Just to put a different spin on it... I say, if you want to drive a bus for the rest of your career, go the 139. If you want to do something more interesting, Mi17.
There are plenty of people using them outside of Russia, and Africa, you just have to look around. While you will probably not be in the flashiest places to live, the flying would certainly be more interesting.
There again, a lot of people don't particularly like the Middle East, North Western Australia, Scotland, wild coastal Canada, London, USA, New Zealand, wherever, as places to live, but they live there because that is where they can fly a 139, or whatever...