For someone who has never taken an architecture or engineering class, I’ve got plenty of building experience. That’s what a childhood of Sims series computer games will do to you (yes, that includes SimCity and The Sims: Livin’ Large). Really these games aren’t as much building as they are creating, but you get the point. Regrettably I never found SimCountry. Although if that game had existed, my country would be eerily similar to Argentina.

The first quality for my ideal country? Warm weather. Yes, I have spent the majority of my life in a city that averages more than three feet of snow. But I’m a warm-weather guy at heart, and while it’s been pretty cold here so far (read: really cold), it could be worse. Plus spring is just around the corner, and I’m really looking forward to balmy November and December.

In a close second is la comida. The food here has been fantastic, and as I write this I’m recovering from one of the best meals I’ve had in my two decades on earth. Last Sunday some friends and I indulged in a 63 peso (16 dollar), all-you-can-eat smorgasbord. But this was much more than your average Old Country Buffet. This place had chefs at each stand whipping up everything from pizza to empanadas to ravioli to sushi. You name it, they had it. And don’t get me started on the desserts.

I’d also argue that Buenos Aires has the best café scene this side of Paris, but that’s another post for another time.

My third quality for the ultimate country isn’t as tangible as the first two. Rather it has to do with time. To put it simply—everything here starts later. If a class is supposed to begin at 9, the teacher will stroll in at 9:15. If you’re meeting someone for lunch at 1, you get to the restaurant at 1:15. For someone like me, who doesn’t classify “punctuality” as one of their strong suits, Buenos Aires is a dream come true. Plus, because everything starts and ends later, it’s not unusual to go to bed at 3 or 4 AM (actually, that’s a little early).

Finally, the sports scene here is, well, enormous. Everybody from my doorman to the president has an opinion, and I love it. In some cases, the success of politicians is directly tied to the success of soccer teams. Good thing that’s not the case in the United States, otherwise Chicago politicians would be in trouble.