Doesn't seem like a troll. Seems like someone who has looked hard at this, doesn't really want to move back to Russia, but is running out of options in America. Having health problems while living in America is very difficult, unless you have plenty of money. But long term chronic health problems that limit ones ability to either take a corporate job, or make loads of money, make it very very difficult here.

have you considered that there is lyme disease in Russia? Does Russia go after it aggressively like they do in America? Could that be why it seems more prevalent in America? Just thoughts.

yep.. I miss the conifers. But the desert has its beauty too. Seems like you have looked at Canada already. Out of curiosity, what about Belarus? what are its pluses and minuses? Or have you already ruled out third options? If so.. I would go back to Russia for a visit/stay in a rural town. When is the last time that you were back?

My impression is that Russia, excluding urban tourist traps, is at least a bit cheaper on average than Mexico.

Personally I find many aspects of Russian culture to be appealing, but an American's impression of these things is almost entirely irrelevant to the native-born.

As potential tourist, it's astonishing that a ticket for a 7,000-mile train ride to the Pacific is (in theory, unless I'm mistaken) available for less than $200. Tourist agencies don't recommend this, for various reasons they don't come right out and say.

Air travel is also quite cheap. Mountain areas are of course very remote from most of country.

I gather that one's rights/relationship to "authorities" as a tourist vs. dual citizen vs. regular ole citizen would differ.

Despite whatever downsides to USA there may be, obviously one wouldn't want to mess in any negative ways with the Russian bureaucracy.

As for Lyme disease, this is grossly overblown concern -- purely as a matter of medical science.

Interesting that in Russia, occult healers and such are much more widely consulted than in USA. Not my cup of tea.

Not my cup of tea.

formerclimber, I'm not here to get in a beef with you. I really did offer some constructive recommendations. Did you look at the link on Alaska property I posted earlier?

I found that in two minutes by googling "alaska land cheap". A more thorough search would find even better prices for land suitable for homesteading off grid.

If you are going to categorically reject all input other than agreement to go back to Russia, what are you asking the question for?

I require on-grid electricity and need some wired internet, Satellite internet won't support my work

I would wager finding reliable hardline/cable internet access is still going to be very difficult in rural areas of Russia. I know for a fact that it's hard or impossible to get in the US in many rural areas I've looked for homes. I need very similar high-speed reliable lines to do my work and that severely curtailed where I could live here.

And you can find those in Russia AND what you are asking for??

I have friends that use satellite internet for transmitting/receiving detailed geological and environmental data transfer in remote locations. Why do you need wired internet?

You said you could live off grid. Which is it?

I recently saw a couple of GREAT movies about Russia as gangsterland 1990s (I know that's ancient history now), by a deceased director Aleksei Balabanov. The films were "Brother" and "Cargo." Perhaps compared with some of Quentin Tarantino's work.

MOUNTAINEERING ANGLE: Sergei Bodrov Jr. played lead in" Brother" and apparently became like Tom Cruise of Russia.

While making a film was killed at age 30 by a massive ice and mud flow in the Caucasus. The slide covered nearly 10 miles and killed 125 people.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kolka_Glacier

To me that implies off grid living.

I'm done here. Go to Russia; it's what you want to be told.

From St. Petersburg it's a 30-hour drive or a $300 (RT) flight to Sochi -- which I assume is nearest extensive area of alpine (caucusus) within Russia. Probably the Alps or Norway is same distance or closer....

. The US State Dept. currently doesn't recommend going to Mt. Elbrus-- (my recollection of some of this specific information is weak).

I bet there's some rock climbing in Crimea -- but it might be a little bit complicated there these days, especially for non-natives.

There are definitely things in Urals -- alpine & cragging.

There's crazy-ass stuff waaay out east --- the geography becomes vastly complex.

Hmmm, it appears you're screwed.

Sorry.

Ciao
DMT

One astonishing thing about Russia is the river network. One thinks of the historical "Canadian voyagers"..... and various obsessive, crazy paddling adventurers of today.....

It would be entirely possible to put together canoe trips in Russia that would last for YEARS......given a 100-mile portage here and there (or possibly canals).

MuriKKKa is becomig a fascist paranoid hillbilly $hitshow that it is becoming harder to dirtbag in. It is a an unkind brutal system, becoming the Purge. Europe and China are already making side deals, the market will crash soon enough and they will gladly pick up the pieces of this patriotic sham.

Putin is an authoritarian that controls media, but at least he is honest about it. He is smart, probably the richest man in the world, and he always has a wry smile like the has the Ace up his sleeve. #Putin2020

how is the climbing in Russia?