Even ignoring the current corona craze, which had most of Europe under draconian policies - people in Europe see stagnant salaries, less and less jobs, no prospect of a pension you can live on, high skilled youth immigrating out, low skilled youth immigrating in, more crimes, prices raising.

Most europeans have been worried for the last 20 years. Scandinavia, the UK and Switzerland are the only places where the magnitude of the effect is lower.

Exactly. You're a lot more likely to practice the tightrope (and benefit from the experience) when there's a [social] safety net.

Afraid of a specific thing or no fear in general?

Hard to generalize over European countries, but you can think of most European governments as insurance companies with their own army. No matter how hard you fuck up, as long as you are able to fill out paperwork you'll have food, healthcare, and a (shitty) apartment. None of this is free for taxpayers, obviously, but it is what it is.

No fear in general. You can sense when people are fearful. No one - not one single person - is fearful in Europe (hyperbol of course, but not so far off). Again, it is the very visceral lack of fear that hit me when I returned. Hit me really hard (in a good way!). Visceral is exactly the word.

It doesn't mean it is paradise, but it is a good start.

I suppose in Europe the land and the people are one, in a way that doesn't really apply to our historical now completely out of hand 'camping trips'.

I do really miss the US though, there are many good things - like your trucks with snouts!

Afraid of their future I’m assuming, with a much better welfare and safety net in Europe