On the evening of November 8, 2016, a horde of frantic Americans crashed the Canadian immigration site when they realized the election wasn't going the way they had expected or hoped. Moving to Canada—hell, moving away to anywhere at all—has been on the minds of many Americans ever since. But the idea isn't new. People have been leaving the US in the rearview mirror for a long time and for a lot of different reasons. We talked to a few American expatriates to find out why they left, how they're living now, and whether they'll ever coming back. Sure, some have been influenced by the Trump presidency to stay away. But health, guns, and fun are also on the list.

Too Many Guns

I moved here for many reasons, but the biggest one was that I wanted to feel safe in public places. I was only a kid when Columbine happened, but that shit got deep into my head, and every mass shooting since has burrowed deeper and deeper into my psyche to the point where every time I left the house I was not expecting to come home. Through all of this, I kept expecting our government to step in and help put a stop to all the craziness, but it's only getting worse. It's disgusting to me that so many of our elected leaders are in the pocket of the gun lobby.

As a former grade school teacher, the last straw for me was Sandy Hook. The UK had a similar shooting in the 90s and ended up passing a lot of restrictive gun laws in reaction. When I saw there was no hope for the same kind of justice for all those poor children [in America], it cemented my decision to apply to graduate school out of the country. I left, and I never looked back. While the UK definitely has its fair share of violence and ignorance—as we've seen in the recent attacks on London and Manchester—I don't feel the same kind of anxiety in public places as I did in the US, because I know most people on the street aren't carrying a weapon that could kill multiple people in the space of a few seconds. - Jayme, 29, now living in the United Kingdom

Dump Trump

I've stayed in China for so long (since 2013) because I love to travel. I live in southern China, so it is easy to get to other parts of Southeast Asia. My fiancé and I were considering moving back to America this year, but honestly after Trump got elected, we decided to stay a few more years. Especially after the whole Paris agreement thing, I just can't believe people voted for this person. Many of the places I go to on a regular basis will not be here in 20 years, so the idea of climate change really hits you once you've seen the spots in the world that will be the most affected and damaged first. He's an idiot. - Croix, 27, now lives in China

Life/Work Balance

I quit my job in finance and left the US five years ago for one big reason: I only got two weeks of vacation per year. The work/life balance in America sucks horribly. My old boss used to praise us for working through lunch, staying late, and arriving early, and one of the things they used to consider for our promotions was, I kid you not, "putting the company's interests before one's own." What the fuck!? I work for myself now as a writer and photographer, and I've stayed away from the US in large part because of this mentality that we should be married to our work. Life is supposed to be fun. Too many Americans don't realize that. - Kristin, 31, now lives in Germany

[COUGH] Healthcare

Initially, I decided to come to France because after years of travel, the US didn't really feel like home any longer. Paris was the place that made me feel settled, despite not speaking French.

Before leaving the US (and my ex-husband's excellent health insurance), I had a preventative double mastectomy à la Angelina Jolie. I worked like crazy to obtain my Carte Vitale, which gives me access to the French medical system. It took six months, but I got it. What I pay in social taxes, a supplemental insurance policy, and rent in Paris is not much more than I would pay in the US for an insurance policy that gives me the kind of coverage I receive in France. This year in France, I've had a sonogram, four doctor visits, a teeth cleaning, two lab tests, and four prescriptions filled. After being reimbursed by the government and my supplemental insurance policy, I think I'm out of pocket less than 200 euros ($224). When I have my ovary removed in the fall, the French social security will cover 100 percent of the cost. For healthcare reasons alone, I will never leave France. - Leah, 42, now lives in France

Trumped Again

I moved to Europe well before the 2016 election, but the results left me shell-shocked; I had an identity crisis about what it means to be an American. I acknowledge, and even love, the diversity of opinions in the States. It is a nation that disavows, but permits, hateful speech. I wholeheartedly disagree with its use, but I agree that you are permitted to say and think what you want. I knew America had these element—it's what contributes to the American experiment. But I assumed the decency in the majority prevailed. I was wrong.