After all the bureaucracy that I went through to get to the US, it's much easier when you're here.

I found the SC driving test incredibly easy. I was expecting to have to get a learner's permit but they looked at my UK licence, copied it and gave me the 20 questions theory test (good job I'd glanced through their highway code that morning) and then they said "go round the back with your car and wait for the examiner". Wow. A couple of circuits, some reverse parking and that was it! My licence was issued on the spot so the next day I went out and bought my own car and use that instead of my wife's car. I'd been using an international licence until then.

My dad has always been associated with the military and so I grew up around guns. It was somewhat surprising to find I could walk into Walmart to buy clothes, food, guns and ammunition. That'd never fly in Britain! Eventually my wife suggested that we got a gun for home defence and so started a new interest. I even passed my concealed weapons permit without any problems. The only hassle I get is when I want to buy a gun from a store. A US citizen with a CWP would just show that and walk out with the gun. I have to prove 3 months residency and they'll only accept utility bills in some stores, which is a pain.

Driving here I find can be horrendous. There're a lot of incredibly bad, scary drivers around. I'm rather glad I bought something big and robust that has plenty airbags. Only the other day I was almost sideswiped by a moron witha trailer and that's not the worst. I'd say the percentage of good and bad drivers are the same as in the UK but the bad ones are much more dangerous. You'd think in a country where 50% of the population is armed that they'd be a little more cautious!

my definitions of both 'freedom' and 'an easy life' involve more than weaponry and vehicles; I'd be more interested in fine weather, space for a garden, and local parks and markets

however, glad you got your license easily
(though perhaps the very ease of getting licenses may be part of the problems you describe in paragraph 4? )

Wow, they definitely don't have guns which you can purchase in Walmart around here.

Thats cool though that you were able to get your license that same day. When I went to go and apply for my drivers license, I told the girl at the DMV that I have a UK license and have held it for 7 years, will that count for anything, I said to her, she was like umm no. So that same day I only took the theory test and had to wait 5 weeks to do my drivers test and that only lasted 5 minutes! was crazy, so easy!

The drivers are really bad here, many just have a a-hole attitude going on, especially in New England, it's very notorious for it.

Different states have different rules. I like the slogun "2nd Amendment - America's original Homeland Security".

My driving test was so easy. I think I was in and out in 90 minutes and I only went in to make an enquiry! It was just fortunate that I had all the documents required with me.

It was very easy to get my own business up and running here too. Things are so incredibly inexpensive and easy to do. Having said that, I've not splashed out anything much on advertising yet. Today I'll be going to a busy road junction to hold up my sign offering a "special offer". I'm not quite sure what my special offer will be just yet. It might change in June to something else if I get enough take-up

The driving test here (Florida) is really easy! Actually it's too easy in my opinion, almost anyone can pass it and be legal on the road!.. There are lots of bad drivers that I've encountered over here and I've only been driving to work and back for about a year or so! In fact I almost went into the side of a guy just a few days ago that decided that it was a good idea to pull out into the lane I was in without any lights on, without indicating (no one here really uses there indicators, it annoys me!) no sign there was even anyone in the car! I'm lucky that I spotted him in time and just had my brakes done otherwise I'd be looking for a no win no fee lawyer or a good undertaker

How about this - a guy comes screaming downhill then slows and indicates right as I want to pull out into the road. I start to move then he knocks his indicator off so I stop (still safely out of the main road). He then comes bombing down and turns sharp right to get into the road I'm coming out of. He does it at such speed that I can smell burning rubber on his left front tyre. I can see his left front tyre almost coming off the rim and he's driving a damned great big pickup truck. He made it but it was an interesting moment. I'm rather glad that I drive an Xterra as they're somewhat tough.

Then there are the guys that overtake on the right with a trailer and - you know that kind of story!

Let's just say even though I only get 19mpg, my Xterra is one vehicle that I would not easily give up. It stops on a sixpence and has plenty power for acceleration (even with the AC on). Some bad looking guys in a sportscar tried to get in front of me one time. I figured they were going to try stopping in front of me then dive out of the car waving guns. Their puny 2.5 liter sportscar engine was just no match for my 4 liter v6! Put it like this - they did not get in front and I did not exceed the speed limit aside from when I moved to block them.

I'm a native Floridian, and I completely agree with this!!! I think other states just export their bad drivers here, since they all seem to be here. And in Central Florida, just add the tourists who have no idea where they're going, and you have our daily driving situations!!!

No wonder Darren's scared to get on the road here!!!