[j_tull]

I was in Oslo for the first time in December. Any place that has daylight from 9:30 AM to 3:30 PM, and is near freezing through much of the year is not going to be my first choice of places to live.

Not to mention the 60% tax rate.

[geopyg]

"Not to mention the 60% tax rate."

One of my dad's cousins in Norway is a pretty wealthy guy. Years ago my dad said his cousin paid MORE in taxes than he earned in a year. I was young and not too interested so don't know the particulars. I wonder now if Norway has (had?) a property tax where they tax not only your income but all the stuff you have too. Taxes on your business equipment, three houses, nice cars, etc. might add up to more than you make a year. Especially if you're a small businessman that has a variable income year to year.

Norway sure is a pretty place to visit though - and very nice people. Just wouldn't want to live there. Neither did any of my grandparents (my ancestry is all Norwegian going back at least 800 years). My grandmother on my mom's side left Norway at the age of 16 years for America. By herself. Didn't know English. Didn't know anyone in America. That was guts!