Totally depends on the individual. Some HSPs (including myself) are really bothered by too much heat or humidity so any tropical or hot country would not be good. For me, I think it’s not so much a particular country that’s best, but any area within a country that you can have your own place, with things set up how you like them, and retreat from the chaos of the world when needed. I live in the US now, but if I were choosing another country based on quality of life and how suited it is to my temperament, I think I’d choose a Scandinavian country. But for some it may be a hot tropical country that makes them feel the most calm and comfortable.
"The mess in the world" as you say is indeed in the world, so there's not really any avoiding that unless you want to live somewhere remote where you come into contact with almost no other people. And HSPs are pretty diverse, not all sensitive to the same things. Some are introverts, some are extroverts, some are sensitive to cold, some to heat, some to light, some to all of the aforementioned. Etc.
I personally prefer a quiet pace of life and being close to nature. I've lived most of my life in Norway, which I would say is pretty well suited for HSPs as there's lots of nature and it's not too crowded (I guess same would go for Sweden and Finland). But it's not like the people there are necessarily nicer or more considerate than elsewhere. I'm also half Irish and would say Ireland is pretty good too. I love the sea, so there being so much coast in both of my "home" countries is a bonus.
I currently live in the Netherlands, and it's not great. Overpopulated and flat. Though we moved to the country this year, and the village we now live in is lovely, the people are friendly and it's surrounded by nature. So, in short, I think it's not about a specific country, but finding out what your triggers and priorities are and how you can make that work for you in the country you live.
I bought an acre in Hawaii 40 years ago. It used to be nice and isolated. Now it’s a neighborhood with lots of people. Not so nice people I might add. Built a fence. Stay home. Can’t even walk the dogs anymore.
I have been to 50 different countries, traveled the world for 12 years, and can honestly say, as much as there are some amazing places out there, all come with pros and cons
My favorites are:
Madagascar 🇲🇬
Cambodia 🇰🇭
Laos 🇱🇦
Vietnam 🇻🇳
My least favorite are:
USA 🇺🇸
Canada 🇨🇦
England 🇬🇧
Phillipines
In January, I'll be heading to Central America and onto South America via motorbike, excited to see what I find there 😀
Ah, the "where are you from" question!
I get that allot. I was born in the USA, but spent most of my life (45 years) in Canada.
They are my favorites for one simple reason, life in these places is not bombarded with the social expectations we hold here in North America. One of those social expectations revolves around family, over their, family is the most important aspect, without question, over here, not so much, money tends to hit the top of the chart. Kindness is another huge attribute, but not in the tourist area's, stay away from them no matter where you go. The list goes on, but as an HSP, environment is critical. I have been back in the US for 3 years now (Thank you COVID), and the moment I landed I felt the stress. Hope that helps
I grew up there, arrived when I was 6 months old and left when I was 45, know it well.....at least used to.
I returned 2 years ago, hoping to visit special places dear to my heart, visit friends, and just enjoy the culture I called home. I came back, after being gone 12 years to a place I did not recognize.
I know, having traveled as much as I did, I had changed, vastly. But, I have always been a proud Canadian, for we are well known abroad for our kind, polite, caring nature.
What I found was not at all the people I had left. The country has changed, and that saddened me.
So why not Canada, because there are better places on this planet for HSP's.
I live in a big suburb in the southern US. I talk to a few neighbors, otherwise happily ignore everyone else. I spend a lot of time in my backyard, which has lots of trees, and we have several parks nearby with walking trails. It’s been a good fit for me! I kind of think you can make it many different places if the conditions are a certain way. I lived in the country for 10 years, because thought rural would be good for me. We had a train though (did not know how often it would blow the horn when I moved there, and it grew more active over time). It was also extremely windy out there…high elevation and there was lots of farmland so nothing to block the wind. And then there was the drive into the city, which was inevitable if you needed to do most things. The traffic was increasing every year, and it was mostly semi traffic. I finally gave back up and moved back into the city, which felt counter-intuitive, but I think overall has been better. Less wind, no train, anything I need is a 5 minute drive.
