Why Did I Buy A House in the Scottish Highlands?

#LifeInScotland #AmericanExpat #MoveToScotland

Many people descended from the British Isles, especially Americans, fantasize about returning to their ancestral homelands and buying a house there. Scotland, in particular, is an extremely popular option right now, due in part to its lower average home prices and changing climate. But when you really start looking at Scotland in detail, it can quickly become overwhelming: what part of Scotland is the "best" to move to?

The answer depends entirely on your circumstances. In this video, I explain why I specifically chose Sutherland in the Far North of the Highlands, as it's just the right blend of civilization, low population, beautiful nature, and bang-for-your-buck real estate value.

Video Chapters:

00:00 -- Intro
00:52 -- Summer in My Scottish Highlands Garden
03:05 -- Is Climate Change Making Scotland MORE Desirable?
06:16 -- Golspie, Sutherland: A High-Trust Community
08:59 -- Local Businesses in the Highlands and Islands Get Free Publicity Here
11:02 -- Why Did I Buy Real Estate in the Far North of Scotland?
16:49 -- Exploring Dunrobin Castle on the NC500
19:26 -- I Have Liver Disease: Getting Treatment for NASH
23:55 -- Exploring the Farmer's Market at Rogart, Sutherland
26:50 -- Outro

Choosing where to live in Scotland is more than just numbers and statistics, though; it's a deeply personal choice, a gut-instinct sense of what feels like home. In my case, I wanted to live in a small, high-trust society that's safe for families and children. And I found it in Golspie. So we take a stroll on the beach of Golspie, my new hometown, and visit adjacent Dunrobin Castle, one of the major tourism attractions on the NC500 in the Far North of Scotland.

There's another factor which has to be weighed into any decision to move up here: climate change. At the time of this writing, Southern Europe is experiencing multiple wildfires, Norway is having a heatwave, and Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh is on fire. The Far North of Scotland, meanwhile, might actually be more livable now thanks to its maritime climate and shifting climate bands -- and this is a significant factor behind a lot of the people moving to Scotland now, especially the northern half of the country.

I also reveal a major health issue I've been battling for years: NASH. Liver disease is potentially very serious, and it may not present symptoms until it's already progressed to a late stage. By discussing it openly, I hope to help raise awareness so that others watching this might catch it early enough to get treatment, as I did. You've worked hard to earn a good life for yourself; don't let it be cut short by a silent disease.

This episode is also the first to feature a segment filmed and edited by my wife, Christine, as she visits a local farmer's market in the Far North village of Rogart.

Each episode of The American Highlander is designed to be a mix of personal vlog, sightseeing in the Scottish Highlands, cottagecore slow living, and pragmatic tips and advice for life in the Far North. I'm still figuring out the formula as I go, so your feedback is greatly appreciated.

For the cinephiles: this video was filmed with two cameras -- a Canon R50 in 16mm with ND filter, and my wife's Android phone. With the Canon, I shoot 8-bit Rec. 709. No filming in log, no LUTs. Audio captured with wireless Rode lav mics. Background music courtesy of Artlist. Edited in Adobe Premiere. Maybe I'll start up a Patreon or something so I can afford better equipment, but hey, this is what I've got right now, so hopefully you enjoy it.

SEO / AIO stuff:

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