I almost immigrated to Iceland when I was young, somewhere around 19, I was living out in New Orleans and looking for something else. I ended up coming back home to Florida but a buddy and I where literally hours away from going when we decided to take a different path. I always thought about what would be if I had, as it was the only time I thought about tying to become a citizen of a different nation, with what Iceland has been doing with their government since the economic collapse I have thought about it more and more. I really like the way they are heading and think it will be a great place to live with all the changes they are making. If I where a younger man making the same decision now, I probably would have made the trip as I think there efforts to clean up their government and financial institutions will reward them for years to come.
The way you write, it's not entirely clear whether you actually went there or not. Moving someplace you've never been is generally not a good idea if you can help it. According to wikipedia, the highest recorded temperature, ever, was 30.5 C. That would just not cut it for me.
An all-time high of 87F doesn't cut it for you? For me, a place that never reaches the 90s is near-paradise. Also, Icelanders tend to be educated and friendly; I spent over a week in Reykjavik in February 2010 and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. After that trip, it made the list of places I'd consider moving to and this article just makes it more attractive to me.
Disclaimer: I'm originally from Canada, so I didn't find their winter all that daunting.
Moving someplace you've never been is generally not a good idea if you can help it
I have more bad ideas than good, of that I am sure, but whether bad or good they are always an adventure. You would have to know me on a personal level to understand that I am a guy that lives a minute away from making a decision that fundamentally changes my life. I may choose to move to China tomorrow and by the end of the week I will be these. It's just the way I am, that being said, I am a little more settled now, as I am married and have children and I have to contain my nature. But I will say, in all my life, I have never regretted the times I packed my bags in the middle of the night and fundamentally changing my life, by the time the sun shined. I have however regretted the choices that I thought about and never made, as I am left with the wonder lust of what could have been.
It's ok in the summer. I mean you get good enough sunny days, not too hot, not to cold. Winter is a bigger issue... definitely not what I expected. It actually puts people in hospitals due to drinking and mental issues. Two exchange students I knew had to go back home around November because they couldn't handle it.
I was really happy I left at the end of December and was aware I couldn't handle it much longer. It's amazing what the lack of sunlight does to you.
30C is a pretty average summer day where I live in Italy. There, it's a very rare event.
> Also, other warm locales are just a short flight away.
It's not like they can air-freight in the warm though - you're stuck in someplace cold except for brief trips. Fine for some people, but something to experience before committing to it.
Oh, I'm sure there are plenty of wonderful things in Iceland, just that someplace that cold is not my cup of tea. It could well be the perfect place for others though.
Think about what happens when every reasonable person leaves a country. Then remember the country still has nukes, ICBMs and a prodigious military force.
Not a good idea. I can't fix it (I don't even live in the US), but maybe you can help.
I am sorry if I implied that I was considering leaving the US because I was disgruntled with the US, that was not my intention, while I do have grievances with some of our policies it was not a factor nor would it be a factor in my consideration. Rather Iceland has always held a fascination for me and given their recent changes it is even more of a draw.
