What are other people's thoughts on leaving the US?

[mnhtnbb]

136. My husband and I went through

the process of setting up an escape hatch in Panama in 2005 during Bush's second administration. We had permanent resident visas stamped in our US passports. It was not a difficult process at the time and there are lots of expats in Panama. We eventually sold the property we had bought after Obama was elected and never moved there.
In 2016, anticipating a possible Trump win, we looked at Bonaire, off the coast of South America. We have friends who have lived there for 25 years, so an easy introduction to a small community of ex pats there. My husband nixed the idea.
After my husband died in 2018, I was thinking about France and making a look see trip there, but didn't want to leave my elderly dog for 6 months. I have friends in France, and was focused on the idea of taking an apartment for several months in Lyon to try it out. Before I could do it, Covid hit (I happened to be on Bonaire at the time and managed to get home before the airport was closed, or I'd probably have ended up there!).
When Covid hit I no longer felt safe in my downtown Raleigh high rise apartment (which I loved) and bought a house to be built in Durham. Moved in Jan 6th, 2021.
So, I'm now 73 and I don't have the energy to relocate abroad on my own. Both my sons are gay in long term relationships and live within 20 minutes of me. I plan to discuss the idea of them getting out at Thanksgiving. My oldest son works for an international IT company that has an office in Toronto. They could probably go to Canada. If they did, I would seriously consider going with them. My younger son's partner is a tenured associate professor at UNC Chapel Hill. I do not know what options he might have in other countries. They have traveled together extensively, but I don't know how easy it would be for them to get work in another country. My son is legally blind and writes/produces his own podcast, which he could do anywhere. I've encouraged him to look into narrating books, which he also could do anywhere.
I'm in a deep blue section of NC--Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill --and we just elected a new Dem Governor, Lt Governor, Attorney General, Sec of State, and Sup of Public Education, as well as broke the Republican super majority of State House/Senate. So I do feel somewhat comfortable staying here for now.