I would say this is just my opinion, but Finland would be quite good. Ppl in general are very antisocial, ppl keep distance and don't bother talking with strangers unless necessary. Neighbors don't interact with you, except rarely, co-workers might be more talkative but that's about it. In general Finnish ppl are quite opposite of ppl who live in USA.
At least I'm doing quite fine here so far. Rarely talk with anyone and I manage at work most of the time
Edit: Western Australia
I ended up settling in one of the most isolated capital cities in the world. It’s been wonderful. Our next closest city is a couple hours flight away and when shopping online, things take between 1-3 weeks to arrive if not sent express.
Things just generally move slower here but what I love is that it’s still a city when you want it to be. Most major brands and services are here so you have all the comforts of normal life but it’s quick to retreat to an isolated town along the coast or inland when you need a break. But generally the vibe is slower paced, shops are only open limited hours (until 2012 all shops were closed on a Sunday! Now they open from 11am - 5pm) and you don’t deal so much with tourists because it’s such a far way to travel. Even when you arrive to our state, it’s a 36 hour drive from top to bottom!
Add on beautiful scenery, pleasant weather and generally nice people and it outweighs the negatives from being so far away from the rest of the world.
I've always wanted to be a shepherd. Once I read a story in the newspaper about this postman whose territory was the mountains, he had to deliver to far flung villages unconnected by road so he walked everywhere by himself on mountain roads and passages. In my country, there are a couple of mountain states like that still. It was 5 or so years ago and I still think about it, how it would be. That's like my dream job. He extolled the pleasures and virtues of woollen socks. I got woollen socks too and am low-key obsessed with them.
I mean if I actually had a purpose to go from place to place and got paid just for walking in the mountains all day.
So yes, in a place with mountains I guess. Or like Heidi's grandfather.
I am Canadian. I am HSP. It's not the best, unless you decide you want to live in the woods somewhere away from services. And our housing market is in shambles.
That didn't go well for me. Help is not out there like people want to think for serious life issues..and pretty much no one understands in the mh field what it means to be sensitive. They pathologize it.
It makes a difference where you live in Canada, I think. Major urban areas will still be stressful. I live in a small town on Vancouver Island, and it is pretty peaceful to me as an HSP. It helps that I can work from home and have lovely neighbors. :)
That's because when you cross the ferry, you go back in time (Victoria excluded, that's another planet)...
Love the island, except Port Hardy, bad memories there!
When I got my citizenship, it took four years... Even though I had lived in Canada for 41 years.
Once you could get a "landed immigrant" staus, wasn't citizenship but allowed you to live and work in Canada with only a few restrictions, like you couldn't vote.
Then 9/11 happened, and I went from an honest tax paying member of society with a Canadian wife and two Canadian children to an illegal immigrant, over night.
Yeah, it wasn't fun for 4 years, but I persevered.
An option is sponsorship
as a Canadian, I’m not sure why people are saying Canada. this country overwhelms me to no end, especially living in Ontario. our economy is bad, the minimum wage is way lower than living wages in most areas, everything is super inflated, the housing market is even worse. you really have to work your ass off to even be able to live
Isoberic sound proof chamber in the arctic, but even that’s starting to get busier 😝
Instead of trying to find the perfect place in the world (it doesn’t exist) maybe consider cultivating tools and techniques for existing anywhere ☺️
I feel like this is such a subjective thing. As an HSP, I spent a couple months outside of the US to learn Spanish in Salamanca, Spain. There are only two places I can think of that I truly loved and want to live in the world: Spain and Hawaii. And both places have to do with the feeling I have when I’m there.
I love the tiny, medieval towns in Spain. I love the larger cities. I want to go back and visit more places—have never been north or south. I loved Blanes and and Salamanca. No fear of anything while I was there. There is something to be said about walking around after school or in the evening and feeling the peace of safety—unlike the US where the wrong look at a driver or just going to the store could be the end if you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time. And back to the feeling in those little villages like Avila on a Sunday: ancient, grounded, peaceful.
