Hello,

As I know that allot of members are from the USA, I thought this will be the first place I could find out some information about living in America.

I am into Music, Basketball and freestyle BMX riding to say the least. I like the USA because they have the best TV shows, most of the good music comes from there, there is so much history of the blues and blues musicians from the USA, I have always wanted to go to an NBA game, I support the Chicago Bulls, the NBA is in America, the Bulls just had there best season since the Jordan/Pippen era, most of the great BMX riders are from America, Factories like the Hoffman Bikes factory is in America, you guys pay like $700 for a Fender Stratocaster where the Australian dollar is at its best in around 20 years and we still pay $1000AUD at a store, where the Oz dollar is normal we pay $1400AUD for a Highway One Stratocaster!, Cars, bikes and musical instruments are cheaper in the USA, basically everything that is good is in the USA.

I live in Perth, Ausrtalia. It is called the most isolated city in the world, it is a nice place to live however as above. Perth is located on the western coast of Australia, I have lived on the East coast in Sydney and visited Brisbane where the lifestyle is different and more populated. You may have heard of Brisbane, Sydney (Opera House) or Melbourne. They are all loacted east. Perth is about 10-15 years BEHIND the cities over in the east, they are much more developed. For example, there are NO 24 hour supermarkets here, only in the last 6 months Coles and Woolworths (Australias main supermarkets) will now open to 9pm, they used to open to 5-6pm and the only late night trading was Thursday, only in the last 6 months Sunday trading is allowed at places like Harvey Norman or the Good Guys (where you can buy a fridge, microwave etc.), so if your like me and many others you work Saturdays now you can actually beat the Thursday night rush and shop on Sunday. Its totally stupid, 10-15 years ago you may have well lived in the 1920's, I can remember when I was 12 years old around 15 years ago, pertol (gas) stations would not all open on Sunday, you would drive to the nearest one and there would literally be a piece of paper with the locations that are open and you would have to dirve 3-4 suburbs over to get fuel.

Going a little of track here, I could rant the full 60,000 character limit on many other reasons why I am against living here. Up until recently I worked for two years with a guy from Jacksonville Florida I believe, he was a great guy and I am actually going to email him to go some info aswell. When we were not busy at work he used to tell me allot about stores in America, and the fact that we had jack **** over here , he told me about the school system etc, and told me the funny story about when he arrived on a Sunday from the USA for the first time and he needed something to eat but everything was closed.

Anyway to my point, I am considering living in America and as it is early days I am not too sure exactly where I would like to live as I have never been there before. This process could even span over a few years and there is allot I need to consider.

I have some qualifications for work but right now I am looking to develop I career, so at the moment I am just working a job and saving money. Over here I would say you need a job that pays at least $40,000 per year, which after tax is $650 per week, it is very hard even as an adult without kids to live on less than that. You can expect to rent a house for $300-350 per week or a small unit for $220-$280 depending where you live. There is public health over here, I don't think it is that great but it is better then nothing. I have private health insurance which is allot better and only costs a small amount each week.

I guess what I need to know is what is the comparsion of living costs like in the USA compared to in Perth? Is there a superannuation (retirement fund) in the USA? Is private health insurance accessable? How hard is it to find a job in America? And does anyone have any info on becoming an American citizen?

Oh one last thing, the TV shows that I love such as Cops, Judge Judy, The First 48, American Chopper, NBA, Pimp My Ride, Cops etc etc are on here YEARS later then you probably see them. Unless you have foxtel (pay money for many TV channels) you are out of luck. Literally in the past 3 months general public now has more channels, before we have about 6, and all the TV is poor, no NBA, no X-games Bmx stuff etc. As of 1 week ago they are showing THE FIRST SEASON of Pimp My Ride and its meant to be sooooo good and soooo great that we now can watch this on TV. For the first time ever NBA is actually on TV, we have never, ever, ever had NBA on TV, this is what I am talking about

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Fender Highway One HSS Stratocaster '09
Modified Fender Champ600
Honer Special20 Harmonica

you'll regret leaving australia if you do, having spend your whole life here. its one of the most beautifullest (did i spell that right?) countrys out there. take a short holiday to cape tribulation and you'll know what i'm talking about....cant find rainforests like that anywhere else

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riley

well being a kid,if I know anything.It is not easy to find jobs here. gas prices are high and every thing is made in china. thats all I can tell you,the US is a great place to live,are government just kinda sucks,that is if you ask me.But I'm just a kid so don't think that the US is bad.just wait for some other peoples advice.

