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_ivantheterrible__ OP t1_jdwqdtp wrote

Reply to comment by vermont4runner in Any tips for a possible future Vermonter? by _ivantheterrible__

First of all thank you for your honesty and detail, i'm from a reality of paradoxes, for instance healthcare is "free" but it's so inefficient most people turn to private clinics anyway, where they have to wait for their inexorable fate in unending lines. The traffic is most of the times unexplicably unruly, and public transportation is insufficient and inefficient. Bureaucracy is extremely complicated and slow and the taxes are high for no reason at all considering the lack of public service in every aspect possible. Also the weather here is absolute hell, the mediterranean has slowly transformed into a sort of rainforest without the forest, extremely hot and humid and full of bugs in the summer, and unending rain in the winter, the last time i've seen snow was like five years ago and it lasted for 25 minutes. So yes, i'm aware that the housing prices and the operating costs can be a real pain but from my point of view i'm just escaping from hell (lol). I think i will visit anyway the next time i'm in the US, just to see how everything feels.

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vermont4runner t1_jdwrxbl wrote

Your experience lines up with what our students told us as well. Many in America romanticize European life but don’t realize that many Europeans do the same to American life lol.

If you need regular healthcare that’s something you need to heavily consider. We’re losing doctors quickly here for the same reasons I previously listed. Expect months at times to be seen for non emergencies. Longer for specialists. Then the large costs associated with them.

Tax wise, compared to Europe, it’s not that bad here. Expect about 25-30% for single. 20-25% if married filing jointly. You don’t get much for it but most taxes fund our military who also tend to get involved internationally. I’ve been told by a good friend in the Netherlands who’s much older than I that Europe banks on us for military strength if things really hit the fan. Yay no healthcare…

I highly recommend visiting in July to see our peak heat and again in February to experience our true cold. We’re a state of extremes but lean more towards the cold side.

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