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.
Don’t move to Europe in this case at all, it is a bit shitty at the moment, especially in Germany. People are miserable robots and housing in the Netherlands is just as bad as it is in Germany post pandemic and this Ukraine bs. Instead book a trip for 3 months to Holland or wherever in the EU and see if you can live there for three months with your husband without any issues. In the US you have a lot of conveniences that you won’t find in the EU, like banking. Banking in Germany is ass backwards, that is if they even let you open an account. They will lock accounts by accident, horrible customer service, no one cares, etc etc etc … you have to wait for letters to be mailed for months. I know an immigrant working in an ICU and 2-3 months there he’s still waiting to get his bank account but that’s in Germany. Holland might be a bit better but housing there is a mess also. Give it a shot for 3 months and see but don’t sell your house in Texas.