Must admit, both places are very much on my "to do" list
I'm not sure I agree that the UK is "fucked" but it is going down hill - as a nation, we've probably had our time, and our standing on the world stage is slowly diminishing, but I'd not go as far as to say it's fucked. It might well be in 30/40 years, but I'll probably be dead by then, so don't really care - as and when I can retire though, I'll certainly not be spending any winters over here, fuck that