RE: The World Is Still Not Ready

You are viewing a single comment's thread from:

RE: The World Is Still Not Ready

View the full context

stortebeker in Reflections • last year

During my stay in Berlin last year, this kind of topic was the eternal conversation. Everyone kept complaining how the city that has always been "poor but sexy", meaning comparatively low priced while having all types of freedoms, is becoming expensive and restricted, raising the question of where to go next?

Just like in your post, the most popular destinations seem to be on the Balkans: Serbia, Bosnia, Montenegro, or North Macedonia. Costs are low, and presumably stable, and laws are not too strict (depending on what you're interested in - the folks I talked to used 3-day-long techno parties as example). However, on the downside the infrastructure seems to have too much room for improvement. While many people say that this could suddenly get better if the masses moved there, it is really not a convincing factor. Countries like Croatia or Hungary are considered too regulated and expensive. But the latest favorite fantasy of digital (and artistic) nomads is the city of Kaliningrad / Königsberg, once they manage to secede from Russia. Honestly, if that happens, I can almost guarantee that I will be there myself to see it!

last year in Reflections by stortebeker

0.00 ARCHON

2 votes

Sort:

Trending

[-]

thetroublenotes last year

Very True of Berlin. Have lived there 10+ Years and the costs have risen astronomically accelerated by the pandemic. Rents are more than double what they were a decade ago and the average cost of living is the same. A Döner and a Mate were less than 5 Euros at most Imbiss back then, that'll set you back 10euro+ in some locations these days. We've seen the exodus manifesting the past years in the artist community, they are usually the first to go. The real question is, what will happen to Berlin as the German population ages and all of the young people no longer find it cool/affordable?

0.00 ARCHON

2 votes

[-]

stortebeker last year

Oh yes, I remember being outraged when I made the three price comparisons to the first time I lived in Berlin in 2003. Back then the cost of a Döner was €2 (versus €6 today), about the same as a public transport ticket (versus €3 today), or a beer at a Späti (the only thing that has not had a price increase whatsoever!).

I can only imagine what Berlin will look like when the cool young people move away: the only ones left will be the types who have either been living there since the 90s, and thus still benefit from unrealistically low rent, or the ones who have bought in late due to the coolness factor. In either case, they would be an aging population, clinging on desperately to a fading memory of alternative culture. This would probably manifest itself in form of geriatrics full of tattoos and piercings, going to nostalgia raves with their wheelchairs and walking frames.

0.00 ARCHON

1 vote

[-]

erikah last year

Hi @stortebeker, nice to see you! Your comment just proves what I was saying and I'm grateful to hear that from someone who spoke to people who are interested in nomading.

While many people say that this could suddenly get better if the masses moved there, it is really not a convincing factor.

I tend to agree with you. Just because of a sudden interest and massive moves, things won't change drastically. There's a lot needed to see significant improvement in infrastructure.

Countries like Croatia or Hungary are considered too regulated and expensive.

I don't know about Croatia, but you're right about Hungary, I know that from trusted sources. I could live there as long as I want without any visa but I don't want to.

I checked out Kaliningrad / Königsberg and seems to be a nice place, but as you say, the political situation has to get better.

It's sad though, that there are so many obstacles and quality of life is getting worse.

0.00 ARCHON

1 vote

[-]

stortebeker last year

I know... I tried Hungary once in 2003-5 and then again in 2010-12. The first time it was a vibrant and very lucrative experience with incredible potential. The second time around I realized that I may just as well go back to the stale comfort of Germany, and still end up with more money.

As for Kaliningrad, just recently, when Finland joined NATO, it went from being a strategically important and highly valuable place for Russia to an expensive liability. Plus, there is quite a bit of a popular movement towards independence, so who knows... Russia may just let them go. We'll watch and see.

0.00 ARCHON

1 vote