If we swapped places...

I wonder who would fare better....the yanks in the UK, or the Brits in the US?

I think I would fare quite well in America, my accent, my style, my life experience would serve me well.....I think.

The Brits are more exotic in the U.S. than Americans are in the UK, I've found. Many English people are completely unfazed by my accent, though I still do get the occasional "where are you from?" I think it's because so much of American TV and music are popular in the UK, while there are a lot of UK shows and bands that don't get played in America.

The toughest thing for a Brit in America, I think, would be getting used to paying for health care. That's something I still can't believe in the UK -- because I have a chronic illness, I literally pay neither for care nor prescriptions. It's brilliant.

Not that there's nothing tougher about life in the UK than there is in America. Costs are a bit higher over here, wages are a bit lower. Then, there are also more benefits available, so it's kind of a trade-off.

I think many UK policies are more humane than America's. In America there are homeless children, which is virtually unheard of in the UK since you can't evict someone supporting a child.

A weird thing for a Brit living in America, I'd think, would be how you can cross a state line and suddenly be in a jurisdiction in which, for example, it's legal to use marijuana. Basically, states being allowed to have such different laws from one another might be a bit confusing.

Also, America is just huge -- just slightly smaller than the whole of Europe. That's the real reason that so many Americans have never left the country -- it's like a French person who's only visited other countries in Europe.

I think Brits would find America a little too restrictive compared to the UK. We are far more easy-going in regards to religion, race and work-related rules etc

Perhaps I’m wrong, but I think most Americans find our way of life far easier, even our politics are more straightforward and not as far left or right.

Ben would be the best person to answer this I guess?

eddie wrote:I think Brits would find America a little too restrictive compared to the UK. We are far more easy-going in regards to religion, race and work-related rules etc

Perhaps I’m wrong, but I think most Americans find our way of life far easier, even our politics are more straightforward and not as far left or right.

Ben would be the best person to answer this I guess?

I think some Americans, particularly the Bible-bashing ones, might find the UK shocking. They'd be going from a place that has a church practically on every street (I'm not kidding) to a place that might have two or three churches per town.

The staunchly conservative American would probably love the history and traditions in the UK, but not like the fact that even the farthest-right political parties have no real interest in abolishing the NHS. I can't emphasise how much that type of American is opposed to socialism in any form, no matter how much it helps people. In fact, the more a socialist program helps people, the more this type of American hates it.

American lefties would probably like the UK quite a bit more in that respect. As an American lefty, I've sometimes found the UK farther to the left than I'm comfortable with, particularly in how you can literally be arrested for shouting a racial slur at someone. (Actually I don't even acknowlege that as a proper lefty policy, I just think it's misguided.) On the other hand, I find UK right-wing politicians haven't detached themselves from reality in the way they have in America. There's much less of a divide between the left and right in the UK and both sides are, for the most part, still listening to each other and still trying to understand.

I've read stories from even really right-wing Americans who've lived in the UK and really had their attitudes adjusted. They find themselves in a situation where they know they'd be desperate were they in America, and they're so shocked and grateful that a stituation like, for example, losing their job doesn't bring the same threat of homelessness, etc. as it would have back home.

I would die.

It would be like California with shitty weather.

Syl would do fine here. Eddie doesn't drive and that's a real handicap except on the East Coast, assuming you have a pretty good income.


And correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't NHS 13% of your income?

Maddog wrote:I would die.  

It would be like California with shitty weather.  

Syl would do fine here. Eddie doesn't drive and that's a real handicap except on the East Coast, assuming you have a pretty good income.  


And correct me if I'm wrong,  but isn't NHS 13% of your income?

Not quite:

"You pay National Insurance contributions if you earn more than £183 a week for 2020-21. You pay 12% of your earnings above this limit and up to £962 a week for 2020-21. The rate drops to 2% of your earnings over £962 a week."

And that money isn't just for the NHS, it is also contributions to the state pension, and benefits if you ever find yourself out of work.

Maddog wrote:I would die.  

It would be like California with shitty weather.  

Syl would do fine here. Eddie doesn't drive and that's a real handicap except on the East Coast, assuming you have a pretty good income.  


And correct me if I'm wrong,  but isn't NHS 13% of your income?

You wouldn't die...drama queen.
If you dont like the cold the weather can be shitty for 9 months of the year that's true, but the NHS is invaluable, as the last year has proved is proof were needed..

