Alberti mentions feeling guilty about leaving family and friends
behind in the US [0], and it made me think of our own experience.

I never felt guilty for leaving the US in 2016, but I think our
primary motivation was different. The Orange Menace was not yet
in office, and although the precursors to fascism were there
(warrantless wiretapping as exposed by Snowden was one), it wasn't
nearly so urgent or obvious back then. If anything, there is more
reason to leave the States now.

Still, I admit to some guilt over being _able_ to leave - many do
not have the means. Moving to another country without the financial
resources to do so, or a foreign citizenship, or general good
health, or a job/study offer means seeking asylum, which also means
things have to get much worse in the States before those within can
flee as asylum seekers.

It's helpful to think about one's own family tree, as many have
immigrant parents or grandparents. My own parents were Canadian and
British, and my Mother in particular moved around the world a lot as
a child due to instability caused by WWII. At the time, her parents
were just doing what we are doing - what was best for their own
family.

Friends or other family members who don't understand this are
probably jealous, or resentful, or both, and almost certainly
hypocritical - they would do the same for their families if they had
the opportunity. True friends and some family do understand, and
will work to keep in touch. Let the others go.

[0]: gopher://sdf.org/0/users/alberti/phlog/20260928.txt