Idk I think that the incoming health insurance bomb is going to create an army of Luigi's. That and the rural hospitals and clinics shutting down. I used to work in healthcare and there are a lot of exhausted, scared, families who made it by OK with the ACA- now? They're fucked. People with MS who won't be able to get their injections, cancer will go untreated, and people with severe mental illness will lose access to their meds.

Americans are having trouble responding IMO because there needs to be more organization. There are a lot of listless, confused Americans, who want to push back but don't know how.

Use two separate drives to save yourself the headache of working with partitions. The only “headache” I experience is the pc clock will be wrong when I switch OS´s

What really stands out to me is how much good infrastructure bakes in human needs.

In the US I would have to plan walking 10k steps a day. I would have to plan every social interaction. I would have to plan when to go out of the house. No spontaneity. Spontaneity requires money, because that would mean having to get more gas because you HAVE to drive a car. It’s a lifestyle that is antithetical to the needs of the human animal.

While in Spain, my needs are baked in. I walk 10k steps a day because I don’t use a car. I meet my friends because they live in walking distance. I eat better food because regulations mean less garbage in my food. I am spontaneous and walk down mystery streets and explore. There are outdoor gyms and games and events and things to do -for free- all the time. I’ve already cut my anxiety medication down in half.

I’m very, very grateful to be here.

Virgin USA burger lifestyle- Get up, go to work, go home, tv, bed. Meticulously plan every social interaction and pray people don’t cancel. Stay inside and game/watch streams because even though you work your ass off- no money. Go to the same nature parks repeatedly because they are in walking distance. (This is a luxury) Become nervous about driving due to gas prices and risk of accident because you cannot afford to lose your 20 year old vehicle in this market. Spend 60$ for a bag of groceries.

Chad Basque Country Lifestyle- Get up, go to a new cafe because there are 20 of them within a 10 minute walk and it’s fun to try new things. Dig change out of your bag to pay for your breakfast. On your way to get coffee you run into one of your friends. They introduce you to another friend. You have just made a new friend. The park has a ping pong table. Play ping pong. It’s time to get groceries. You use more change to get a fresh bundle of veggies that were grown locally. You spend 5 - 10 euros and get a few days worth of food. After lunch, you take the metro for a euro and go to the beach.

Super late response, I’m busy touching grass lol.

Also I’m out of ADHD medication so this is going to be a ramble post.

I’m not going to throw shade on the person who deleted their comment because I get their frustration especially when there are so few leftists in America. I get it, it is disheartening to see people leave. I imagine that the poster feels some betrayal and I only have empathy for them. I just ask that people BE KIND because we need each other.

I’m nearly 40. I’m transgender. I came from a very abusive home situation and after I moved out I immediately got into another abusive situation, was a victim of a crime, nearly died, and spent 10 years recovering from CPTSD and undergoing intensive therapy. Thankfully I built a strong found family network who fundraised the money to help ship my ass out of America because I am eligible for citizenship in Spain. Said found family along with myself is now working to help other trans found family escape the country. We got two more leaving in October, another next year. Mutual aid, baby.

I mention my mental health history because the psychic damage of America was actively harming me. I could not take anymore harm. I’ve been through enough, and I’m sick of being unable to find a foothold in a forever home. Going into middle age means prioritizing my health and getting serious about my long term plans. This is impossible in America.

Like you, America is a place I do not have strong attachments to. I have always felt more love for the Basque Country. I thought a lot about staying and fighting. Leaving was not an easy decision and yes some part of me feels selfish for doing so, but how much good can I do from the USA? I was miserable there, I was so depressed I had trouble leaving my bed when I wasn’t busy going to work. I didn’t have the energy to help with organizing, and I could barely keep my head above water let alone help other people. Every time I felt like I was getting stability I’d be hit with random bullshit that took it all away in an instant.

For some, there is enough attachment and love for their community, culture, and country that it is worth staying and fighting for a better future. For some, they have no choice but to stay and fight. For me, America has only been pain- and I had a choice to leave and I took it. Now I will help others like me leave for greener pastures.