But what you haven't pulled into the equation is the people...in general we are welcoming, none judgmental, funny, kind, and feisty....you would love us.

Ben fit in straight away, Quill owns a castle in Scotland, my sons girlfriend is from America and she loves it here....what more proof do you need??

Eilzel wrote:

Maddog wrote:I would die.  

It would be like California with shitty weather.  

Syl would do fine here. Eddie doesn't drive and that's a real handicap except on the East Coast, assuming you have a pretty good income.  


And correct me if I'm wrong,  but isn't NHS 13% of your income?

Not quite:

"You pay National Insurance contributions if you earn more than £183 a week for 2020-21. You pay 12% of your earnings above this limit and up to £962 a week for 2020-21. The rate drops to 2% of your earnings over £962 a week."

And that money isn't just for the NHS, it is also contributions to the state pension, and benefits if you ever find yourself out of work.

Do you pay the same no matter the size of your household?.

Syl wrote:

Maddog wrote:I would die.  

It would be like California with shitty weather.  

Syl would do fine here. Eddie doesn't drive and that's a real handicap except on the East Coast, assuming you have a pretty good income.  


And correct me if I'm wrong,  but isn't NHS 13% of your income?

You wouldn't die...drama queen.
If you dont like the cold the weather can be shitty for 9 months of the year that's true, but the  NHS is invaluable, as the last year has proved is proof were needed..

But what you haven't pulled into the equation is the people...in general we are welcoming, none judgmental, funny, kind, and feisty....you would love us.

Ben fit in straight away, Quill owns a castle in Scotland, my sons girlfriend is from America and she loves it here....what more proof do you need??

True, I wouldn't die. I'd just be looking to leave as soon as possible.

I don't want NHS, I don't like rain, I like my guns and like to be the left the hell alone. There is nothing appealing about the UK from the perspective of being a resident. A visit would be a blast. Same as going to California.

God it's a shame how they fucked up at that state. Do people realize how pretty it is and how great the weather is in most of it? It takes a special kind of stupid to drive people away from that.

Maddog wrote:

Eilzel wrote:

Maddog wrote:I would die.  

It would be like California with shitty weather.  

Syl would do fine here. Eddie doesn't drive and that's a real handicap except on the East Coast, assuming you have a pretty good income.  


And correct me if I'm wrong,  but isn't NHS 13% of your income?

Not quite:

"You pay National Insurance contributions if you earn more than £183 a week for 2020-21. You pay 12% of your earnings above this limit and up to £962 a week for 2020-21. The rate drops to 2% of your earnings over £962 a week."

And that money isn't just for the NHS, it is also contributions to the state pension, and benefits if you ever find yourself out of work.

Do you pay the same no matter the size of your household?.

Yes, it’s per working individual.

The US is two different countries, so it would be hard for a Brit to form a single opinion about anyone person.

Eilzel wrote:

Maddog wrote:

Do you pay the same no matter the size of your household?.

Yes, it’s per working individual.

OK, well then I'd be getting hammered. Not that I'm already not getting hammered.

Such is life.

Maddog wrote:

Eilzel wrote:

Maddog wrote:

Do you pay the same no matter the size of your household?.

Yes, it’s per working individual.

OK, well then I'd be getting hammered. Not that I'm already not getting hammered.

Such is life.

How would the size of your household make it worse for you?

Original Quill wrote:The US is two different countries, so it would be hard for a Brit to form a single opinion about anyone person.

You mean the north and the south?

No doubt there is good and bad in both. In any country if you go looking for the bad you will find it and vice versa.

Eilzel wrote:

Maddog wrote:

OK, well then I'd be getting hammered. Not that I'm already not getting hammered.

Such is life.

How would the size of your household make it worse for you?

I would be paying the same as the guy with 4 kids.  Right now I pay to insure me, and consequently I pay less than I would be if I lived in the UK with NHS.  

But I get hammered for being self employed and single
with no dependents in our tax system..

Ceaser needs to be rendered to.

Syl wrote:

Original Quill wrote:The US is two different countries, so it would be hard for a Brit to form a single opinion about anyone person.

You mean the north and the south?

No doubt there is good and bad in both. In any country if you go looking for the bad you will find it and vice versa.

No telling what that clown means. I wonder which country he thinks Montana and Wyoming are in?

Syl wrote:

Original Quill wrote:The US is two different countries, so it would be hard for a Brit to form a single opinion about anyone person.

