Alicia, I'll admit that, as a Midwestern transplant, I consider the entire "interior" of the country to be brimming over with mindless idiots. Texas, in particular, in my mind was pretty much a bunch of beer swilling, gun toting rednecks who only exit their pickup trucks to snap to attention to heil el Presidente.

When I started my current job, I was a little dismayed to learn that practically everyone there was from Dallas (they'd moved the office from Dallas to SF). I'd thought there was nothing I could have in common with a bunch of redneck Republicans. It didn't take realize to figure out that my assumptions of them were wrong. Furthermore, when I went to Dallas earlier this year, I was absolutely delighted to realize that almost no one there even likes Bush and are just as embarassed for our country as I am.

Be embarassed of Bush, embarassed for our country (as an entire people) for allowing him to take, and stay in, office, but don't be embarassed of Texas. It was A-OK from what I saw.

That being said, I don't think I could endure another term. I'm trying to find out to whom I'd need to sell my soul to get a work visa and transfer to one of my company's European offices. Or maybe find a nice European guy to sell my body to in exchange for the rights stemming from marriage to an EU citizen.

Belize is nice from what I've heard. Quite a few friends moved there at the beginning of Bush's term. There are definite advantages -- English is widely spoken, the weather is relatively mild for the tropics, and your USD would let you live like a queen as their currency is quite weak. On the downside, I've heard of anti-American sentiment (particularly now in light of current gov't) and even more-so "anti-rich" crime, which I attribute to fool Americans showing up and flaunting their relative wealth.

I was raised in teXas, it's not all bad. I love the hill country, big bend, and Austin. By Austin, i mean Austin proper, not all of that urban sprawl that is charactertic to almost every american city. I have lived in many places in north america. I love the land, and most of the people, but i've had this urge to break free from the states for most of my life. Bush just serves as the catalyst. The only way that I feel truely free is to live without borders.

Alicia, there are many good options for peeps to escape to. You mentioned Belize. That country is great. You can show up with millions of dollars, and no one will ask where you got it. But if you don't need to hide from our government there are many other good options. The obvious ones are Costa Rica, and Canada. I spent and entire summer traveling in s.w. Canada. B.C. is amazing I love the islands, and the Vancouver area. Banff, and Jasper Alberta are also nice, but Banff can get touristy at times. Costa is next on my list. I would like to spend a few years (at least) in central or south america. One surprize is Nicaragua. Despite problems in recent history (the 80's) the country is really turning aroun.d The military is downsizing at a rapid rate, i believe it's 75%!! They currently also boast the lowest violent crime rate in the hemisphere! While maintaining a very low incarceration rate. Petty crime is still a little high but that's to be expected considering all the country has been through. It is a poor country still. I'll try to find the numbers again and post them up.

As I find out more, and as I travel more i'll try to remember to keep the tribe updated.

I'll also be in the dallas area from thanksgiving until december 8th. That is where i store my possesions, i'll try to dig through my info on latin america, and ex-pat type stuff.