I visited my family every year since we moved either on channuka or in the summer so no I wouldn't say I've forgotten what it's like being there. Look it's not my opinion it's a fact, cost of living is more expensive in Israel, minimum wage is lower etc... Net take home pay (1 being the highest pay): US is ranked 7, Israel is 24 behind Spain and Greece. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_net_take-home_pay Cost of living (1 being most expensive): US 21 Israel 16. http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/rankings_by_country.jsp With the cost of living higher and take home wages lower you will always make more there. And as far as the rude people... I am rude myself. I become aware of it when we visit there and I realize I'm usually more aggressive than the other passengers boarding planes in the US. But I see how letsay Americans will smile at you at the airport just because you accidentally caught their eye... Like,what?... But that's how it is. At the end of the day if you want to move to Israel fine that's your choice but at least you know that you will be entering a world where you pay more for food, pay a lot more for rent and housing, but the average paycheck is much lower. And I see how the Israelis laugh at the American Jewish tourists, calling them stupid fat americans. It's like because they want to leave here so much they resent the American Jews who can. I obviously don't think that way because I have american family and I know that they are good people... Let me tell you how it is: 0-3 years what it's like: You love it, kind of hard making it here but you're in the holy land and you're happy. Years 3-6 you already know hebrew and you are transitioning from an Oleh chadash to vatik... You're more used to the customs in Israel and realize you've become kind of rude yourself Years 6-9 you start experiencing the first regrets. Ok your in the holy land... But so what? You've become rude and always haggle and act the way u vowed you never would. The constant Israeli response of why would you move here, nearly every Israeli wants to move to where u left... You start wondering why and looking into it. Year 10 (present): You look into it, realize the whole thing is a scam to get Americans there. You realize that that's it you've made your connections and life here is most likely your future... But you develop the hope that maybe sometime soon you'll be able to live elsewhere (ie the U.S.) where the people themselves don't hate the place at least. Everyone's experience is different but if your push is financial reasons, then moving will be the biggest mistake of your life. The funds by nefesh bnefesh end very fast and you're worse of than before. If you want to come for the people, don't, they hate Americans think they are fat and stupid while at the same time are always saying the wish they'd live in the US or Canada. If you want to come for Zionism that's about the only reason I could respect... But be aware that it's Zionism at a price.