Jingthing

Thanks for your post. I'm sure the Shoals area isn't paradise but I definitely can't afford paradise even if it existed. Looking at D list options is a matter of compromises and trying to figure out which wants and needs that should have higher priority. I'm well aware of Huntsville but it's solidly above the D list as far as costs so it's not a realistic option. It would be much better as would so many other places that are above D list. I see Huntsville as an especially good option for working age people with the skills in demand there. But Huntsville is relevant to Florence as it's in reasonable driving distance from Florence for its airport, restaurants, shopping, cultural events, etc. I think a car is needed in the Shoals regardless but it would need to be at least an OK car to rely on for trips to Huntsville. I think Huntsville is on a path for eventual much higher costs but I don't think Florence is close enough or likely to have the industry draws to be much effected by that when it happens. In other words it seems to me the Shoals probably won't change all that much in the foreseeable future. Much further away but being somewhat in the range of Atlanta is a big plus for me because of personal contacts there. Some Atlanta suburbs used to be more affordable but no longer. Occasional snow is one thing. It doesn't compare to hellishing bad and long winters found in the north. I think tornadoes are a concern in the Shoals region though. Those are not fun. I was pleasantly surprised that a town as small as Florence has both a (small of course) reform Jewish temple and an annual Pride parade. Most towns that size in the south wouldn't have either. The video says the Shoals is culturally more like Tennessee than Alabama. Not fully sure what he meant. Sure the music history in the Shoals but did he mean that the Shoals is less "redneck" than most of Alabama?

You're living in an alternate reality. A two state solution is further away than its ever been. That's the actual reality.

Sadly still unlikely but now it is at least POSSIBLE and that's a positive direction.

House republicans sadly with their thin majority are bat sheit crazy and only into political theater rather than actual solutions on almost all issues including this one.

Free Palestine -- cool. Free Palestine River to the Sea -- favoring genocide of Jews. (Palestinians) Actually on the ground where Jews were settled after WW2? Not sure exactly what you're saying but on the face of it sounds like an extremely radical anti existence of Israel position. Two state solution -- MUCH further away from any realistic possibility after October 7. For basic common sense reasons there is now basically NO TRUST at all on either side towards the other side. Palestinians and Israelis are to live in peace? What does that even mean? Are you going to order them to do that? Are you going to impose two states on both sides when they don't even want it? As with so many half baked posts here -- the naivete or worse is stunning.

This is an interesting option about a place I've never heard of! As usual with "D list" options there are strong pros and cons. As far as I can tell a strong con for me would be the restaurant situation but as mentioned before I wouldn't expect have much of an eating out budget anywhere in the U.S. as prices for eating out have become absurd there. I did some research and it's not as bad as this video says, but it's pretty bad even compared to a city like Fort Wayne. I do like a place being warm weather over cold weather though so moving anywhere in the midwest (Indiana, Ohio, Pittsburgh which I like but may as well be the midwest) is always going to have the cold winter problem.

USA options only here. Americans moving to Canada is NOT repatriation. It's moving to another foriegn country.

You're making idiotic assumptions about my personal savings and I agree totally you're screwed if you don't have a significant nestegg. But this topic is not meant to only be about my personal situation which is quite specific to me, but more general to returning expats who need a cheaper place. I think you're out of touch if you think 1000 a month is reasonably doable in most places for your own apartment. It isn't anymore.

Yeah I get that. I would shoot for more like 700 if possible. On a fixed income that's a big difference.

I have no idea what you're talking about. As I've mentioned before, I now prefer to replace Jew hatred for antisemitism because Jew haters often play stupid games about how Arabs are semites too, etc. ignoring the established definition of antisemitism (about Jews only). So it's just a proactive posture to shut such haters up as they always go there, sooner or later. I don't think the word antisemitism will go away, but replacing it with Jew hatred is growing for the reason I mentioned. Are these things antisemitic? L.A. Jews tell us - Los Angeles Times (latimes.com) What is antisemitism? And who gets to decide? Dov Waxman: Fundamentally, antisemitism is anti-Jewish racism. It’s distinct — it has its own history and different kinds of manifestations, but it is a form of racism.

Anti semitism is racism.

Actually what Putin has been doing to Ukraine is much worse and its happening now. Putin's intentions towards Ukraine are explicitly genocidal unlike Israel which does not have genocidal intentions towards Palestinian Arabs.

Yes they should be much tougher on faculty than students. The dominant message of these campers is that Israel shouldn't be allowed to exist. Right in line with Hamas and Iran and without any doubt infected with Jew hatred.

You are massively biased against Jews. A typical classic Jew sniffer. If a Jew supports the existence of Israel their opinion means nothing to you. If a Jew is an obsessive Israel demonizer like you and most of the pro Hamas pro Iran campus campers their opinion gets amplified by you because they're Jews..Basically racism.

I'll take that you're a troll.

Word salad needs dressing.

Magical thinking of a cultist.

It was an answer. Palestinians don't want there to be an Israel. Period.

Start with the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem in Berlin and go from there.

Yeah Hamas baited Israel into this. They don't care about their own casualties but they knew they could win a global PR war, and so far, it looks like they won that beyond their wildest dreams.

So simple minded.

So Trump would be better?

He's a right wing extremist, in power too long, is responsible for dropping the defense ball before October 7, is responsible for making U.S. Israel foreign policy much more of a partisan issue, has been really bad for diaspora Jews, is much more into keeping his own power than doing long term good for his country, and has done possibly irreparable harm to Israeli public relations.

I have to agree that the majority are extremely ignorant about the issues they are protesting about but they are experiencing a natural high and joy of youth to join such a fashionable movement. Go long keffiyehs. Go short kippahs.

Totally out of touch with reality about public opinion on both sides. Both sides have extremely hardened. You're in cloud cuckooland if you think anything can possibly happen soon towards a two state solution.