(edit title) What would you miss if you left Sweden Thinking of leaving Options

[inthenovel]

I am an academic here (have been for 10 years) and like most academics make very little money relative to what I would make in North America.

I really enjoy certain things about Sweden but when I look at the pension I would have if I stayed here until the end of my career I would be very poor. As a matter of fact Sweden has a terrible pension system, the second worst in the EU.And all this stuff about free health care every time I go I have to pay...how is that free? In Canada I paid nothing so it was really free.

I am wondering about other people who perhaps have been here a similar amount of time and what they would miss if they left here?

[mazz]

The charges for doctor or hospital visits are actually very nominal.I think they are a good thing because it deters people from clogging up the system with needless visits.
The pension scheme is far better than most in the EU. Certainly from my experience, pensioners here have a good standard of living, unlike their UK counterparts!!

What would I miss...

1.The standard of living
2.The low crime rates (in my area at least)
3.The long... and in my view good summers
4.The nature
5.The social life
6.The chilled out nature of the people and way of life
7.The low population
8.Living close to the sea ( I couldn't afford that in the UK)
9.The amount of semester time
10. Meat balls...(Okay, I'm kidding on that one)

[dockmandock]

Nothing.

Sweden strikes me as an absolutely appalling country to become old in.

[Bender B Rodriquez]

As a matter of fact Sweden has a terrible pension system, the second worst in the EU.

How so? Have you tried them all or are you just pulling facts out of your ass?

[mazz]

Exactly...Another blanket claim!!! And for those that actually want to see where Sweden is...

http://www.personneltoday.com/articles/200...-countries.html

[erik68]

Nothing.. Sweden strikes me as an absolutely appalling country to become old in.

Really? Have you lived there?
Otherwise, how did you come to the conclusion that it's an appalling country?

[Bender B Rodriquez]

Exactly...Another blanket claim!!! And for those that actually want to see where Sweden is.... http://www.personneltoday.com/articles/200...-countries.html

http://www.businessinsider.com/best-nation...systems-2010-10

[erik68]

Surprised that Germany and France are not up there at the top.

[jack sprat]

Boredom and Bureaucracy.

[Streja]

Jack Sprat, LOL!

I'd miss you if you left.

[dockmandock]

Really? Have you lived there?. Otherwise, how did you come to the conclusion that it's an appalling country?

Yes! For 12 years!

I didn't say it was an appalling country; I said I think it would be an appalling country to grow old in, for me, anyway.

Why? First of all the winter weather, which will get harder and harder to deal with as you get into old age. Obviously older people find the cold much tougher. And in real old age that could mean being a virtual prisoner in your own home for months when the snow and ice comes. I do not want to live like that for months if I get into my late 70s/80s - I want to be able to stroll out and enjoy walking year-round.

Secondly, it seems to me that older people have much more fun elsewhere. How many people do you see in their 60s out partying in Sweden? In Germany you can be a 60-year old clubber and no-one bats an eyelid; likewise in the UK I have been to 60s beat and soul nights run by people in their late 50s - how much of that do you see in Sweden?

Go into a pub in England and there are loads of pensioner regulars socialising and having a really good time - in a bar in Sweden most of those people are alcoholics. And how will you go for a nice lunch with a pint or glass of wine, as you see groups of pensioners doing in Germany all the time - no chance, as such places do not even exist.

I see so many active pensioners in England; there is so much to be active in - be involved with a cricket club, bridge club, you can join a darts or dominoes team in a pub and compete; look at the pensioners playing green bowls, or in southern Europe out playing boule all year.

Yes, that is my opinion, but I think Sweden would be an utterly desolate place to age in.

[Bender B Rodriquez]

I agree with you there. Winter is no fun and if you like pub-life Sweden is not the place.

It is not a coincidence why Spain is the Florida of Sweden.

[Maggie Malay]

What would you miss if you left Sweden?

Not much to be honest.

I might miss wondering whether all these posters on thelocal.se, who maintain life is so great in Sweden, inhabit a parallel universe, or whether they are just tongue-in-cheek?

After that, I would just get on with my life.

[Mo]

my kids

errrr

that's it

[NataBee]

The good traffic
The clean environment
The berry-picking in late summer
And my partner