You mean the north and the south?

No doubt there is good and bad in both. In any country if you go looking for the bad you will find it and vice versa.

You just saw the spirit of the south descending on the US capital on 1/6...good and bad?

Oh well, Hitler was probably a sensitive lover.

Original Quill wrote:

Syl wrote:

You mean the north and the south?

No doubt there is good and bad in both. In any country if you go looking for the bad you will find it and vice versa.

You just saw the spirit of the south descending on the US capital on 1/6...good and bad?

Oh well, Hitler was probably a sensitive lover.  

You saw people from all over the country showing a weird alliance to dude from New York.

Maddog wrote:

Original Quill wrote:

You just saw the spirit of the south descending on the US capital on 1/6...good and bad?

Oh well, Hitler was probably a sensitive lover.  

You saw people from all over the country showing a weird alliance to dude from New York.  

It's not the person; it's the thought. More specifically, it's the zeitgeist. For 400-years we had slavery, peonage, Jim Crow laws, separate but equal, segregation, and now we have black lives don't matter. The message of southern America has had a chance to fester, and spread, so that now it is everywhere.

Lance the infection and let it drain. Then we can heal. Amexit.

Original Quill wrote:

Maddog wrote:

You saw people from all over the country showing a weird alliance to dude from New York.  

It's not the person; it's the thought.  More specifically, it's the zeitgeist.  For 400-years we had slavery, peonage, Jim Crow laws, separate but equal, segregation, and now we have black lives don't matter.  The message of southern America has had a chance to fester, and spread, so that now it is everywhere.

Lance the infection and let it drain.  Then we can heal.  Amexit.

So it's thoughts about a guy from NY.

Cool.

Meanwhile, back on topic. I think Eilzel would do quite well in Key West with his partner. A climate much like Thailand, surrounded by the ocean with a very carefree lifestyle. And they could make enough money that buying insurance wouldn't be an issue, like it's not for most of us.

Maddog wrote:Meanwhile, back on topic. I think Eilzel would do quite well in Key West with his partner. A climate much like Thailand, surrounded by the ocean with a very carefree lifestyle. And they could make enough money that buying insurance wouldn't be an issue, like it's not for most of us.  

Don’t they get hurricanes though?

Can’t be doing with that lol

Also I love to travel easily so being on a small island is a no go. I don’t think I could deal with the US. I like having convenient public transport, which from what I hear is pretty absent in most of the country. I hate that people can carry guns in many states and it would always be in my mind that shit could go off any time. That some people would frown upon me and my partner in southern states is also objectionable to me. I also hate how convoluted the health system is there.

If I did live in the US though, I’d probably choose somewhere in New England.

Definitely look forward to visiting the US one day though!

I always fancied visiting New England, the scenery in Autumn  is breathtaking.

But then, so it is here, just maybe on a smaller scale.

Christmastime in New York looks good though, I wouldn't mind doing a bit of Christmas shopping there.

I dont think i could live there, or anywhere other than the UK, I just wish we had better weather.

Eilzel wrote:

Maddog wrote:Meanwhile, back on topic. I think Eilzel would do quite well in Key West with his partner. A climate much like Thailand, surrounded by the ocean with a very carefree lifestyle. And they could make enough money that buying insurance wouldn't be an issue, like it's not for most of us.  

Don’t they get hurricanes though?

Can’t be doing with that lol

Also I love to travel easily so being on a small island is a no go. I don’t think I could deal with the US. I like having convenient public transport, which from what I hear is pretty absent in most of the country. I hate that people can carry guns in many states and it would always be in my mind that shit could go off any time. That some people would frown upon me and my partner in southern states is also objectionable to me. I also hate how convoluted the health system is there.

If I did live in the US though, I’d probably choose somewhere in New England.

Definitely look forward to visiting the US one day though!

I forgot about foreigners fear of our natural disasters and guns.

I don't even think of it.  I see a handgun or hear a tornado siren and I don't even bat an eye.  

Living in the Keys would be terrible for travelers. I doubt you could fly anywhere except back to the mainland of Florida, or drive like 5 hours to Miami. They are out there figuratively and literally.  

Stop listening to Quill about the southern states. I despise him in part because he projects a false impression of our country. And I'm disappointed in the way Ben gives him a pass all of the time, but that's life.

