Hello from Scotland

[Ydobon]

Hello everybody - very pleased (and oddly nervous?) to be introducing myself here.

As appears to be the trend in these parts, I've been reading the blog and lurking on the forum for 2-3 years. Just back from a sunny holiday, which marked almost exactly 2 years since I read Jacob's book for the first time.

I'm in my early 30s and live in a Scottish city with my lovely wife. I'm fascinated with the concept of ERE, although I'm aware that there are a lot of clashes between our fairly representative lifestyle and the path to financial independence.

I love to cook; always happy to invent a meal plan based on loss leaders; am discovering thrifty Scottish genes later than I might have; make my own beer and wine; have interests in sustainability and Fair Trade. 'Stuff' stresses me out (my wife now feels the same), I'm an improving saver and a pragmatic index investor.

In a lot of ways, I consider our lives to be very typical to those of our peers. I almost went for a cheesy 'everyman' type forum name. But I want something very different, so with a hat tip to Swift, Ydobon says hello

[Chad]

Welcome. Everyone's path is different, so take what ideas you want. Just make sure all you decisions are conscious ones.

It's rather expedient that someone from Scotland shows up as the vote for Scottish independence looms. It would be interesting to hear your take on it.

[GandK]

Welcome!

[I(E)reland]

Welcome to another European!

[FrenchGirl]

Welcome! Great to have another European!

[DutchGirl]

Welcome from me, too.

[Ydobon]

It's rather expedient that someone from Scotland shows up as the vote for Scottish independence looms. It would be interesting to hear your take on it.

Wonderful, you've predicted my journal title!

My take on it is that independence presents us with a variety of threats and opportunities. It's an exceptionally exciting time, the Scottish public are as engaged (and as polarised) as I have ever seen them in relation to politics. Despite our current status as a 'united' group of nations, there are real differences between the national temperaments of the British club.

Our current (nationalist) government prioritise health, education and environmental matters in a very different way from their peers in England and their conception of social justice chimes with my own. That said, I realise that we operate in an interconnected world and that 'fairness' and 'common sense' can sometimes be at loggerheads.

I believe that the 'Yes' campaign have been typically Scottish in the staunch manner in which they have tried damn hard to convince the public that positive change is possible. It really reminded me of the section in the ERE book 'Is this for me?', they are working hard to cement a strong vision of what might be. On the other hand, so much 'blue sky thinking' (sorry for that) has led to gaps in their numbers, it's hard to ignore these as a rational person.

Ultimately I believe that, regardless of the outcome, life will continue in much the same manner that it has for so many years. We'll still eat, work, live, pay taxes and be proud of our identity as a nation. The bitterness and nit-picking that has come from both sides of the debate has not been positive, but this is a referendum that needed to happen.

The kind welcomes from my fellow Europeans make me painfully aware that the current UK government is offering a referendum on EU membership. *That* scares the hell out of me.

[GandK]

*That* scares the hell out of me.

How come? Complete ignorance here... are you talking politically, financially, both... ?

[I(E)reland]

How do you find Scotland for cost of living/quality of life?

[Ydobon]

*That* scares the hell out of me.

How come? Complete ignorance here... are you talking politically, financially, both... ?

The massive experiment that is the EU is an incredibly complicated bit of political engineering that has bound countries together in more ways than they are probably aware. The prospect of tearing up our obligations to this far larger club of nations strikes me as foolhardy. A lot of our trade is with fellow EU countries, Europe (more than Britain), gives us our place in the world.

How do you find Scotland for cost of living/quality of life?

Cost of living = homes are very expensive, everything else is comparable (or cheaper) to Europe
Quality of life = typically stable politics, general trust in the state/state institutions (usual grumbles aside), support/respect for entrepreneurial activity, relatively low crime, typically attractive environment, freedom of speech, plenty to do. Can't complain

[skintstudent]

Welcome from a fellow Scot.

[Little_empty_attic]

Hi Ydobon,
Looking forward to your journal as DH and I would like to try living in Scotland someday. Cost of homes compared to U.S. is a shock, as you say, but it's still at the top of our list for living overseas.