Falling into the daily grind is easy to get caught up in. Everyone wants to make more money, get a better job, wear a nicer suit, and generally be more successful than the next guy. I guess thats a pretty good attitude if your looking to get to the top, but its not happiness. Its competition. Its human nature. Joe Rogan once said that if you look at earth from an airplane, it is like a peice of molded bread, with people being the mold. We seem to band together, and destroy everything around us. Fly over Newark NJ, or LA and think about it next time. Heres a list of 10 places that will make you realize what peace and true happiness are.

10. Switzerland

Switzerland’s long history of neutrality and its tucked away location among the valleys of the Alps still make it a safe bet, even despite having a high number of bordering nations. It helps that neighboring Austria is also considered a neutral nation. Plus having some of the worlds most beautiful women doesnt really hurt either.

9. Costa Rica

Costa Rica has a stable democracy, a disbanded military and a national policy of neutrality. It also ranks highly on the Global Peace Index, Happy Planet Index, and Life Satisfaction Index. All of that says relaxation to me. Although it sits in the middle of a tumultuous region, there are far worse places to sit in peace as the world goes down in flames all around.

8. Papua New Guinea

There are regions of Papua New Guinea that are still being discovered for the first time. The canopy covered, mountainous nation contains some of the most isolated places in the world. Tuck yourself away in a nook here and it may be one of the few places left where you can completely insulate yourself from the outside world. There are natives here who have no idea of the outside world, think about that.

7. Canada

Canada is the second largest nation in the world, yet it only shares a land border with one other country– the U.S.A.– and it is a peaceful border. That means there is a great expanse to escape to, if need be. Furthermore, Canada has few world enemies, ranks consistently high on the Global Peace Index, and is relatively homogeneous.

6. Seychelles

Aside from being safely isolated from the rest of the world in the middle of the Indian Ocean, this beautiful island nation is a great place to forget about your worries. Isolation is the key here. And conflict is as transparent as the water.

5. Finland

Finland has a long history of desiring to stay out of international conflicts, is recognized as neutral and always ranks in the top 10 of the Global Peace Index.  Thats the way it should be, mind your own business, and enjoy your own life. It’s northerly location also typically means the remote areas of this country are a perfect place to disappear.

4. Tuvalu

Inspiration for LOST? Isolated in the middle of Micronesia, Tuvalu is among the safest and most remote places in the world. It is the third least populated country on Earth, and the forth smallest. There are only a few places more distant from the world’s strife than Tuvalu.

3. Iceland

Iceland, of course, has no borders, has remote locations, is stable as a country and has virtually no world enemies. Its people are happy and the nation always ranks highly on the Global Peace Index. If world conflict erupts, Iceland is one of the few stable nations in the world unlikely to get caught up in the middle. Although if global warming keeps on its current pace, Iceland may be in trouble, but I guess no more than anyone else.

2. Bhutan

Landlocked among the Himalaya mountains, Bhutan is one of the most isolated nations in the world. It also showcases one of the most stable balances in the world between moderization and retention of ancient culture. Its religious population believes in peaceful resolution to all conflict, and although it sits in a troubled region, it remains protected by its geography. Living on the edge of a cliff might take some getting used to, but with all the peaceful “lets talk out our problems” resolutions, it seems like an ideal place to settle down.

1. New Zealand

New Zealand might be the most isolated and expansive fully developed nation in the world. It shares no borders, sits relatively distant from any other nation, has no real national enemies, has a safe democracy and a diverse landscape with many remote places to hide away within. Furthermore, it ranked #1 on the Global Peace Index in 2009.