Great article! Whether the pros outweigh the cons is a matter of personal opinion. It depends on your priorities - what you want to be able to do with your life in the short term and how much the U.S. gets in the way of that.

I love the natural beauty of this continent too. You have a point with the argument that "if it can't happen here, it's not going to happen anywhere else." I am really intrigued by your location in Arizona!