What an encouraging and hopeful narrative for those to consider what they feel might be impossible. Living in Portugal is a dream years in the making and it is a gift every day when I wake up and see the Douro River from my window. We are not rich people, but managed to sell my childhood home, and with other small sums of money are doing well here. Thanks for this and I look forward to your Italian life when that comes to pass.
Really enjoyed this! Italy is not quite as well-organized as the Netherlands. Our national health service, always strained, was devastated by the pandemic, and the quality of care and waiting times depend on your region. Still, emergency care is free and specialist care excellent and much cheaper than the US, all things considered. Even when paying out of pocket, clinical exams cost a fraction of what they cost in the US. Overall lifestyle and diet is healthier too.
I’m sure we’ll miss the organisation in the Netherlands a bit. 😂 we lived in Piemonte for a year, so I know to estimate approximately 10x the time and effort for getting anything done it Italy.
Planning ahead. So much to be said about it!!! The generational passport is the key. Many don’t realize they are entitled or can’t take the trouble.
As we have chatted, I have a long history in NL. I adore everything about the country and the people. What’s more, all the hoopla in the US about ‘socialism’ is exactly all the benefit you are experiencing. It’s nothing bad. It’s stabilizing. The Dutch are very good at running businesses. They run their country just as well.
Will have to come visit the bookshop when we get to the other side on our journey! Our first stop has been Canada which is a move we are happy with and next it’s Spain or Italy. Italy has been a second home on and off for the past 5 years. So we’ll make it to your spot, for sure!
I was seriously looking into buying in Italy and started the process to gain my Italian Citizenship by Decent… only to find the supposedly Italian Grandfather was actually Austrian! 🇦🇹
What a surprise! My husband also ended up ineligible through one Italian great-grandfather, but fortunately had another. I hope things work out for you in some other serendipitous way.
Loved this, Sarah! The financial benefits for us, now 70s, is incredible. From living where homes cost $1000 - 1500 per square foot in Charleston, SC to where we bought our circa 1700 home for $169 per square foot ! Cash. Not to mention the cost and quality of food. So happy for your family!
Such an inspiring story! And thank you for reminding me how blessed I am to be born and living in Italy, which may feel less than obvious at times (although, as you already know from living in Chiusa Pesio, things here are quite a bit different from Amsterdam).
All places have their pros and cons, but they say “Italians are the first victims of the charm of Italy,” and it is easy to see why. So many of the intangibles that make life truly worth living are built in to life there.
How do your kids (young adults) feel about you ( soon )not having a family home in Amsterdam? I’m curious about that in case we ever decide to sell our Amsterdam home and relocate—while probably at least a couple of our kids will still live here because they love it so much.
And in fact not just me, but I know some other friends who plan to do it down the line when their kids have flown the nest/gone to college so they will be interested too in how you navigate this!
I think they’re pretty philosophical about it. My son’s best friend’s parents bought a house in Spain and plan to move as soon as he graduates. Not an uncommon scenario, I think. We’re doing Christmas at the new house in Italy this year, so hopefully they’ll start to feel a sense of home there as well. ❤️
I’m sure they will! As a friend just remarked ( I just shared it ☺️ )anyone would be happy to have a house in Italy for the weather, food and scenery 🤩 Great to read your journey, Sarah. Thanks for sharing.
Exactly! When our son can survive outside the nest 😅 we (Swiss, ex-US and German/Swiss double) are skedaddling to Portugal. Still on the fence whether we keep a place in Switz, but if my birth country continues on its path to destroy the global economy, the value of our pension plans might make that decision for us. 😠
THANK YOU, thank you, thank you! Really, I'm all tear-y eyed, reading this, because things have turned out SO well for you, and this is SO inspiring! You've mentioned far more reasons to move abroad than I ever knew existed. I wish that, nine years ago, we'd followed your good example. But, wow, this post really makes it clear that we need to move, ASAP. Thanks again! <3
You might find this shocking, but a staggering amount of people from my country (North Macedonia) actually leave for the United States, as they assume that all is glitz and glamour like in the movies. A hefty number of them work in the trucking business, be it owning a company or being a driver because it pays a ton. But I could never wrap my head around moving there.
