Winters in Ireland might be too difficult for me to handle. Not so much for the temperature as the DARKNESS. I visited there last year in the summertime, and was amazed at how long the sun stayed up at that very northern latitude -- but I know the days in winter must be just as extremely short as the midsummer days are l-o-o-o-n-g.

I grew up in New Jersey, and then spend four-plus years not far from Chicago, where the winters were even worse. It's a known medical/psychological fact that long hours of darkness encourage depression. I'm much happier and more well-adjusted since I moved to New Orleans 30+ years ago.

Maybe the direction in which to expatriate oneself is towards the equator.