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I LIKE PIE!!!!!

IF I DO SOMETHING STUPID,DON'T SAY A WORD...

why dont you move somewhere thats not so isolated? personally i'd like to live in perth, but thats just me.

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riley

I would advise taking an extended vacation first. There is always the possibility of the grass is greener syndrome which comes into play. I spent 4 years out of my country before realising it was actually a lot better than I thought.

i would say go for it, but i caution you that the different parts of America are VERY different. so do your homework and make sure you go to a place you will like. There are negatives about the US but there are a ton of positives too (it is the top immigration destination in the world). will relocation be hard? of course... but if you don't try you will never know.

The grass is always greener on the other side. Everywhere has its downfall

I couldn't have said this better, always seems better somewhere else. Australia is the one place I'd like to get to in my lifetime but chances are slim.

US is a great country, founded on great ideas, but our government's antics have tainted our global credibility and domestically things are a mess. We need some politicians who understand the concept of business success, not running on debt. I don't have all the answers but our system seems to be teetering on the brink of collapse and those of us in the stressed out "middle" just do what we can to raise our families and try to enjoy life as we can.

Good luck on whatever you decide. But as someone else said, maybe move somewhere less isolated before leaving for anywhere else, even here.

It's not greener, just a different shade of green... you're right, everywhere has its positives and negatives.

Although I am struggling to think of positives of living in the UK...

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'01 American Deluxe HSS Strat.
'87 Japan HSS Strat.
'11 Custom Shop FMT HSS Strat.

"Without music, time is just a bunch of boring production deadlines and dates by which bills must be paid."

Been all over the world...but im a gulfcoast guy...i always want to come home...you might feel that way to...come visit and see what you think...being a Native Texan i can tell ya we have it all here...big state..but im not saying this would be the place you want to hang your hat...we adapt to where we are raised ...with that said... a change can be good every once in awhile....goodluck with whatever you decide..

I would definitely go with the suggestions already made about taking an extended trip and checking out the various regions of the US as you will find that just like Australia things can be very different from state to state and coast to coast.

We do still have what we call Blue Laws in some states where some stores are closed on Sundays or do not open until the afternoon so what you mention doesn't sound all that strange.

One thing to consider is that just like a lot of the world, our economy is a mess right now and unemployment is pretty high so I would NOT just move here without a job already lined up as you may find it difficult to find one.

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Bob

Fender CD280S NAT, Recording King RO-127
Squier Classic Vibe 50s Telecaster BSB
American Special/Highway One Telecaster hybrid Partscaster
Fender 60th Anv Am Std Telecaster, Natural/Rosewood
http://community.webshots.com/user/rjstaaf

look up average salary in the states and in perth/australia. they may be different, so although you pay more for things in perth, you earn more money...

look it up, not sure.

Try New Zealand...or Hawaii...

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"reach for the sky and aim for the moon, for if you miss you will end up among the stars"

Zoom MS50G
72 tele dlx RI
2011 standard strat
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I'd really reconsider Strato. New Zealand and then Australia are well up on the best quality of life list.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quality-of-life_index

http://www.mercer.com/press-releases/quality-of-living-report-2010

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No no and no

Yep, it's not really a bed of roses here either. As was mentioned before, fuel is expensive, taxes vary from state to state as does the cost of living. Housing prices vary widely. Unemployment is still really high. As for health insurance, you're pretty much on your own and it's extremely expensive. I agree, visit for a while.

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Life...... It's sexually transmitted and always fatal

How you lot can complain about fuel prices is bloody funny. I think only Saudi Arabia enjoys lower prices.

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No no and no