Top 12 Real Reasons Germany is a Great Place to Live

Germany is the number one non-English speaking destination for migrant workers, according to a global study. But which nationalities are keenest on Germany and where do Germans want work?  

Germany ranked as the fourth most popular place to work abroad globally, after the US, UK and Canada respectively. One third of the 200,000 respondents surveyed said they'd like to move to the country.

-thelocal.de

What is it about Germany that makes someone like me learn German?

1. The German economy, while flagging, is still a global powerhouse, providing lots of jobs like the one I was hired for.
2. The cities are based around pedestrians, not cars. This fundamentally different attitude means more lively cities, places easier to access, less worry, less stress.
3. There is an idea of following through commitments. People do the things they say they are going to do. Things happen on time. The bureaucracy is slow but it moves. 
4. Germany happens to be in the center of Europe, with easy and fast access to great European cities.
5. Quality matters here. Tools, objects, cars, food. There are still tons of independent bakeries and flower shops because apart from the huge footprint, there is a fear that malls and supermarkets streamline and degrade the product and the experience.
6. Germans have probably the most time off in the entire world.
7. Related to #6, relative to other countries, the emphasis is shifted less to commercial profits and more to human well-being.
8. People appreciate nature here, from remote gardening patches outside the city centers, crowded sunny lawns, long nature trails, to the outdoor beer gardens everywhere, people just like being outside surrounded by green.
9. There is a better social safety net. Women, as well as men, get paid maternity and paternity leave. There are many more protections for the poor and the workers.
10. The bread, far more than the beer, is amazing.
11. It's healthier to live here. People walk more, they eat better quality food, they spend more time outside, they take more time off.
12. Wages are higher than most places in Europe, while the cost of most things is relatively low for Europe. This means the living wages are quite good, actually.

There's a lot of crappy, crappy things about living in Germany too, but I'm sure that gets filtered through the blog clearly enough.