I'm a travel writer who has visited 68 countries—the 4 'magical places' I think about moving to most

I wonder what it would be like to live in most of the places I visit, but I know I can't make everywhere home. 

As much as I would love to wake up in Sydney every morning, Australia is just a little too far away from everywhere else. As vibrant as Istanbul is, it's a bit too big and bustling.

Reykjavik is comfortable, but it might be too small a city for me to put down roots — and I wonder if I'll ever get the hang of Icelandic. 

As a Chicago-based travel writer, I constantly discover magical new places all over the world. Of the nearly 70 countries I've made it to so far, these are the four places I think about moving to the most. 

Helsinki is a vibrant, walkable capital city with excellent public transit, a well-connected airport, and plenty of things to do. I love its long summer days and midnight sunsets, its love of electronic music, and its robust art and food scenes. 

There's a contentment here that you can feel. People don't have to struggle to meet their basic needs.

Housing is considered a human right, and Finland has virtually eliminated homelessness. A strong public healthcare system ensures high-quality, low-cost healthcare is available to everyone. Gender equity is at a level where even moms of young kids seem to have time for hobbies. 

I live in a country where healthcare bankrupts even insured people, childcare can cost as much as rent, and homelessness is a visible struggle. Finland is proof that there is another way. It's easy to see why it's considered the happiest country in the world and how it could be a wonderful place to live.

While Finnish winters are cold, the frequent northern lights make temperatures more bearable.

Singapore is home to one of the world's top airports, thriving shopping malls for