I lived in Europe and you're absolutely correct.

American boomers were the most wasteful humans in the history of humans. Just look at them driving their '50 mega RVs towing frivolity down to Florida year after year while leaving multiple residences empty during a housing crisis back home.

By necessity, the younger americans are much less wasteful.

 

I wouldn’t say it’s boomers anymore. We’re dying out. Do update to genx and millennials.

 

Right now am in a tiny Italian mountainside town along the Almafi coast. It seems locals just naturally use smaller amounts of stuff.

However seems, in Canada and u.s. we tend to be more wasteful in general. Mentality of living in bigger countries / homes, etc.

Because Italy is much less wealthy country.
Similar cost of living, but significantly lower incomes.

 

Yes, but the consumption in small quantities is not because they are more frugal or mindful on resources. I think it's just a natural byproduct of the fact that products cost more in Europe (no matter if sold in bulk or in small quantities)... Just take the VAT for example. And lots of additional regulations. Europe, with certain exceptions, is simply a rip-off...
(And I was born and lived in Europe for 30 years.)

 

The Canadian guy I’m with now, lived in Europe for 3 yrs. In cologne getmany. Life was/ is more expensive re apt., utilities, food, etc. he did live as an immigrant, learning German and worked as a factory worker (though he had a Canadian university degree).

I seriously wionder about North Americans who want to live in their retirement overseas in Europe if they don’t have relatives, etc. it sounds like North Americans who choose to retire that may tend to be wealthy by common European standards. At keast living in European bigger cities.

anyway, I’m not interested to retire overseas. It doesn’t make sense for me at this time in My life. I’m just grateful to have lived and worked on 3 Canadian distinctly different provinces.

 

The Canadian guy I’m with now, lived in Europe for 3 yrs. In cologne getmany. Life was/ is more expensive re apt., utilities, food, etc. he did live as an immigrant, learning German and worked as a factory worker (though he had a Canadian university degree).

I lived near Cologne and it is indeed expensive - but it varies across Germany and even more so across Europe.

PIGS countries are cheaper especially Portugal and Greece. The Spaniards even say Portugal is cheap and they are both in the PIGS.

Now go to Roumania, Poland, former Yugoslavia and you will see what I mean. Almafi is touristy.

 

Most definitely the local Italians I’ve seen here are not huge obese people.

 

smaller vehicle

...; but they cost as much as our medium vehicle. Markets&taxes for transport costs seem to adjust to percentage of households. You want less petrol consumption and lesser cars? No problem, oil & cars companies will just charge more.

 

They also live in modest accommodations compared to us. Mostly apartments and vertical houses with no parking. A garage is the first stage of luxury.

 

This is a very big difference.

Canadians generally have very large houses (similar to American homes). This brings all kinds of associated costs. You have to pay for more maintenance, furniture, resource usage (electricity, heating), etc... people sign up for expensive lifestyles.

When Canadians buy moderately sized houses, which would still be considered large in Europe and Asia, we call these "starter homes" and encourage the people to upgrade to larger homes.

Europeans and Asians raise children in apartments, whereas Canadians have this notion that children need a house. This is just a cultural belief, and I think the housing industry promotes it because it helps convince people they need to buy a house.

Even if you ignore Europe and Asia, just look at the average home size in US/Canada. The average home size has grown rapidly over the last few decades. Did people not raise children in the 1950s and 1960s? Of course they did! According to this source, the average US home size in 1950 was 983 sq ft. These days it's about 2,500 sq ft.

Larger homes come with more expenses, and raise your cost of living.

 

I can see why having a yard is desirable for children. I grew up in the country and spent most time outdoors and I can't imagine growing up in an apartment. It was a culture shock to me to see all the kids playing in the streets and walking/biking to school. But they don't need "school zone" speed traps because the roads are all too narrow to go that fast.

Same here. I didn't like most other kids, so I probably would have stayed indoors most of the time if I grew up in an apartment. I preferred playing in the forest, climbing trees and building forts and stuff.

I had to find my own way to school starting in 5th grade though.

Having owned a few houses I realized it's such a waste. How often do you use the yard? I even had a pool at one point and I spent and the cost/labour made no sense for even a family vs a rec centre or gym membership. Owning a car doesn't make sense but at least I use and need the car every day whereas I don't need a big house.

A yard is mostly a waste, but it's nice just knowing it's there as a buffer zone. I do like to walk outside and not have to stare at neighbors. My backyard is nice because there's a about a 100 foot strip of trees between me and the neighbour behind me. I also have hedges on either side for privacy.

Aside from having no privacy, most condos and townhomes are firetraps with terrible soundproofing. And if someone above you has a burst pipe, look out.

I would never want a pool, but a sauna would be nice to have.

 

Aside from having no privacy, most condos and townhomes are firetraps with terrible soundproofing. And if someone above you has a burst pipe, look out.

My first home was a duplex with a concrete wall between us and no neighbours behind - never heard them, had lots of space, plus the cost savings. But yea the new townhomes built to code are firetraps and also someone could easily cut a hole into your attic and enter unnoticed whenever they wanted.

I've never lived in an apartment but from living in hotels the quality really varies. In Europe we had small yards but very thick tall hedges and gardens to keep privacy. But yea living in the country is so much more private - especially nowadays the cities are zoos with very unpredictable and sketchy neighbours.