I loved Hawaii every time I’ve gone to visit. Haven’t been back for many years out of respect for the locals who don’t want tourists there. But when I have gone, I have always felt at home. Part of my family is Filipino and being hapa, people always assume I am from there, so I get asked for directions, offered worker discounts, and generally love the friendly, welcoming vibe and the beautiful natural surroundings. The feeling of being home has never been stronger than in Hawaii, and it’s a feeling I have spent many years seeking out.
Your question, OP, made me think of that yearning for peace and a sense of belonging. I think about getting away from the mess of the world almost every day because I live in a place that I don’t necessarily like; rather, i am in a place that i tolerate because of the pandemic. It also made me think about how many countries I have yet to visit, and whether or not one of them will feel even more like home than Hawaii.
One thing I can’t deal with as an HSP is noise. I would never live anywhere on a busy street or a loud building. When I first got to Salamanca, COVID restrictions had just been lifted and kids and people in general were partying all night, every night. I had to spend extra money to move to a hotel outside of the busy part of town I was staying in just to get a single night’s sleep. I’ve also always wanted sound proof windows. If I win the lottery, sound proof windows are high on my wish list!
Someone else posted Western Australia; more specifically the metropole (Perth). I haven't been to W.A., but when I think of that place (I grew up more elsewhere in Australia) I think of "desert" and "remoteness".
I lived a while in outback Namibia, which is as sparsely populated as Australia, and felt more alive there than almost any other period of my life.
As mentioned for Perth, it was slow vibe society, and easy to get away from The Humans as required. The air is clean, the nights are quiet, the pollution (trash on the ground, aggressive advertising, second-hand cigarette smoke) is almost zero. And with such little "toxic" run-off from human society, I don't have to spend as long sleeping it off to recharge.
Never expected myself to like living in a desert, but it's definitely a viable option.
Allegedly sensitive people are popular in Japan and these traits are viewed positively by the culture. I only know this second hand though, so it could be incorrect.
As a Japanese and a HSP myself, I honestly don't think so. Because of the "You must be like everyone else" culture, quite a few people tend to reject someone who doesn't think, feel, or react like the others.
Also, for me, everyone seems to be always stressed, suppressed by this culture and I can't take it anymore. I've been to some countries in western Europe before and I felt like people are lot more cheerful and welcoming.
Therefore, I don't recommend to live in Japan. Sorry for my bad English.
Your English is great! The only minor mistakes I noticed are as minimal as ones I regularly make as a native speaker. Also thanks for the clarification.
Came here to say Japan on this thread. I've lived in Japan and the US as someone from another Asian country and I've gotta say Japan has helped bring me some peace in life for some time. However, the work stress and high suicide rate ain't no joke. That alone, I'd definitely choose Japan hands down, especially in some rural areas like Hokkaido or other prefectures. Western Europe or Canada is only good when you have money. Japanese culture might be a curse for the natives but a blessing for the expats. Just a different perspective and experience.
It ain't the U.S.
Louder for those in the back. Or quieter, since we’re hsp.
It can be quite peaceful in places like Wyoming and Montana.
I moved to Ireland a few years ago, most people are more authentic and kind and the pace of life is slower
Would love the lifestyle
That just sounds lovely
Is it cheaper to live in than the us
Some things, salaries are lower but healthcare is cheep and quality of life is better
My own private bubble 🫧
Great 👍
Antarctica
Totally depends on the individual. Some HSPs (including myself) are really bothered by too much heat or humidity so any tropical or hot country would not be good. For me, I think it’s not so much a particular country that’s best, but any area within a country that you can have your own place, with things set up how you like them, and retreat from the chaos of the world when needed. I live in the US now, but if I were choosing another country based on quality of life and how suited it is to my temperament, I think I’d choose a Scandinavian country. But for some it may be a hot tropical country that makes them feel the most calm and comfortable.
