Glad you enjoyed it Sandra!

New Zealand also grabbed my attention—245 native species, Oamaru’s Yellow‑eyed Penguins, the elusive Shore Plover, and even giant prehistoric parrots once roamed the islands. The fact that you can aim for permanent resident status without immediately becoming a citizen feels incredibly flexible.

Costa Rica feels like a dream, too—toucans, hummingbirds, quetzals, and rarities like Turquoise Cotinga or Three‑wattled Bellbird making an appearance in lush reserves such as Wilson Botanical Gardens and Curi‑Cancha Reserve. Plus, if you’re retiring with at least $1,000 in monthly income, the Pensionado Program makes moving feel very doable.

And I hadn’t considered Iceland until now—it may be cooler (literally), but spotting Arctic Terns, Great Skuas, or wandering along Látrabjarg’s cliffs sounds unparalleled. Sure, immigration is more restricted unless you’re an EU/EEA citizen or secure a specific job, but for serious birders it might be worth it.

Cassidy,
I’m so sorry for what you went through as a kid, and I’m very proud of you for not going down a darker path despite enduring such horrific and dehumanizing forms of trauma at a very vulnerable stage of your life. The idea that hurt people hurt people doesn’t apply to every person who has been through trauma, but it tends to be true that people who have grown up in abusive environments face issues of some sort; if it isn’t violence towards others, it can be self-loathing, substance abuse, not being able to trust people, viewing the world as dangerous, etc.. So I don’t think the author is saying that all abusers are victims, and that because of this, they are innocent of any wrongdoing, but more so that many people who resort to being cruel and violent to others have learned it from somewhere. The fact that you haven’t gone down this path means you’re a kind and strong person, and I hope you know that about yourself. 🙂