I've been on a two-week vacation, and my husband had a summer job there for two years but we both agreed that the US is anything but great in terms of human needs.
From our perspective the biggest benefit is the freedom, while everything else is taken away. Very sad, and very stressfull.
We've also experienced The Netherlands for a couple of years as we have relatives there and we thoroughly enjoy and are in awe at how everything could work so well. But something was missing, and that was the warmness of people.
Now Italy, that's a whole different picture and I think the best out of both worlds. Very glad you got to experience such a nice life and such a new and exciting chapter!
Hi, Milka! I don't find it too shocking, since when people find out I'm from California, they always start waxing rhapsodic about their beautiful vacation or dream to move there. I've concluded that different places are best for different people . . .
What an encouraging and hopeful narrative for those to consider what they feel might be impossible. Living in Portugal is a dream years in the making and it is a gift every day when I wake up and see the Douro River from my window. We are not rich people, but managed to sell my childhood home, and with other small sums of money are doing well here. Thanks for this and I look forward to your Italian life when that comes to pass.
I’m so glad you were able to make your dream happen!
Really enjoyed this! Italy is not quite as well-organized as the Netherlands. Our national health service, always strained, was devastated by the pandemic, and the quality of care and waiting times depend on your region. Still, emergency care is free and specialist care excellent and much cheaper than the US, all things considered. Even when paying out of pocket, clinical exams cost a fraction of what they cost in the US. Overall lifestyle and diet is healthier too.
I’m sure we’ll miss the organisation in the Netherlands a bit. 😂 we lived in Piemonte for a year, so I know to estimate approximately 10x the time and effort for getting anything done it Italy.
Ahhhh where in Piemonte did you live? I've run workshops in Umbria (Assisi) but our base in Italy is in Novello (CN) presently.
We lived in Chiusa di Pesio, right near Cuneo. It's right up on the side of the mountains, so winters were a bit long and harsh. But we loved it.
Planning ahead. So much to be said about it!!! The generational passport is the key. Many don’t realize they are entitled or can’t take the trouble.
As we have chatted, I have a long history in NL. I adore everything about the country and the people. What’s more, all the hoopla in the US about ‘socialism’ is exactly all the benefit you are experiencing. It’s nothing bad. It’s stabilizing. The Dutch are very good at running businesses. They run their country just as well.
Will have to come visit the bookshop when we get to the other side on our journey! Our first stop has been Canada which is a move we are happy with and next it’s Spain or Italy. Italy has been a second home on and off for the past 5 years. So we’ll make it to your spot, for sure!
Yes, a passport opens so many doors. I’ll look forward to seeing you someday walking through the Wardrobe door into the bookshop!
😉
What a beautiful, personal story - following your dream
That’s so kind of you to say. Thank you for rewarding!
Thank you for sharing this. Someday I hope to make a similar move. Yours gives me hope!
Fabulous!! Where in Italy are you going?
Narni! A beautiful Umbrian town a little over an hour north of Rome.
I was seriously looking into buying in Italy and started the process to gain my Italian Citizenship by Decent… only to find the supposedly Italian Grandfather was actually Austrian! 🇦🇹
What a surprise! My husband also ended up ineligible through one Italian great-grandfather, but fortunately had another. I hope things work out for you in some other serendipitous way.
Loved this, Sarah! The financial benefits for us, now 70s, is incredible. From living where homes cost $1000 - 1500 per square foot in Charleston, SC to where we bought our circa 1700 home for $169 per square foot ! Cash. Not to mention the cost and quality of food. So happy for your family!
Oh, that’s wonderful. I’m so glad it has worked out well for you too!
