It depends on the time period. Pre-Sozin, probably Fire Nation, since they hadn't slid into fascism yet and were living basically in a golden age of prosperity.
Post-Sozin until the end of the war, it depends on my ethnicity. If I'm ethnically Firish, probably the Fire Nation colony cities in the EK. They benefited economically from the FN imperialism but didn't really have to live with the police state fascism of the mainland FN. If I'm anything other than Firish, I'd want to live in Ba Sing Se or Omashu. For like 99% of the war they didn't have to deal with hardly any of the consequences of the war, other than a refugee crisis from the rest of the EK. Only during the last year of the war did they have to live in Vichy Earth Kingdom.
Postwar, any big city in either the FN or EK.
Earth honestly looks like the only functional society. The water nation is living in exile in hidden pockets and you're quite likely to get drafted in the fire nation.
If I could bend, I think I’d choose the earth nation. Imagine how much cool shit you could build. Need an extension on your house? Here’s a brand new stone wall in 30 seconds.
I would take it upon myself to solve homelessness, if it existed. You need a house? Done. You need a house? How many rooms? Done.
I would build so. much. stuff. It would get weird.
Honestly, this right here is the main reason I don't believe any real-world bending would end any way other than Earth Kingdom dominance. Peaceful dominance, hopefully.
You can't wipe out their infrastructure as long as someone is alive who knows how it's done.
Oh, fire nation bulldozed your house because they felt like it? Well boom. Stomp stomp punch. New identical house made of stone.
Bridge collapsed to cause chaos? Stomp stomp punch, it's back.
Don't feel safe living out in the open where fire nation scouts could murderhobo you harder than my last D&D group? Stomp stomp punch, now you have a vast mansion underground in which you can simply.... Not go above ground until you need to.
Of course, underground living isn't simple as "hole in ground, hide all day" but still... There is 0 reason the EK shouldn't go full Vietnam War tactics.
Ha! I never thought about the underground mansion hideaway. Good stuff. You’re right, they’d be pretty much unstoppable and unbeatable.
This is the kind of question that no one asks, but want answers. Obviously I prefer Air. People seem chill in there.
The big differentiator in this thread is "can you bend?" because if you're stuck in an Air temple unable to fly, that would kind of suck. I guess if you had a buddy with a sky bison, that might make it easier. But the Earth kingdom seems to have their shit the most figured out out of all the kingdoms (Fire's fascism notwithstanding).
Air because 100% of them are benders. You don't get that guarantee in the other nations. If bending wasn't a factor, probably either water or air, as they both seem chill. As a vegetarian though, air would probably align more with my values anyway.
Totally depends on timeline and if we're also including TLoK as well. Anytime before the wars began, gotta agree with someone else who said fire nation. During the war? Probably still in the fire nation since you don't really see them getting attacked in their nation much. The fascist kinda lifestyle wouldn't be too cool, but would rather not live in constant fear of being attacked over accidentally saying something wrong. Especially since I'm fairly positive there's no way I'd be a bender.
If we're talking TLoK included, don't remember which natition it's in, but the metal city where they literally open it up like a blooming flower seems like a cool place to live.
I have the fire nation symbol tattooed on my arm. I'm a fire performer, so I don't think much would change there. Post-Aang fire nation, ideally.
That depends on whether or not I can be a Bender. Culturally I think I'd be better suited as an air nomad, it fits my wanderlust and passive lifestyle. Otherwise the earth Kingdom, especially if I could be an earth bender.
I think practically it’d have to be earth. Water nation might not be too bad cuz u like the cold but idk about being surrounded by snow everyday of the year. Air nomad would be nice to have a sky bison but I’m not vegetarian and I don’t like tattoos.
I'd rather chill in the spirit world. Maybe spend a few years lost in the fog of lost souls, go hang with Hei Bai, attack some rando's cause someones been breakin trees, end most nights catching up on some reading at Wan Shi's library. I'd avoid the face stealer, cause that ones a dick! Probably drop in on Iroh once in a while for an injection of wisdom in my life.
Spirit world is where its at.
Probably the one inspired by pacific islanders, I'm more of a sea guy and the whales seem cool to gang out with
We livin as nomads or in the swamps. Bending or not doesn't matter. Though if I can't bend I'd rather be with the swamp people than air nomads.
Either the water benders or earth benders. Water bender because of the environment but earth benders because it fits my personality and because being among the water benders would probably require me to be able to do watery stuff.