Great points, Amanda. Thanks for the thoughts. As I was reading I was nodding my head, because I too, love America's geographic beauty and culture of anti-authoritarianism.
But nowadays, with the ability to run our own lives around the edges of the rulers' restrictions, it really doesn't matter where we live as much. Freedom is an internal affair.
I probably live in what some may consider a less free place, South Korea, and have lived here ​most of the time since 1995. For Koreans, it can be a conformist nightmare, but my life is my own in so many ways and my family enjoys life here too. I travel to the USA to see family and friends once or twice a year, but my work, family and life are all based in Korea, which I enjoy the heck out of. One advantage of being an expat is in the fact that you don't have to live by anyone else's rules.
I agree with you on the right to defend yourself using firearms in principle, but have to admit that I am much, much safer from gun violence here than almost anywhere in the USA.