You could have a problem with your partner in any small town in the US, whether its Texas or California. You won't have issues in major cities. As I mentioned before, the gay bars around here really aren't gay bars. The need for "special" bars isn't there anymore like it used to be, and the internet has taken the place of the bar for meeting like minded individuals. Do you, and nobody gives a shit.

Giid public transportation is readily available in densely populated areas, which means the east coast. I mean we have trains and busses here, but we are so spread out that they are inefficient. Driving is whole lot easier and quicker.  

New England is very pretty, until it's cold as fuck.  No thanks

Maddog wrote:

Eilzel wrote:

Maddog wrote:Meanwhile, back on topic. I think Eilzel would do quite well in Key West with his partner. A climate much like Thailand, surrounded by the ocean with a very carefree lifestyle. And they could make enough money that buying insurance wouldn't be an issue, like it's not for most of us.  

Don’t they get hurricanes though?

Can’t be doing with that lol

Also I love to travel easily so being on a small island is a no go. I don’t think I could deal with the US. I like having convenient public transport, which from what I hear is pretty absent in most of the country. I hate that people can carry guns in many states and it would always be in my mind that shit could go off any time. That some people would frown upon me and my partner in southern states is also objectionable to me. I also hate how convoluted the health system is there.

If I did live in the US though, I’d probably choose somewhere in New England.

Definitely look forward to visiting the US one day though!

I forgot about foreigners fear of our natural disasters and guns.

I don't even think of it.  I see a handgun or hear a tornado siren and I don't even bat an eye.  

Living in the Keys would be terrible for travelers. I doubt you could fly anywhere except back to the mainland of Florida, or drive like 5 hours to Miami. They are out there figuratively and literally.  

Stop listening to Quill about the southern states. I despise him in part because he projects a false impression of our country. And I'm disappointed in the way Ben gives him a pass all of the time, but that's life.

You could have a problem with your partner in any small town in the US, whether its Texas or California. You won't have issues in major cities. As I mentioned before, the gay bars around here really aren't gay bars. The need for "special" bars isn't there anymore like it used to be, and the internet has taken the place of the bar for meeting like minded individuals. Do you, and nobody gives a shit.

Giid public transportation is readily available in densely populated areas, which means the east coast. I mean we have trains and busses here, but we are so spread out that they are inefficient. Driving is whole lot easier and quicker.  

New England is very pretty, until it's cold as fuck.  No thanks

Surprisingly I actually miss cold weather, though I believe New England gets much colder than old England ever does lol

Maddog wrote:Stop listening to Quill about the southern states. I despise him in part because he projects a false impression of our country. And I'm disappointed in the way Ben gives him a pass all of the time, but that's life.

It's a fair opinion, backed up by the sin of slavery, the civil war, and thousands of hangings and brutal happenings in the last 470-years.  You want forgiveness, beg forgiveness.

There was a time when even Ben said discrimination was all over in this country.  The Supreme Court said so, with respect to the voting rights act.  Then Treyvon Martin happened, or was it Sandra Bland, or perhaps George Floyd.  America awakened to the fact that racism and murder is still alive and well in America.

False impression?  Methinks you have other plans.

Original Quill wrote:

Maddog wrote:Stop listening to Quill about the southern states. I despise him in part because he projects a false impression of our country. And I'm disappointed in the way Ben gives him a pass all of the time, but that's life.

It's a fair opinion, backed up by the sin of slavery, the civil war, and thousands of hangings and brutal happenings in the last 470-years.  You want forgiveness, beg forgiveness.

There was a time when even Ben said discrimination was all over in this country.  The Supreme Court said so, with respect to the voting rights act.  Then Treyvon Martin happened, or was it Sandra Bland, or perhaps George Floyd.  America awakened to the fact that racism and murder is still alive and well in America.

False impression?  Methinks you have other plans.

Yes, racism and murder is still alive in the US and the rest of the planet.

Eilzel wrote:

Maddog wrote:

I forgot about foreigners fear of our natural disasters and guns.

I don't even think of it.  I see a handgun or hear a tornado siren and I don't even bat an eye.  

Living in the Keys would be terrible for travelers. I doubt you could fly anywhere except back to the mainland of Florida, or drive like 5 hours to Miami. They are out there figuratively and literally.  

Stop listening to Quill about the southern states. I despise him in part because he projects a false impression of our country. And I'm disappointed in the way Ben gives him a pass all of the time, but that's life.

