The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence...

I'm originally from Northern California. I came to Ireland for a 6 month stay back in 1997. After a short stay back home to sort out my personal stuff, I came back and have been living here since then...28 years this April. Initially, living here was a great experience. I missed my family, of course, though not the States specifically.

Then Bush II was elected and suddenly, things changed for Americans living in Ireland. We were forced to keep our heads down and our mouths closed, or we'd be forced to declare a side and suffer verbal aggression and some physical threats if we went against Irish beliefs. Posters around Dublin City called for Americans to leave Ireland or suffer harm. It was damn scary! Things got better under Obama but since 2016, life here has been the most challenging. Very rural locations are always hard for 'blow-ins' to move into, but in politically charged times, it's even worse. It's not a race thing, but an (anti) American thing because most/a damn lot of Irish automatically think we all support The Felon.

Would I move back to California if I could actually afford it? Yes, but just to be with family. For lifestyle? Honestly, I might choose Canada. But I certainly wouldn't stay in Europe.