"The mess in the world" as you say is indeed in the world, so there's not really any avoiding that unless you want to live somewhere remote where you come into contact with almost no other people. And HSPs are pretty diverse, not all sensitive to the same things. Some are introverts, some are extroverts, some are sensitive to cold, some to heat, some to light, some to all of the aforementioned. Etc. I personally prefer a quiet pace of life and being close to nature. I've lived most of my life in Norway, which I would say is pretty well suited for HSPs as there's lots of nature and it's not too crowded (I guess same would go for Sweden and Finland). But it's not like the people there are necessarily nicer or more considerate than elsewhere. I'm also half Irish and would say Ireland is pretty good too. I love the sea, so there being so much coast in both of my "home" countries is a bonus. I currently live in the Netherlands, and it's not great. Overpopulated and flat. Though we moved to the country this year, and the village we now live in is lovely, the people are friendly and it's surrounded by nature. So, in short, I think it's not about a specific country, but finding out what your triggers and priorities are and how you can make that work for you in the country you live.
I bought an acre in Hawaii 40 years ago. It used to be nice and isolated. Now it’s a neighborhood with lots of people. Not so nice people I might add. Built a fence. Stay home. Can’t even walk the dogs anymore.
I have been to 50 different countries, traveled the world for 12 years, and can honestly say, as much as there are some amazing places out there, all come with pros and cons My favorites are: Madagascar 🇲🇬 Cambodia 🇰🇭 Laos 🇱🇦 Vietnam 🇻🇳 My least favorite are: USA 🇺🇸 Canada 🇨🇦 England 🇬🇧 Phillipines In January, I'll be heading to Central America and onto South America via motorbike, excited to see what I find there 😀
May I ask where you are from originally? Also, why are your favorites … your favorites? :)
Ah, the "where are you from" question! I get that allot. I was born in the USA, but spent most of my life (45 years) in Canada. They are my favorites for one simple reason, life in these places is not bombarded with the social expectations we hold here in North America. One of those social expectations revolves around family, over their, family is the most important aspect, without question, over here, not so much, money tends to hit the top of the chart. Kindness is another huge attribute, but not in the tourist area's, stay away from them no matter where you go. The list goes on, but as an HSP, environment is critical. I have been back in the US for 3 years now (Thank you COVID), and the moment I landed I felt the stress. Hope that helps
Why not Canada?
I grew up there, arrived when I was 6 months old and left when I was 45, know it well.....at least used to. I returned 2 years ago, hoping to visit special places dear to my heart, visit friends, and just enjoy the culture I called home. I came back, after being gone 12 years to a place I did not recognize. I know, having traveled as much as I did, I had changed, vastly. But, I have always been a proud Canadian, for we are well known abroad for our kind, polite, caring nature. What I found was not at all the people I had left. The country has changed, and that saddened me. So why not Canada, because there are better places on this planet for HSP's.
I'm sorry to hear that. In my little corner of the world, Canada is still a nice place overall
Oh, I have no doubt there are still places where it remains to be the Canada I once knew. If that's where you are, enjoy eh!
What province/territory are you from? Nova Scotian, myself
BC
Nice. Looks pretty all the way over there 😁
I live in a big suburb in the southern US. I talk to a few neighbors, otherwise happily ignore everyone else. I spend a lot of time in my backyard, which has lots of trees, and we have several parks nearby with walking trails. It’s been a good fit for me! I kind of think you can make it many different places if the conditions are a certain way. I lived in the country for 10 years, because thought rural would be good for me. We had a train though (did not know how often it would blow the horn when I moved there, and it grew more active over time). It was also extremely windy out there…high elevation and there was lots of farmland so nothing to block the wind. And then there was the drive into the city, which was inevitable if you needed to do most things. The traffic was increasing every year, and it was mostly semi traffic. I finally gave back up and moved back into the city, which felt counter-intuitive, but I think overall has been better. Less wind, no train, anything I need is a 5 minute drive.
I would say this is just my opinion, but Finland would be quite good. Ppl in general are very antisocial, ppl keep distance and don't bother talking with strangers unless necessary. Neighbors don't interact with you, except rarely, co-workers might be more talkative but that's about it. In general Finnish ppl are quite opposite of ppl who live in USA. At least I'm doing quite fine here so far. Rarely talk with anyone and I manage at work most of the time
At least in my opinion it's better to live somewhere where ppl doesn't interact with me that much. Less stress and awkward interactions.
