I am in Portugal. It's cheap, but unlivable. What disturbes me is that the Portuguese hate the English, and they make it incredibly difficult for you to do anything. They chat you at every opportunity. I cannot get a booster, and I struggled for months to get a vaccination.

I am not alone in those conclusions. When I posted to an ex-pat site, I find that many people regretted moving to Portugal. I went through the same thing in Germany, despite being a German citizen.

I've worked online for years - been writing online since 1999. Sometimes it pays. Mostly it doesn't. At the moment, I'm going through a good phase, and my readers are incredibly kind int heir support of me through Ko-fi and Patreon. Without their support, I couldn't do this.

As for neoliberalism, I already clicked this in 1984 when I first noticed it. Have written about it for years. So I'm well aware of the effect the economic system has on us.

Where would you bail to? I have a European passport, or I can return to South Africa. Nothing would induce me to go back to South Africa. There are many things to negotiate if one lives in Europe, and it's not as easy to get in as in Ireland.

At least, in Ireland, they speak English. My daughter is also with me, and she can't speak any other language except English. She needs to work and earn as well.

I'm not going to Cyprus or Malta because both have strong criminal elements, and I don't like the excessive heat. Also, climate change isn't only about the sea rising. It's about storms, tornadoes, fires, floods, etc.

Ireland will be subject to an increased number of floods, more fires, and will get warmer. I plan on taking those things into consideration.

As I'm 70 years old, I will qualify for a non-contributory pension, and as I'm a writer, I will not have to pay tax (depending on other factors - hopefully).