I’m from Italy and have been working in the Bay for 7 years now, accumulating a bit over 1M on a 370k current TC. Thinking hard about getting to 1.5M and then heading back, buy a villa in the Spanish mediterranean and working/consulting just for fun and to pay the bills. In regards to why the US doesnt suit me, although theres a couple of nice places (NY and Cali), it falls behind in cost of life, infrastructure, education, social life.. But I might be looking at life through pink lenses, so give me some critical feedback. Why wouldnt you move back to the EU if money wasnt an obstacle?
What do you do at FB to get that TC?
Your kids will probably want to move to the us if they have any ambition
Sure, once they complete their studies loan free ( as opposed to the US) they are welcome to move to any part of the world including the US.
Europe is socialist and doesn't have freedom. USA USA USA
If only Europeans have the freedom to own assault weapons
I bet you don't even know what "assault weapon" is.
USA is the best - very open and highly assimilative. But I am not European. Lived in Europe and didn’t like it compared to US.
European != EU. Not all Europeans can live and work freely in the EU.
I have a way I take decisions in life. If I want to change something in my life and if I get doubt to extent that I have to ask strangers then I will definitely not do that. When you moved to USA I am pretty sure you would have not asked strangers whether to go to USA or not.
I got married here. If I hadn't, I would have moved back already.
You can still move back.
What you’ve described is my dream! Don’t plan to stay at US too long. Haven’t gotten to 1M yet and things may go sideways when next recession hits.
Glad to know that you have your objectives lined up, don’t let them vanish, good luck! :-)
Having lived there and moved back, I think what’s frustrating is the lack of “thinking big” in Europe - the mentality of complaining & not following that up with feeling empowered to change things. Also: “When you’re used to privilege, equality feels like oppression”
Agree with you on the brutal lack of innovation in Europe, but thankfully that’s not something I’d be looking for
Even if it’s not, it’s apparent in everyday life. You’ll hear things like ”my alarm didn’t wake me up” instead of “I didn’t set my alarm” Or “the bus isn’t good” instead of “I left for work way too late, sorry I’m late” Or “my calendar was broken so I couldn’t meet the deadline” instead of just finding a way to meet the deadline Or “it was a holiday so we’re behind” instead of planning around it in the first place More like lack of agency - which also means lack of innovation.
As a German who worked in the US for 6 years and is now back in the EU in Amsterdam, the real question should be “what the hell is keeping you in the US apart from the money?” EU outweighs the US in everything else - work life balance, quality of life, family friendly, health care, education, financial structures, safety, social life, housing, infrastructure etc
I completely agree with you, this is why I’m moving back but wanted to get some contrarian feedback :)
But the place is practically overrun by refugees. The social safety net is overtaxed and crumbling, infrastructure is rarely free, taxes are through the roof, bureaucracy and incompetence are widespread, people are unmotivated and lazy, innovation is crushed, economies are stagnant, financial institutions are slow and unhelpful, and recession is always looming round the corner. Oh, and let’s not forget the unelected and undemocratic body that is the EU. But sure, be my guest.