Aaron

I'm not a financial advisor, so nobody copy this, but we removed all our money from the US over the last few years in preparation. We dont have stocks any more, and our last bit of US money is due to be transferred when our tax return is paid out. I'm cautiously optimistic things will hold until then 🤞

We've put most of our money short term into New Zealand banks, specifically term deposits at a few locations, as the financial system here is well insulated at least compared to most countries. Long term we will vary our investment more but we don't have many options until we are permanent residents (another couple years). It's a moderate low risk growth, and we are okay with the downsides of it being inaccessible since we have several staggered.

Here term deposits are likely to be frozen short term in the event of a crash by the Open Banking Resolution system, but our everyday funds will be more accessible. Now for a huge market crash, most bets are off, but being in this little island nation, I feel a lot more secure in the fact that society will pull together rather than eat each other. That's the true benefit of being here: the culture.

Waving a specific 14 flags.

I was pretty sure I knew what a general strike was.. wouldn't any strike be more expensive than 2-4 hours of protest, and wouldn't a general strike involve much more planning than a normal strike due to the scale and breadth?

Also I was worried that generalstrikeus.com was too soon. The UAW general strike is planned for 2028 to get time to plan, because a general strike isn't something you can just do successfully at the drop of a hat.

Meanwhile, the US recommended against prosecuting Trump for insurrection because he wasn't yet out of government, he was trying to retain control and not take control.

Good job South Korea, happy to see a country with a "justice" system that isn't feckless.

Beautiful! Congrats on your escape :-)

Welcome! North or South island?

Absolutely. It's not a utopia, but it's a huge step up from the US.

New Zealand! It's not perfect, but with a population of only 5 million, we do a lot better taking care of each other. I live on the south island, so it's even smaller. We have a fairly conservative govt right now, just like most places the economic downturn encouraged a right shift, but the culture here has been very progressive historically, and the people still are. I feel much more hopeful pushing back on hate here than I did in Texas, and it feels like it's impactful as opposed to in the US where it feels like pushing back against a river.

I would suggest you look into it, at the very least! Leaving was the best decision I ever made.

You've done right by your daughter. Good luck on the job search!

Looks fun, I'll give the demo a try with my kids 😆

Find community. Meet in person regularly if you can. Just existing in community is huge, if for nothing else than your own emotional, mental, and physical health. We are thinking of you all from outside the US 🫂