The 10 best countries where to live after the pandemic

If one has the freedom and means to choose where to spend the rest of his life, there are 10 most-preferred countries in terms of high quality of life, excellent government, best healthcare and social safety nets, and low crime rates. I have visited them all, but for me, I would stick it out here despite it all.

Number 10 is Finland, with its clear skies, zero pollution, more forests than cities, clean air, 8,600 pristine lakes, 2 million saunas, low cost of education, affordable healthcare, and where the happiest people on earth reside. How would you like to live in a country with one of the highest life expectancies? Ninth is New Zealand, one of the top two least corrupt countries, and with a small population. There are 20 sheep for every person in that green and clean country, which is free from pollution. Eighth is Germany, an excellently-led nation with a well-managed government, and a population of 84 million, the largest in the EU but with one of the highest per capita income, and one of the lowest unemployment rates. Led by Chancellor Angela Merkel, it has a very effective government, albeit with high taxes. Germany is host to more than 65,000 OFWs, mostly nurses and seafarers and others working in healthcare, electronics, and IT.

Seventh is Sweden, with its workdays of only six hours, and with plenty of sick leaves, vacation leaves, and 18 weeks of maternity leaves with pay. It’s the second best country to do business in and the third least corrupt country, following Denmark and New Zealand. Sixth is Denmark, with the highest quality of life in the world, and the second happiest country. It has year-round flexible working hours and the government is very efficient, honest, and caring. Fifth is Canada, which has been chosen by many global organizations as the most beautiful country, and one of the cleanest (don't send your garbage to us, though). Much bigger in area than the USA, it has only a population of 37 million, and is begging other countries to send more people to its wide, vast territories. It has the best social and health services.

Fourth is Japan, with one of the longest life expectancies, a very clean and orderly environment, with low crime rates and low drug addiction. Tokyo, its capital has been adjudged as the safest city in the whole world, although it is the fourth most expensive too. There are so many sights to see and many options for health and social tourism, but the prices of goods are quite high and taxes are moderately high too. Third is Switzerland, the cleanest city I have been to. We can drink water from the faucet. The environment is simply amazingly beautiful, the green meadows are well-manicured. You cannot see any garbage. There are no flies, rodents, or mosquitoes. My God, it is paradise. I love the lakes in Geneva, and I was astounded by the hundreds of castles, museums, and cathedrals.

Second is Australia, a wide territory with endless green and clean lakes, rivers, and springs. Its forests, many large portions of which were destroyed by a bushfire last year, are still one of the biggest in the world, with millions of acres of flora and fauna. It’s also a land with 73 million sheep compared to 23 million of people. It’s a continent that invites people from other nations to migrate there because its population rate is too low compared to its economic growth. There are now more than 300,000 Filipinos in Australia, both workers and permanent residents. The OFWs are preferred by Australian employers because they are competent, committed, conscientious, and have excellent communication skills. First is Norway, the cleanest country where the happiest people live. It has the best healthcare. Its water is the purest on earth.

Why do I like the Philippines with all the garbage, the smoke, pollution, crimes, drug addiction, and the rampant graft and corruption? Well, my happiness lies in the security and comfort of all my loved ones. If I cannot bring all the people I care and who care for me, then I will just be lonely there in paradise. Better to be in purgatory with my family than be in heaven away from those I love and those who love me. For where there is love, there lies my country of choice, my paradise.