How is the quality of life in USA compared to Europe?
I’ve spent A LOT of time in Europe and have been to more countries than most of my European friends. That being said, the more I see and learn about Europe, the better the US looks. If you’re highly educated/skilled, a minority or lived an upper middle class or better lifestyle in the USA , your standard of living is almost guaranteed to be lower. Housing is older, even in the wealthiest of areas, heating and water are more expensive (many Europeans barely use theirs, even in winter, because of this), you will have significantly less housing space, you will have far less disposable income, your opportunities for advancement, financially or professionally will be few (especially if you’re a minority or female), and many of the niceties that you take for granted simply don’t exist here (e.g. central air/heat, one-store shopping, cheap electronics, good customer service, the option to own a home/car etc.). Also, the weather is pretty poor most of the year and “summer” is a few weeks of temperatures in the 70s, if you’re lucky, unless you go to Southern Europe.Most Europeans do not live what many Americans would consider a middle class lifestyle because of the things I mentioned. However, that doesn’t mean that they aren’t middle class by European standards.Yes, the quality of whole foods is infinitely better, crime is lower overall, people are kinder and more trusting (at least to your face because racism is still widely tolerated on the Continent). Yes, you will have the safety net of healthcare (which isn’t free but comes out of your income tax), social services, and maybe even a pension. Yes, you will work less hours (for less pay…). Yes, life will probably be simpler as ambition for money, status, and professional accomplishment are either looked down upon or so rarely achieved as to be considered pointless if one has a roof over their head, food and family.
What is the best piece of home gym equipment most people would benefit from, considering cost, versatility, realistic storage, and results?
I think I can weigh in with a bit of perspective, being a former personal trainer & an executive at one of the largest national health club chains. The absolute best bang for your buck, ESPECIALLY for a beginner, would be...your own body! The sheer variety of challenging exercises you can perform with your own body weight are limited only by one's creativity. I'm not necessarily an advocate of the generic, non-personalized workout DVD's like "p90x" or "Insanity", but, they do allow users to generally see significant results (so long as the participant's nutrition is in order) & they demonstrate how effective body weight exercises can be. Additionally, many forms of effective cardio require no equipment at all (ie - jogging, sprinting, hiking, swimming, etc). Google "bodyweight workout routine" (& possibly add "for men" or "for women" in the search for more specific results). Combine that with some weekly outdoor cardio & you'll be off to a great start. If you feel you need additional resistance at some point, you could look into kettle bells (like a previous poster mentioned), or, perhaps adjustable dumbbells which allow you to simply turn a dial to adjust the weight (don't get the Bowflex SelectTech ones, there are cheaper brands available). Also, maybe a pullup bar...you can perform many exercise variations beyond simple pullups/chinups, such as abdominal work like hanging leg raises. If you really have your heart set on purchasing a piece of home gym equipment for resistance exercise purposes (& don't mind spending a chunk of change), then the Bowflex Revolution is a decent option (not the same as the original, old Bowflex with the cheap resistance bars). Good luck with your workout goals!