Bryan, out of curiosity, what are the aspects of living in Switzerland that you like the most? It's a strong endorsement that you moved there and decided to stay. It looks like a beautiful country; would be interesting to have your first-hand perspective on what it's like to live there.
We moved here for a j*b, then upon FIRE we stayed. It feels like home now, after nine years here. I like Switzerland for its physical beauty, it's diversity of languages (4 of them: German, French, Italian, and Romansh) and cultures that somehow seems to hang together quite well. I like its federated political organization: most power lies with the constituent cantons, with a small federal government. The major parties get along and the country isn't polarized by culture wars.
I like its approach to health care -- everyone must participate, pay your own way all your life, but if you cannot then the government can step in and fill the gaps so that you aren't left without proper care. This means you can retire and keep your (very good) portable health insurance and not stay in soul sucking j*bs just to keep your family insured. Also, prescription medications are included and there are no donut holes and push back from insurers. The doctors still hold the power and the insurance companies pay. And they are all nonprofits -- like the old blue cross/blue shield in the US.
I like its sane political climate...no nasty ads on TV, no one can remember who the President is (the job rotates among 7 highest ranking elected parliament officials annually). Last year our President was a former concert pianist. Switzerland doesn't play any role on the world's stage, I like that a lot. But it does serve other countries as a neutral facilitator; for example for the US and Iran.
I like that it has a lot of important nonprofit organizations headquartered here that were founded here: International Red Cross, Doctors Without Borders, for example. It has a vibrant economy based on highly skilled labor and innovation and it provides a very sane and stable system for all workers to retire comfortably with a pension plus social security. Decisions made about this system are made without a lot of political posturing and tend to build upon the past, not undo it. Financial planning is a lot easier here.
I like the transportation system. Extensive train network, local buses, trams, funiculars to get you up steep hills in some cities and towns (old adage: "everything in Switzerland is either on a hill or on its way to a hill). Everything runs on time here. And you see where your taxes are being spent on the quality of your life and the services provided.
I like that the dozen or so national universities charge a minimal tuition; but I don't like that they force students to specialize very early (upon entrance, actually). I especially like that they don't expect everyone to go to university. Instead a large swath of the population go to technical or trade schools or sign on as apprentices and all make a decent living.
I like that the wait staff in restaurants are all professionals who pursue this work as a career (and it shows). I like that there are Swiss in the back rooms and kitchen, not people whose legal status in the country is such that they can be taken advantage of.
On a very personal level I like that the Swiss value privacy and would never think to ask you an embarrassing question about how much you make or how much something cost you. I like that they don't flash their wealth, except maybe through an expensive watch or German car. They are hard to make friends with -- it can take a long time -- but then they are friends for life.
I like that they don't allow stores, in general, to be open on Sundays (so that most people can have the day off) and communities often prohibit noisy activities like lawn mowing, vacuuming, or car washing on Sundays (so that everyone can rest). It can be inconvenient, but I have accepted it as part of life. I like also that there are still lots of markets and small food stores and fewer supermarkets. People generally shop every day or so. I like that an electrician can do work in your flat (70% of us live in apartment buildings) and then send you a bill, in a month or so. And that if you run out of a medicine your pharmacist, who knows you, will simply refill it and tell you to have the doctor send the Rx later.
I love that people wait at crosswalks until they get the green light, even if there is no traffic. It's a country that respects rules. Although they can go overboard. I don't like that they don't seem to smile as much as I'm used to, and wonder if they are really happy, despite those international polls that often place Switzerland in the top 5 or even first place some years.
I like that Switzerland is about 25% foreign born -- mostly expats working for large tech, pharma, or financial companies. So, it is more cosmopolitan than it would be otherwise.
Finally, I love that I can leave easily. Given its central European location, it's easy to get to many places we like to visit -- fly to Rome, London or Amsterdam in an hour and twenty minutes. Milan by train in 50 minutes.
So much to love. But also some things not to love. The right wing party is gaining ground -- very anti-Islam. The Swiss can be closed minded about change and new ideas sometimes -- women didn't get the vote until 1972 I think and you still see ads asking for attractive women for reception j*bs. No gay marriage yet. Also, its still fairly male dominated. It bothers me that in Lugano, the Italian-speaking canton where I live, women still seem to dress to please men. You don't see that much in the German parts, like Zurich.
Lastly, the flag is a plus. What could be better than that?
Hope this helps. I can answer questions about any or all of this, including other not so nice stuff -- e.g., the very high cost of living that everyone knows about. My wife's and my plans for FIRE were never predicated on living in one of the most expensive countries on the planet; but somehow we manage and hope to continue to.
-BB
