>>>>>>>>>On US TV the other night there was an "expert" commenting that people may have free public transport to free healthcare in Europe but they can't afford clothes. There seems to be a smug belief in some quarters that the US is superior in every respect and that you will lose out if the US starts to behave like other countries.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Meanwhile the latest expert review of quality of life has *again* given top billing to cities in Europe, Canada and Australasia. The top US city was at #39.
>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>Perhaps the first step in understanding this glaring disparity is to consider what people actually want and how they judge their own quality of life/happiness compared to others.
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>Are you referring to the Mercer index?
>>>>>>>>http://www.mercer.com/qualityoflivingpr
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>I wouldn't put London higher than Paris for infrastructure.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I agree. However, London is not someplace I could judge. I have friends who live in London and come here yearly on vacation and their opinion is quite different. They think the quality of life is much higher here than in London. It is interesting to note what constitutes (according to the indices) quality of life. I've spent some time in some of those cities and lived in a couple. I won't point fingers, but some are not as high a quality of life (IMO) as others lower on the list or many cities here and elsewhere in the world. Some things high in the quality of life standard are not a requirement for me while on the other hand, I've grown accustomed to certain things that would be considered an unecessary convenience in other parts of the world.
>>>>>
>>>>>I'm always wary of these rankings. Its very subjective. For instance when you're young you can accept a much edgier environment. Myself I'd really like to use the car a lot less.
>>>>>
>>>>>Where in London do you friends live
>>>>
>>>>Maida Vale, Clapham, Mayfair, and one moved from Brixton to Hammersmith because of crime? Not sure of the names though so don't take my word for it!
>>>
>>>Can you friend in Mayfair be my friend too :-)
>>
>>Is that a desirable place? He's not wealthy, but according to him, his family is 'comfortable.'
>
>To own a house in Mayfair could easily cost 7 or 8 million pounds. You corner shop would be Harrods or Harvey Nichols.
>
>Last time I wondered round that area it seemed to be full of very wealthy people talking Russian.

I don't think he owns the house. I think he shares a house with a female friend (who's family owns it). That's funny though. He never once mentioned what the neighborhood was like. I've seen photos of the inside which resembled the interior of my daughter's grandmother's house, but not the exterior. I thought antiques were the 'thing' in London. Lots of folks will have very nice belongings inside a not so rich house though. You can't tell anything by the exterior here. His roomate has been his girlfriend for years. I guess 7 or 8 million pounds isn't sufficient to stop him dragging his feet :o) Now I'm going to have to ask them. He's more the friend - she's just always come with him to the states when he visits and has always been a little aloof. Now I'm wondering if she wasn't aloof so much as a snob. She probably thought she was slumming here :o) Just kidding... One of my London friends lives on the dole though. She lives in Maida Vale. She is also friends with the couple from Mayfair although I don't know if they hang out in London, but we all do here.

Ok, to be honest, I do have some wealthy friends here (wealthy, not comfortable - regardless of what they call it) in the states too. I also have friends who live in shacks. Sometimes what brings folks together has nothing to do with income levels.