Hi, I’m from South Texas, an area considered “poorer” than national average, and my husband is Dutch.
Pros:
Honestly, I think we have it pretty good here. The cost of living is ridiculously cheap. We paid off our home last year (it took us 4 years to pay off), we don’t have have great jobs yet we can still save up lots of money. Even if we find jobs at Walmart we can save up at least 1,000 a month easily. We’re currently taking a sabbatical this year traveling around the US from all the savings and I want to spend 3 months in Mexico too. Also, I really love the food down here (Mexican food galore and you can get a box of 20 mangoes for $4 bucks), I like the people, how friendly, family-oriented and chill everyone is (sometimes my badass neighbor helps me mow my grass for free), and most importantly: my family is here and I’m used to seeing them every week and have BBQs (carne asada every week). Also, the proximity to Mexico allows for daytrips for cheap dental and medical procedures plus cheap flights.
Cons:
Well, it’s still Texas! The politics, the heat, machismo, the ignorance, and stupidity of some people really bug me. Although I got to say that this area is 90% Mexican and I personally think there’s a difference with Latino conservatism. It’s not really pretty and secluded and the rest of the nation. Not much to do although not nearly as bad as living in bumbutt, Kansas. No nature around, just ugly streets, stroads, and infrastructure. Car dependency, etc.
Why I want to move:
It’s honestly me. my husband says he doesn’t want to go back but it can be discussed if I really want to do it. And honestly, I don’t know if it’s a smart choice. I’m aware of the housing crisis in NL that’s why I’m also thinking about other EU countries. I want to know what it feels like to work and live in another country, fully experience another culture, and also I want to experience this “European lifestyle” everyone keeps talking about. I also speak Spanish and French (not fluent but I can get by an understand everything).
Concerns:
Although what concerns me the most is the worry that we won’t be able to find housing, save up as much money (hence no more constant sabbaticals), and having to live check by check, or if I’ll be exposed to racism since I’m not White, or feeling super lonely, etc. Basically end up with a lower quality of living.
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Good to hear how life bear the horse is.
Have you considered the weather in the NL? I live there, currently the sun is out and it’s raining horizontally. Try to picture that.
You also mention that neither you or your husband have good jobs. No shame in that, don’t get me wrong, but the equivalent here (working at Albert Heijn) will not allow you to rent, let alone buy.
The difference in sunshine hours will be a shock to OP. Not sure where in South Texas OP lives but Dallas gets ~2800 hours per year and Amsterdam gets ~1800.
Don’t come to the NL, things have spiraled out of control in more than a few ways. If your house is paid off, you’re in a great position that you won’t be able to get into here.
European here: don’t do it. Do an extended visit, stay with his family in NL for a few weeks, but don’t move. Your life in Texas sounds lovely and honestly every country has drawbacks. But Europe is not doing great at the moment and imo it doesn’t look like it will get better in the near future.
Why don’t you take a vacation to Europe, spend 2-3 weeks in the Netherlands, maybe go to Spain, Italy. Check it out first. Perhaps you could stay with relatives there so it’s cheaper. But don’t just rearrange your entire life without being very sure you’re going to love it. Because it sounds like you have a nice situation now.
Yeah Texas and most of the US is a dump full of really really dumb people.
- posted on my iPhone
I think in this case you should defer to your significant other. he knows exactly what it’s like to live there and he chose Texas. I think the fact that you live in an affordable area in a state that allows you to go wherever you want is a freedom you’ll miss very quickly. That’s said, you may want to consider just going South. There are great parts of Mexico to live in very affordable, or even farther South to Costa Rica. If you have the money to travel, just do that for now. Really get to know the world and most importantly talked to locals when you go, don’t just view it as a tourist. and then maybe the two of you can find a place that meets both of your needs.
It sounds like Ecuador might be a better fit for you- esp if you speak passable spanish.
The question is: are you able to get a very good job in NL? The housing crisis is no joke, you might end up in the middle of nowhere and despite dutch being fluent in English more often than not, in a small village you will feel isolated. You won’t probably dave a lot of money unless you have very cheap place to stay.
The politics, the problems… have you seen news lately? Dutch voted in far fight extremism party. Grass is always greener but seems like you have a pretty good life standard where you are.
I don’t particularly like the Netherlands.
Those street dealers are mega aggressive and ruin the whole experience.
Granted, I’m basing that opinion exclusively on my central Amsterdam experience. But I don’t like it. The whole place creeped me out.
I left for Germany and Austria and had a much better time there. I find at least 50% of the people who go to Amsterdam weren’t expecting to have two or 3 scumbags following them to harass them into buying their bag of drywall.
I’d go there on vacation, I’d say there’s a 50/50 chance you don’t like it.
Central Amsterdam is not at all representative of the country. You’ll not randomly bump into street dealers outside of there.
You will regret moving to Europe, it’s not as good as every American believes it to be. If you are doing sabbatical, try going there for a month or two and rent a regular apartment.
Going as tourist is one thing, living in Europe as resident is night and day
I’ve been to the Netherlands… It’s not much in the way of “beautiful”, plus they have a hugely celebrated elfe-like character called zwarte piet which is quite literally blackface (if that says anything about the culture).
France, Spain, and Italy are amazing, but the salaries are low and the cost of living is skyrocketing (at least in France). I’d say, travel as much as you can, but living a comfortable life somewhere this day and age is a privilege not to take for granted. Plus, you can kiss any sort of Mexican food goodbye, including the ingredients that are necessary to make it yourself.
Go for a little! Sounds like the valley is a great place to have a home base. See if you can rent your house and go for 2-3 years. It’s a luxury to have the option to go, and life is richer when you have more diverse life experiences. I loved living in the BENELUX area. It’s way easier to travel throughout Europe when you have a base there. Also random but I never faced even a wiff of discrimination for being Latina in Europe, only in the US.
Honestly I feel like you might have a better chance at affordable good quality life in South-America rather than Europe right now. Every country is struggling with lack of affordable housing and increased cost of living. It’s not a good time for Europe, including the UK.
If you have a paid off house and like your area, I would stay put or maybe spend some time in South America versus Europe