You could have a problem with your partner in any small town in the US, whether its Texas or California. You won't have issues in major cities. As I mentioned before, the gay bars around here really aren't gay bars. The need for "special" bars isn't there anymore like it used to be, and the internet has taken the place of the bar for meeting like minded individuals. Do you, and nobody gives a shit.

Giid public transportation is readily available in densely populated areas, which means the east coast. I mean we have trains and busses here, but we are so spread out that they are inefficient. Driving is whole lot easier and quicker.  

New England is very pretty, until it's cold as fuck.  No thanks

Surprisingly I actually miss cold weather, though I believe New England gets much colder than old England ever does lol

Yes it does. Cold weather is nice now and then.  Months on end is just a beating.

You would probably like Portland. Large, very progressive city. Weather like the UK.

Unfortunately, most Brits seem to hit our east coast and never travel from there.

Maddog wrote:

Eilzel wrote:

Maddog wrote:

I forgot about foreigners fear of our natural disasters and guns.

I don't even think of it.  I see a handgun or hear a tornado siren and I don't even bat an eye.  

Living in the Keys would be terrible for travelers. I doubt you could fly anywhere except back to the mainland of Florida, or drive like 5 hours to Miami. They are out there figuratively and literally.  

Stop listening to Quill about the southern states. I despise him in part because he projects a false impression of our country. And I'm disappointed in the way Ben gives him a pass all of the time, but that's life.

You could have a problem with your partner in any small town in the US, whether its Texas or California. You won't have issues in major cities. As I mentioned before, the gay bars around here really aren't gay bars. The need for "special" bars isn't there anymore like it used to be, and the internet has taken the place of the bar for meeting like minded individuals. Do you, and nobody gives a shit.

Giid public transportation is readily available in densely populated areas, which means the east coast. I mean we have trains and busses here, but we are so spread out that they are inefficient. Driving is whole lot easier and quicker.  

New England is very pretty, until it's cold as fuck.  No thanks

Surprisingly I actually miss cold weather, though I believe New England gets much colder than old England ever does lol

Yes it does. Cold weather is nice now and then.  Months on end is just a beating.

You would probably like Portland. Large, very progressive city. Weather like the UK.

Unfortunately, most Brits seem to hit our east coast and never travel from there.

Cause your country is so big!

And most people only take 1-2 week vacation at a time, that isn't much time to see a country the size of the US - plus NYC is always tops of the list AND the nearest.

I do want to get to Arizona one day and see the Grand Canyon, and would probably hit Vegas too. I know you can do river cruises down the Mississippi, and that is something we'd love to do.

Eilzel wrote:

Maddog wrote:

Yes it does. Cold weather is nice now and then.  Months on end is just a beating.

You would probably like Portland. Large, very progressive city. Weather like the UK.

Unfortunately, most Brits seem to hit our east coast and never travel from there.

Cause your country is so big!

And most people only take 1-2 week vacation at a time, that isn't much time to see a country the size of the US - plus NYC is always tops of the list AND the nearest.

I do want to get to Arizona one day and see the Grand Canyon, and would probably hit Vegas too. I know you can do river cruises down the Mississippi, and that is something we'd love to do.

It is big, and of course NYC is close, but many Americans fly to Europe and skip the UK completely. When my daughter and SIL went last year they went straight to Paris then Amsterdam.

I guess I can see the allure of visiting NYC and parts of the east coast. I see no allure in living there. Neither do the millions that have left.

I guess I'm lucky...in my long life I've visited, either as part of my job or on vacation, Florida, California, Nevada and Arizona in North America and Mexico in South America; most Western European countries, India, various bits of North, East and West Africa (including some places which most sane beings would avoid like the plague), the island of Guam (I'd probably be arrested if I talked about it!), got gloriously drunk at a riotous party in Dublin's fair city and - most moving and memorable - Israel.

And do you know what? There's nowhere on this earth that I would rather be right now than my gorgeous little house tucked away in a beautiful "chocolate box" East Anglian village.....lockdown or not.

Fred Moletrousers wrote:I guess I'm lucky...in my long life I've visited, either as part of my job or on vacation, Florida, California, Nevada and Arizona in North America and Mexico in South America...

Actually, Mexico is in North America. The three countries of North America are: Canada, Mexico and United States. South America begins at Colombia.

