"I could never go back to the US"...why not?

And I've been held captive audience at the bus stop here (in the UK) by a Jehovahs Witness before.

I had that happen a few months ago. I simply told them that I had "heard the gospel" and that their time would be better spent spreading it to those who hadn't. Whether or not I actually believe doesn't matter; it's not a lie that I've heard it, and hopefully they just go on their way. 

BF then ended up dealing with them when they came to our flat last week and they trapped him for a while. I came out of the shower to find the coffee table littered with various pamphlets.

My guess is that living across the street from a mosque made us prime targets!

I always liked the story a friend told about her father who was a lapsed LDS. He was constantly being visited by "elders" who wanted to bring him back into the fold. One day he was in the shower and heard the doorbell. He discreetly peeked out the window and saw it was them again. So he marched to the front door and flung it open -- starkers!
And they never came back.
[nothings against LDS -- we had a lovely family living next to us who never tried to convert us]

DW and I were discussing this recently, and whilst she'd like to move back because of her daughter (who is in the US), and I would like to live there....healthcare is probably why we wouldn't move there.

Strange. I had the JW come to the door this morning. They were a man and woman in their 60's I would think. I listened to the lady make her presentation and received two 'Watchtowers'. I think it took about 3 minutes. Hey they are people too!
I was figuring they only come about once a years. I can handle that.

healthcare is probably why we wouldn't move there.

Some states offer a public health insurance where your premiums are based on your income.  A great idea!  I don't know why the whole country can't do the same. 

Some states offer a public health insurance where your premiums are based on your income.  A great idea!  I don't know why the whole country can't do the same.  

Because some places have higher local income taxes and sales taxes than others?

True sweetpeach, but it's still a good idea.

True sweetpeach, but it's still a good idea.

I agree.It's just that some people don't like the idea of paying higher taxes to help their fellow citizens.

US health coverage is improving (or at least trying to) but it is very dodgy for someone considering living here with serious health issues. E.g. I could put DH on my current work health insurance but because he has renal disease that would ultimately be covered by Medicare -- which he would be eligible for as my spouse but not until he is 65. And that would cover dialysis/transplant but the interim period leading up to that is very hazy.
So -- it's going to be NHS for us.

I think for me to go back to North America, I think I would feel the need for an express purpose to feel motivated to move that far, like grad school or something to give focus to such a huge undertaking. Otherwise, our life is too good here and I am home here, just like I am there. But why bother with the stress of moving when we are happy here and with a good life quality? I know we could have a good life quality there - I just can't be bothered with the stress of moving.

I am grateful that health care is a non-issue between Canada with universal health care and the UK with the NHS.

Nothing like this has ever happened to me in the US. I'm not saying that it doesn't happen, or that it hasn't happened to you, but it is not the norm everywhere in the US. (Where I'm from - New York City - someone who did that would probably be considered a nutjob and people would point and laugh at them). You can't speak for the whole of the US, and you can't speak for the whole of the UK.

This is interesting - because having lived in Queens and Brooklyn, we were often approached by JWs, and I seem to attract the religious converts on the subway and stuff.

I will say I saw more of the door to door stuff in Queens, though.

oh wow. I didn't expect so many replies to this! Thank you all so much for sharing your stories and perspectives.