It is an incredible story and it makes me realise how lucky we are that we have free healthcare and union supported employment in the UK.
I feel like these are basic human rights that should exist everywhere, but sadly they don’t. I feel very lucky to have a European passport.
You are! I now have my Irish passport alongside my British. It is something I don’t take for granted.
Such an inspiring story! And thank you for reminding me how blessed I am to be born and living in Italy, which may feel less than obvious at times (although, as you already know from living in Chiusa Pesio, things here are quite a bit different from Amsterdam).
All places have their pros and cons, but they say “Italians are the first victims of the charm of Italy,” and it is easy to see why. So many of the intangibles that make life truly worth living are built in to life there.
Inspiring story!
Thank you!
I love this story of how you ended up in Europe. You are a great adventure writer. Can’t wait to read another chapter. Much love and hugs
Thanks for reading. ❤️
How do your kids (young adults) feel about you ( soon )not having a family home in Amsterdam? I’m curious about that in case we ever decide to sell our Amsterdam home and relocate—while probably at least a couple of our kids will still live here because they love it so much.
And in fact not just me, but I know some other friends who plan to do it down the line when their kids have flown the nest/gone to college so they will be interested too in how you navigate this!
I think they’re pretty philosophical about it. My son’s best friend’s parents bought a house in Spain and plan to move as soon as he graduates. Not an uncommon scenario, I think. We’re doing Christmas at the new house in Italy this year, so hopefully they’ll start to feel a sense of home there as well. ❤️
I’m sure they will! As a friend just remarked ( I just shared it ☺️ )anyone would be happy to have a house in Italy for the weather, food and scenery 🤩 Great to read your journey, Sarah. Thanks for sharing.
Awww, thanks for sharing!
And yes, I think they’ll certainly start seeing the virtues. We’re only an hour and a half from Rome, so it doesn’t feel so far.
Another friend has a place in Spain and is going to do the same as you when her kids are in Uni soon. Time for the parents!
Exactly! When our son can survive outside the nest 😅 we (Swiss, ex-US and German/Swiss double) are skedaddling to Portugal. Still on the fence whether we keep a place in Switz, but if my birth country continues on its path to destroy the global economy, the value of our pension plans might make that decision for us. 😠
THANK YOU, thank you, thank you! Really, I'm all tear-y eyed, reading this, because things have turned out SO well for you, and this is SO inspiring! You've mentioned far more reasons to move abroad than I ever knew existed. I wish that, nine years ago, we'd followed your good example. But, wow, this post really makes it clear that we need to move, ASAP. Thanks again! <3
I’m glad it’s helpful. We’re so grateful for how things have worked out. I hope your planned moved goes well!
Where is your indy bookshop? Next time I am in Italy I will see if I'm nearby!
Well done on reaching your dream~
Hi Elizabeth, and welcome! The bookshop will be in Narni, Umbria. You can read the latest in this post: https://escapetothebookshop.substack.com/p/whats-going-on-with-the-bookshop
You might find this shocking, but a staggering amount of people from my country (North Macedonia) actually leave for the United States, as they assume that all is glitz and glamour like in the movies. A hefty number of them work in the trucking business, be it owning a company or being a driver because it pays a ton. But I could never wrap my head around moving there.
I've been on a two-week vacation, and my husband had a summer job there for two years but we both agreed that the US is anything but great in terms of human needs.
From our perspective the biggest benefit is the freedom, while everything else is taken away. Very sad, and very stressfull.
We've also experienced The Netherlands for a couple of years as we have relatives there and we thoroughly enjoy and are in awe at how everything could work so well. But something was missing, and that was the warmness of people.
Now Italy, that's a whole different picture and I think the best out of both worlds. Very glad you got to experience such a nice life and such a new and exciting chapter!
Hi, Milka! I don't find it too shocking, since when people find out I'm from California, they always start waxing rhapsodic about their beautiful vacation or dream to move there. I've concluded that different places are best for different people . . .