Fred Moletrousers wrote:And do you know what? There's nowhere on this earth that I would rather be right now than my gorgeous little house tucked away in a beautiful "chocolate box" East Anglian village.....lockdown or not.

Sounds wonderful, Fred.

Syl wrote:I always fancied visiting New England, the scenery in Autumn  is breathtaking.

People from all over the world plan trips for the Fall, just to witness the change of colors up and down Highway 7, on the backside of the Berkshire Mountains, western Massachusetts.



It's basically just north of New York City (distances are so small on the east coast), so you can combine a trip through the Berkshires, east to Boston, and down into the Cape Cod region. Grab a lobster dinner at Plymouth.

Maddog wrote:

Eilzel wrote:

Maddog wrote:

Yes it does. Cold weather is nice now and then.  Months on end is just a beating.

You would probably like Portland. Large, very progressive city. Weather like the UK.

Unfortunately, most Brits seem to hit our east coast and never travel from there.

Cause your country is so big!

And most people only take 1-2 week vacation at a time, that isn't much time to see a country the size of the US - plus NYC is always tops of the list AND the nearest.

I do want to get to Arizona one day and see the Grand Canyon, and would probably hit Vegas too. I know you can do river cruises down the Mississippi, and that is something we'd love to do.

It is big, and of course NYC is close, but many Americans fly to Europe and skip the UK completely. When my daughter and SIL went last year they went straight to Paris then Amsterdam.  

I guess I can see the allure of visiting NYC and parts of the east coast. I see no allure in living there.  Neither do the millions that have left.  

To be fair though, Europe and the US aren’t comparable. Every European country has it’s own distinct culture, architecture, language and food etc. Someone might be keen on seeing Paris or the flat lands and canals of the Netherlands but may not be interested in the UK, or vise versa. I appreciate different parts of the US are also different, but not really to the same degree (unless talking landscape).

Eilzel wrote:

Maddog wrote:

It is big, and of course NYC is close, but many Americans fly to Europe and skip the UK completely. When my daughter and SIL went last year they went straight to Paris then Amsterdam.  

I guess I can see the allure of visiting NYC and parts of the east coast. I see no allure in living there.  Neither do the millions that have left.  

To be fair though, Europe and the US aren’t comparable. Every European country has it’s own distinct culture, architecture, language and food etc. Someone might be keen on seeing Paris or the flat lands and canals of the Netherlands but may not be interested in the UK, or vise versa. I appreciate different parts of the US are also different, but not really to the same degree (unless talking landscape).

I don't disagree. But if someone wants to come see the USA, I would recommend doing no more than changing planes in NYC.

Especially since time is always at a premium..

I've never been to NYC, and it's not on my bucket list either. I live in an urban environment so when I want to get away I prefer non urban environments..

I loved New York when I visited back in 1995. I visited Manhattan and Greenwich Village, and absolutely was convinced I would live there after university (I didn't).

NYC has a vibe much different from London, in my opinion. London is somehow more open and spread-out than New York, and for the most part, quite a bit shorter. In Manhattan you can almost feel like you're still indoors when you go out because you're surrounded by skyscrapers and can see very little sky.

I don't know, maybe I'm talking shit. I've only been to NYC once and London a half-dozen times or so, and I would never say I'm really familiar with either city.

New York City is miles away from any other place in the states.  It's pace is so fast, and happenings so enormous, that (as Red evidences) other Americans tend to hate the place and the people.  But it's so grand, and things happen on such a huge scale, that if that's for you...it's for you.

I lived there for a decade in the 70's, and experienced so much, and met so many vibrant people, that by comparison the rest of America "peeps about to find themselves dishonorable graves" (except California, lol).

Original Quill wrote:New York City is miles away from any other place in the states.  It's pace is so fast, and happenings so enormous, that (as Red evidences) other Americans tend to hate the place and the people.  But it's so grand, and things happen on such a huge scale, that if that's for you...it's for you.

I lived there for a decade in the 70's, and experienced so much, and met so many vibrant people, that by comparison the rest of America "peeps about to find themselves dishonorable graves" (except California, lol).

I don't hate the place, I just have no use for it.

It is slightly different than the rest of the country. But my point is that you won't get a feel for the US by visiting it, or at least only it.

Go to Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, Denver and Seattle too.

As for living in NYC, no fucking thanks. I know enough people that did that for awhile.

It is different. And, it is intense. As with anything that is intense, if you don't like it, you really don't like it when it's intense.