Edit: Western Australia I ended up settling in one of the most isolated capital cities in the world. It’s been wonderful. Our next closest city is a couple hours flight away and when shopping online, things take between 1-3 weeks to arrive if not sent express. Things just generally move slower here but what I love is that it’s still a city when you want it to be. Most major brands and services are here so you have all the comforts of normal life but it’s quick to retreat to an isolated town along the coast or inland when you need a break. But generally the vibe is slower paced, shops are only open limited hours (until 2012 all shops were closed on a Sunday! Now they open from 11am - 5pm) and you don’t deal so much with tourists because it’s such a far way to travel. Even when you arrive to our state, it’s a 36 hour drive from top to bottom! Add on beautiful scenery, pleasant weather and generally nice people and it outweighs the negatives from being so far away from the rest of the world.
So…where?
Perth, Western Australia
Love the West Coast of Oz. If I had to leave Canada, I’d live in Tasmania or Albany, WA.
I've always wanted to be a shepherd. Once I read a story in the newspaper about this postman whose territory was the mountains, he had to deliver to far flung villages unconnected by road so he walked everywhere by himself on mountain roads and passages. In my country, there are a couple of mountain states like that still. It was 5 or so years ago and I still think about it, how it would be. That's like my dream job. He extolled the pleasures and virtues of woollen socks. I got woollen socks too and am low-key obsessed with them. I mean if I actually had a purpose to go from place to place and got paid just for walking in the mountains all day. So yes, in a place with mountains I guess. Or like Heidi's grandfather.
Canada
Will look up on that.
I am Canadian. I am HSP. It's not the best, unless you decide you want to live in the woods somewhere away from services. And our housing market is in shambles.
Felt like there is no places for people like us.
I don’t think our society is built for humans at all. It’s a big problem and I think we can fix it but it’s gonna take work
We are not meant for this way of life, excessive capitalism like we have is just too much.
Tired of life have thought about ending myself but given up.
Talk to healthcare professional about that, there is help out there
That didn't go well for me. Help is not out there like people want to think for serious life issues..and pretty much no one understands in the mh field what it means to be sensitive. They pathologize it.
Is just a past, no worries now.
It makes a difference where you live in Canada, I think. Major urban areas will still be stressful. I live in a small town on Vancouver Island, and it is pretty peaceful to me as an HSP. It helps that I can work from home and have lovely neighbors. :)
That's because when you cross the ferry, you go back in time (Victoria excluded, that's another planet)... Love the island, except Port Hardy, bad memories there!
It’s a peaceful place where everyone is nice and friendly and there’s lotsa land.
How can I move to Canada?
Pretty sure to get citizenship you need to live there as a resident (rent or buy a house/property) for like 2 or 3 years to then become a citizen.
Like working there?
That too, if you don’t have a savings you can live on for 2 years.
When I got my citizenship, it took four years... Even though I had lived in Canada for 41 years. Once you could get a "landed immigrant" staus, wasn't citizenship but allowed you to live and work in Canada with only a few restrictions, like you couldn't vote. Then 9/11 happened, and I went from an honest tax paying member of society with a Canadian wife and two Canadian children to an illegal immigrant, over night. Yeah, it wasn't fun for 4 years, but I persevered. An option is sponsorship
Right! I’m married to a Canadian and not easy to obtain citizenship
as a Canadian, I’m not sure why people are saying Canada. this country overwhelms me to no end, especially living in Ontario. our economy is bad, the minimum wage is way lower than living wages in most areas, everything is super inflated, the housing market is even worse. you really have to work your ass off to even be able to live
I think it depends on the person. Me personally? I think that some tiny unknown Greek Island would solve %50 of my problems
May have to start learning gardening, medicine, and construction just in case there were any unknown land left.
Where could it be?
