I’m a Berkeley rationalist. My partner and I have been considering leaving Berkeley, mostly due to the cost of living and the political climate. We’re most likely to move back to the midwest where our families are located, but would move elsewhere for similar social support. We’re most strongly considering Columbus or Louisville. Or maybe a smaller town nearby. We’ve also considered Czechia, Poland, etc. for the low cost of living and beauty. I don’t think we’d go to Canada, which has all the difficulties of leaving the States, but none of the cost benefits.
If you have kids, living near grandparents / relatives provides a LOT of free labor. For me to prefer a rationalist community hub, it would have to have similar kinds of support. I’m imagining a circle of parents that takes turns watching ALL the kids. Or passes toys around in an exchange circle. There is also an issue where rationalists often have very particular ideas about child rearing, and they don’t all mesh. Even with people filling the child care role for each other, I think I’d strongly miss not having “elders” around.
COVID has taught me that I don’t actually need all the bells and whistles of Berkeley. I’m fine with my partner and my dog and some new hobbies. So I’m torn between living somewhere like Berkeley where you can walk to cafes and nice little shops and such, and somewhere in the middle of nowhere where I can have chickens and a permaculture garden.
Things I care a lot about: - I love autumn. I don’t like if it’s very cold or very hot a lot. - Community. It doesn’t have to be the rationalist community, but I like to exist in very tight knit communities. - Access to relatives, or other people who will fill that role. - Cost of living as related to earning potential - Being able to afford a nice house - Less political heat. More “live and let live” than here. - My partner has to be able to do software work.
If your choice is between Czechia and Poland I would expect Czechia (Prague) to be better for a rationalist. Prague has a reasonable rationalist community. Poland has a lot of political heat.
Amusingly, getting a dog is going to be a major issue to a potential move for us, since I’m pretty strongly against travelling with her in cargo which isn’t very safe. There isn’t a good way to get a dog to Europe. (There’s a single international cruise line that takes dogs, but nixes anything pitbull adjacent since they only dock in England which has strong anti-pitbull laws)
You can charter a private plane or yacht cabin, but it’s insanely expensive and I can’t find anywhere where e.g. 12 people who all want to fly their dogs to Europe but don’t care about the exact schedule charter a private plane together (at which point it’s pretty affordable, and would definitely be worth it)
For me to prefer a rationalist community hub, it would have to have similar kinds of support. I’m imagining a circle of parents that takes turns watching ALL the kids. Or passes toys around in an exchange circle. There is also an issue where rationalists often have very particular ideas about child rearing, and they don’t all mesh. Even with people filling the child care role for each other, I think I’d strongly miss not having “elders” around.
Makes me think of this David Brooks essay, which includes a profile of the Temescal Commons in Oakland.
I’m a Berkeley rationalist. My partner and I have been considering leaving Berkeley, mostly due to the cost of living and the political climate. We’re most likely to move back to the midwest where our families are located, but would move elsewhere for similar social support. We’re most strongly considering Columbus or Louisville. Or maybe a smaller town nearby. We’ve also considered Czechia, Poland, etc. for the low cost of living and beauty. I don’t think we’d go to Canada, which has all the difficulties of leaving the States, but none of the cost benefits.
If you have kids, living near grandparents / relatives provides a LOT of free labor. For me to prefer a rationalist community hub, it would have to have similar kinds of support. I’m imagining a circle of parents that takes turns watching ALL the kids. Or passes toys around in an exchange circle. There is also an issue where rationalists often have very particular ideas about child rearing, and they don’t all mesh. Even with people filling the child care role for each other, I think I’d strongly miss not having “elders” around.
COVID has taught me that I don’t actually need all the bells and whistles of Berkeley. I’m fine with my partner and my dog and some new hobbies. So I’m torn between living somewhere like Berkeley where you can walk to cafes and nice little shops and such, and somewhere in the middle of nowhere where I can have chickens and a permaculture garden.
Things I care a lot about:
- I love autumn. I don’t like if it’s very cold or very hot a lot.
- Community. It doesn’t have to be the rationalist community, but I like to exist in very tight knit communities.
- Access to relatives, or other people who will fill that role.
- Cost of living as related to earning potential
- Being able to afford a nice house
- Less political heat. More “live and let live” than here.
- My partner has to be able to do software work.
If your choice is between Czechia and Poland I would expect Czechia (Prague) to be better for a rationalist. Prague has a reasonable rationalist community. Poland has a lot of political heat.
Yeah, Prague is a definite draw.
Amusingly, getting a dog is going to be a major issue to a potential move for us, since I’m pretty strongly against travelling with her in cargo which isn’t very safe. There isn’t a good way to get a dog to Europe. (There’s a single international cruise line that takes dogs, but nixes anything pitbull adjacent since they only dock in England which has strong anti-pitbull laws)
You can charter a private plane or yacht cabin, but it’s insanely expensive and I can’t find anywhere where e.g. 12 people who all want to fly their dogs to Europe but don’t care about the exact schedule charter a private plane together (at which point it’s pretty affordable, and would definitely be worth it)
Makes me think of this David Brooks essay, which includes a profile of the Temescal Commons in Oakland.