Love the details and such a great summation of why so many of us have made this choice to live somewhere other than the United States. I believe that it is about choosing to do something positive and constructive and much less about anything negative and getting away by leaving. That said, I am glad to leave and not have to deal with some of the noise and negative news in the states. 90% of news is negative and I know there is positive news with good people who are caring, compassionate, discerning and decent but that doesn't get reported. I posted "WHY WE MOVED TO MEXICO" today here on Substack for you and your readers. Thanks, Kirsten, and keep in touch as you make this life transition. Heady stuff!
I really love this interview and I wish I had a career like Courtney's where I could work from anywhere and that was interesting and stimulating to me. I have come to the realization that with my financial situation, I can't move out of the US right now, so I'm considering moving to a more liberal state instead. I have liquidated my retirement account, which was not substantial, and am thinking of just moving to my target state without having a job there. I'm scared but the way Courtney discussed just talking about things vs. going ahead and doing them has inspired me.
Yes it is so much easier if you can work from anywhere. I hope you have your retirement money earning money in a money market! Ally bank has a good one i think.
I am currently in Porto, Portugal booked in an Airbnb for a month. I sold all my belongings fourteen months ago and travel year around outside the USA except for a month or so in the spring and a few weeks that include Thanksgiving and Christmas to be with family. I have a room at my daughter and family's house, which is my legal address. I feel such kinship with you and your choice to move to Italy. This is my second year of full time travel. My Substack is The Destination is Now with the tag line "World traveling octogenarian leaning into life wherever he is." All the reasons you and Courtney describe for moving resonate so strongly with me. It is just encouraging to hear your voices caressing the spirit of freedom that fuels my urge to travel. Thank you for writing and choosing such a dynamite guest.
I really enjoyed this interview with Courtney. So inspiring. An American citizen, I lived for 22 years abroad, 18 years in Sweden (after meeting my Swedish ex-husband) and four years in Malta. My two daughters now live in Paris and Barcelona. My ex and I moved back to the U.S. in 2011 after my father's death to be closer to my widowed mother. I don't regret that decision, especially now that my mother is in advanced stages of dementia. Through my marriage, I have Swedish citizenship and so will be able to easily relocate to an EU country in the future but I don't feel comfortable leaving the U.S. while my mother is still alive (now in a memory care facility close to where I live in Florida). My longing to move back to Europe and be closer to my daughters is intense. At 63, it is in Europe, likely southern Spain, where I see myself retiring eventually. And I choose it for all the reasons you have cited--the more affordable, humane health care system, other aspects of a social safety net, a quality of life that is more balanced than what we have here in the U.S. The politics in the U.S. terrify me right now. I am staying for my mother. That's really the only reason.
That makes sense Amy--you have to do what feels right for you and your mother. you are still young and have many years ahead of you to enjoy europe! i get your longing to be there--that is how i'm feeling as we wait for our closing date on our italy property and i don't even have family over there.
"You are still young." That is music to my ears, Kirsten, thanks for that. And thanks for this kind response. I am excited for your Italy move. I try to believe that everything happens according to divine timing, exactly as it was meant to. When we have little control over external circumstances, including other people, it provides some peace to let go of the expectation of a certain timing. That is one of my great challenges but I am working on it.
Such an inspiring conversation between Kirsten Powers and Courtney Leak. Thank you, Ladies, for sharing how you're truly "living" beyond the constraints of the United States.
I see a lot of comments here on Kirsten's blog and in expat communities about working from other countries, and I'm constantly looking at the tax implications of this. (I'm a CPA specialized in the area of tax, so researching international tax issues has become a pet project of mine.) Personally, I desire to live part-time in Italy, so I'm researching if and how I should work from there. To say that it can be extremely complicated is an understatement, especially if you are employed by a U.S. Company (as opposed to self-employed).
Thanks again, Courtney, for sharing your life in Panama! Definitely a place I'd like to visit. I'm glad you found a nice apartment to live in, and not a hut in the fields. (insert eye roll)
yes, this is the fly in the ointment! It's infuriating b/c the US is one of the only countries in the world that double taxes citizens even if they don't set foot on US soil. For people who are retired and living off of retirement income, it's no problem but that is not my situation! Different people tell you different things, including that the US and Italy have a tax treaty and that US can not double tax you so I would file with both Italy and US and then deduct the US taxes from Italy taxes or vice versa. Other people say you have to keep your income below a certain threshold. Some say it depends on where you are making your money (so if i was making all my money in Italy the US can't tax it. It's so confusing. This is something that I will be figuring out. LMK what you find out!
I have the US/Italy tax treaty on my computer. I'm going to work through it.
It's true though, US is pretty much alone in that they require ALL US citizens to file US income tax returns, regardless of where you live or make your money. But they give you an international tax credit for taxes paid elsewhere, and that's "supposed to" make it more fair and less double taxed.