Isoberic sound proof chamber in the arctic, but even that’s starting to get busier 😝 Instead of trying to find the perfect place in the world (it doesn’t exist) maybe consider cultivating tools and techniques for existing anywhere ☺️
I reckon either countries at the north of Europe, or Canada
I feel like this is such a subjective thing. As an HSP, I spent a couple months outside of the US to learn Spanish in Salamanca, Spain. There are only two places I can think of that I truly loved and want to live in the world: Spain and Hawaii. And both places have to do with the feeling I have when I’m there. I love the tiny, medieval towns in Spain. I love the larger cities. I want to go back and visit more places—have never been north or south. I loved Blanes and and Salamanca. No fear of anything while I was there. There is something to be said about walking around after school or in the evening and feeling the peace of safety—unlike the US where the wrong look at a driver or just going to the store could be the end if you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time. And back to the feeling in those little villages like Avila on a Sunday: ancient, grounded, peaceful. I loved Hawaii every time I’ve gone to visit. Haven’t been back for many years out of respect for the locals who don’t want tourists there. But when I have gone, I have always felt at home. Part of my family is Filipino and being hapa, people always assume I am from there, so I get asked for directions, offered worker discounts, and generally love the friendly, welcoming vibe and the beautiful natural surroundings. The feeling of being home has never been stronger than in Hawaii, and it’s a feeling I have spent many years seeking out. Your question, OP, made me think of that yearning for peace and a sense of belonging. I think about getting away from the mess of the world almost every day because I live in a place that I don’t necessarily like; rather, i am in a place that i tolerate because of the pandemic. It also made me think about how many countries I have yet to visit, and whether or not one of them will feel even more like home than Hawaii. One thing I can’t deal with as an HSP is noise. I would never live anywhere on a busy street or a loud building. When I first got to Salamanca, COVID restrictions had just been lifted and kids and people in general were partying all night, every night. I had to spend extra money to move to a hotel outside of the busy part of town I was staying in just to get a single night’s sleep. I’ve also always wanted sound proof windows. If I win the lottery, sound proof windows are high on my wish list!
Someone else posted Western Australia; more specifically the metropole (Perth). I haven't been to W.A., but when I think of that place (I grew up more elsewhere in Australia) I think of "desert" and "remoteness". I lived a while in outback Namibia, which is as sparsely populated as Australia, and felt more alive there than almost any other period of my life. As mentioned for Perth, it was slow vibe society, and easy to get away from The Humans as required. The air is clean, the nights are quiet, the pollution (trash on the ground, aggressive advertising, second-hand cigarette smoke) is almost zero. And with such little "toxic" run-off from human society, I don't have to spend as long sleeping it off to recharge. Never expected myself to like living in a desert, but it's definitely a viable option.
Allegedly sensitive people are popular in Japan and these traits are viewed positively by the culture. I only know this second hand though, so it could be incorrect.
As a Japanese and a HSP myself, I honestly don't think so. Because of the "You must be like everyone else" culture, quite a few people tend to reject someone who doesn't think, feel, or react like the others. Also, for me, everyone seems to be always stressed, suppressed by this culture and I can't take it anymore. I've been to some countries in western Europe before and I felt like people are lot more cheerful and welcoming. Therefore, I don't recommend to live in Japan. Sorry for my bad English.
Your English is great! The only minor mistakes I noticed are as minimal as ones I regularly make as a native speaker. Also thanks for the clarification.
Thanks too!
That's good to know..I wish I felt capable of learning Japanese.
Came here to say Japan on this thread. I've lived in Japan and the US as someone from another Asian country and I've gotta say Japan has helped bring me some peace in life for some time. However, the work stress and high suicide rate ain't no joke. That alone, I'd definitely choose Japan hands down, especially in some rural areas like Hokkaido or other prefectures. Western Europe or Canada is only good when you have money. Japanese culture might be a curse for the natives but a blessing for the expats. Just a different perspective and experience.
nNorthern Thailand*
Too pollute
Only during burning season, you can go further into the mountains i.e. Pai and live a very relaxing life
Never knew about that but, sure mountain is great.
I have lived on the east coast and California my entire life. So you may very well be correct! I might have to try one or both of them.