New location for UK?
Living overseas can be a great experience. We tried it for a year and enjoyed so many things about living in New York. But there is something about the country where we grow up that forms an emotional attachment for us. Symbols of the UK make us smile and reminisce about home, while hearing a British accent in a remote part of the world can be a comfort.
I like it here, and having lived in many parts of the UK have come to take comfort in the British way of life. Our modest culinary skills, our understated manner, dry sense of humour and crap national sporting teams sit well with me. So maybe if I did want to move to another part of the world, I would just take the whole island with me. But where would I put it? Where would you stick the UK if you could literally lift it and put it elsewhere on the globe?
Here are just a few contenders for a new British location:
1. Off the coast of southern California. We could enjoy an almost perfect climate: warm and plentiful sunshine, no major weather related disasters to worry about, and an easy hop to visit the US national parks, Hawaii, Alaska and central America. (We would need earthquake proofing though). We would also gain a lot of US and Japanese tourists, enticed by the shorter flights and the better weather.
2. Next to Greenland. One simple reason for me: the chance to see the aurora borealis on a regular basis. Ok, it would get cold. Very cold. But we’re used to that already this year, aren’t we? We can always dress for the cold, and unlike the folk in other Arctic regions, the Brits know how to make a lovely cup of tea to make everything lovely. We might even learn how to continue with our normal lives despite a flurry of snow. And think of the top class ski resorts on our doorstep!
3. In the dead centre of Europe. A nightmare scenario for much of the people of Britain who would be forced to learn other languages, adopt the Euro and have to live with direct neighbours for the first time (there’s 20 miles of sea separating us from the French and they still make many Brits nervous). I suspect this move would be blocked by the rest of Europe, frightened about the prospect of British stag parties pouring into even more European cities and the threat of fish and chips invading their national cuisine.
4. South Pacific. Great weather, proximity to many of our kindred spirits in Australia and New Zealand, warm crystal blue oceans. These would be a bonus, but the main reason for such a distant move? England could rest easy knowing they would have a great chance of qualifying for the World Cup every year in the Oceania group, with key qualifiers against the likes of New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Tuvalu.
Where would you stick the UK if you had the choice?
In terms of weather and proximity to everywhere else, I’d suggest somewhere in the Mediterranean. Probably the Aegean Sea. Actually, Thessaloniki seems to be a rather good spot.
South Carolina. Nice and warm, loads of space. Would be funny to see how all the grumblers responded to the sticky heat, bugs and pesky alligators.
Aegean Sea sounds very nice David. I particularly fancy the prospect of fresh calamari every on demand. My only experience of Thessaloniki was on a cold March day on the way to Istanbul, but I do believe it gets nice and warm in the summer.
South Carolina? I think you’re trying to scare people Ben
Mind you, the mix of Spring Break and Brit Stag Party would be a frightening prospect.
ach maybe. I love that part of the world. Buckets of big juicy shrimp accompanied by an ice cold bud served in a swamp-side shack. Southern hospitality, roadside bbq, warm seas, boozy cities and rocking chairs on every porch.
You paint a good picture Ben. It sounds appealing.
Next to Argentina, so that I can travel to Edinburgh right now… it’s freaking hot in here!!!
That would throw a whole new complexion on the Falklands/Malvinas issue!
LOL you are so right… the heat won’t let me think!!! We would be like brothers (brothers in arms) 😛
I would place it between Australia and New Zealand and build a bridge between the three!! Could visit my family then hop on to Aussie to visit friends! A perfect world!
Would also remove the snow factor the UK is having a present!!
Right next to Colorado, please.
That way I could drive to the slopes for a good ski or high altitude hike and then to a real pub for a pint of good beer. -)
I’d tow the place halfway between Singapore and Sumatra. In that way we could still complain about the weather (too hot, too rainy) but enjoy a tropical lifestyle.
Wow, we’re dragging this little island of ours all over the globe. Anywhere but here by the looks of it
Great post and good question.
I’d have to go with your first suggestion and put us right off the coast of southern California. That way, I could go “home” and visit friends and family with a quick boat ride (or maybe then the US would FINALLY develop high speed rail?) instead of being so far away.
Kathryn
Too bad Kathryn, that your real home, and your adopted home, are the two last places in the developed world to have a decent rail system. But it’s a tempting thought to be in that Californian sunshine right now….
Typical British mentality.
Always want to travel but never leave home.
You’d all be looking for English pubs if you went to Afghanistan.