask HN: Europe to East Coast, does it make sense to move at 50?

#118

Post by somewhereoutth »

ljlolel wrote: post #11
somewhereoutth wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would double check this - assuming your wife will be going over on an H1B or L1 visa (edit: correction: L1 can get you an L2 as a spouse), as a spouse you would not be allowed to work in the US.

If Princeton probably O1

which would mean no work permit for a spouse

Re: Ask HN: Europe to East Coast, does it make sense to move at 50?

#119

Post by armitron »

the_third_wave wrote: post #113
teekert wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’ve been to the US a couple times for work (all over), always travelled around a bit. I found the people to very, very warm and kind everywhere. Racial segregation is sometimes too real in some places but the black people there seem so positively surprised and very kind when you ask them something as a white dude, it’s easy and rewarding to just be the change you want to see in that respect. The only reservation I’d…

> the black people there seem so positively surprised and very kind when you ask them something as a white dude In ~1999 I was in New York, walking around with a sizeable backpack and asked around in Harlem where to find the Sugar Hill hostel. I'd asked two men about where to find it when I was approached by two young women who advised me not to ask these questions here as that would not be safe. I was rather surpris…

I wouldn't try the same thing today.

Re: Ask HN: Europe to East Coast, does it make sense to move at 50?

#120

Post by sys_64738 »

America is the best country in the world economically and culturally. Most folk who spout anti-American rhetoric get their news from biased sources and have never been here any length of time. Sure it has its problems like everywhere else but this country is the greatest and I could never imagine living anywhere else. So I’d recommend trying it.

I say all that as a European.

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