International tax from the standpoint of a US citizen is SUPER confusing and complicated! And the IRS and lawmakers are making it more complicated every single year with more and more filings.
Kristen and Courtney, thank you! I loved reading this. It brought back lots of memories. The point that stood out most was Courtney's feeling of opportunity and adventure. I never felt I fit anywhere until my 3rd year of Uni when I worked (and was paid!!) as an intern for a company in Sophia Antipolis, The Science Park, near Antibes, France. That was a tipping point year, many moons ago.
It's changed over the years, but it's still a great hub of different events globally, per city. - business trip or living/studying I used to meet lots of expats, - it's the extrovert in me. Not sure how subscriptions etc work these days though.
Love the details and such a great summation of why so many of us have made this choice to live somewhere other than the United States. I believe that it is about choosing to do something positive and constructive and much less about anything negative and getting away by leaving. That said, I am glad to leave and not have to deal with some of the noise and negative news in the states. 90% of news is negative and I know there is positive news with good people who are caring, compassionate, discerning and decent but that doesn't get reported. I posted "WHY WE MOVED TO MEXICO" today here on Substack for you and your readers. Thanks, Kirsten, and keep in touch as you make this life transition. Heady stuff!
I really love this interview and I wish I had a career like Courtney's where I could work from anywhere and that was interesting and stimulating to me. I have come to the realization that with my financial situation, I can't move out of the US right now, so I'm considering moving to a more liberal state instead. I have liquidated my retirement account, which was not substantial, and am thinking of just moving to my target state without having a job there. I'm scared but the way Courtney discussed just talking about things vs. going ahead and doing them has inspired me.
Yes it is so much easier if you can work from anywhere. I hope you have your retirement money earning money in a money market! Ally bank has a good one i think.
I am currently in Porto, Portugal booked in an Airbnb for a month. I sold all my belongings fourteen months ago and travel year around outside the USA except for a month or so in the spring and a few weeks that include Thanksgiving and Christmas to be with family. I have a room at my daughter and family's house, which is my legal address. I feel such kinship with you and your choice to move to Italy. This is my second year of full time travel. My Substack is The Destination is Now with the tag line "World traveling octogenarian leaning into life wherever he is." All the reasons you and Courtney describe for moving resonate so strongly with me. It is just encouraging to hear your voices caressing the spirit of freedom that fuels my urge to travel. Thank you for writing and choosing such a dynamite guest.
I'm so glad we can encourage you! it sounds like you are living a very interesting life!
What a beautiful sentence- “It is just encouraging to hear your voices caressing the spirit of freedom that fuels my urge to travel. “🙏
I really enjoyed this interview with Courtney. So inspiring. An American citizen, I lived for 22 years abroad, 18 years in Sweden (after meeting my Swedish ex-husband) and four years in Malta. My two daughters now live in Paris and Barcelona. My ex and I moved back to the U.S. in 2011 after my father's death to be closer to my widowed mother. I don't regret that decision, especially now that my mother is in advanced stages of dementia. Through my marriage, I have Swedish citizenship and so will be able to easily relocate to an EU country in the future but I don't feel comfortable leaving the U.S. while my mother is still alive (now in a memory care facility close to where I live in Florida). My longing to move back to Europe and be closer to my daughters is intense. At 63, it is in Europe, likely southern Spain, where I see myself retiring eventually. And I choose it for all the reasons you have cited--the more affordable, humane health care system, other aspects of a social safety net, a quality of life that is more balanced than what we have here in the U.S. The politics in the U.S. terrify me right now. I am staying for my mother. That's really the only reason.
That makes sense Amy--you have to do what feels right for you and your mother. you are still young and have many years ahead of you to enjoy europe! i get your longing to be there--that is how i'm feeling as we wait for our closing date on our italy property and i don't even have family over there.
"You are still young." That is music to my ears, Kirsten, thanks for that. And thanks for this kind response. I am excited for your Italy move. I try to believe that everything happens according to divine timing, exactly as it was meant to. When we have little control over external circumstances, including other people, it provides some peace to let go of the expectation of a certain timing. That is one of my great challenges but I am working on it.
Such an inspiring conversation between Kirsten Powers and Courtney Leak. Thank you, Ladies, for sharing how you're truly "living" beyond the constraints of the United States.
I see a lot of comments here on Kirsten's blog and in expat communities about working from other countries, and I'm constantly looking at the tax implications of this. (I'm a CPA specialized in the area of tax, so researching international tax issues has become a pet project of mine.) Personally, I desire to live part-time in Italy, so I'm researching if and how I should work from there. To say that it can be extremely complicated is an understatement, especially if you are employed by a U.S. Company (as opposed to self-employed).
Thanks again, Courtney, for sharing your life in Panama! Definitely a place I'd like to visit. I'm glad you found a nice apartment to live in, and not a hut in the fields. (insert eye roll)
yes, this is the fly in the ointment! It's infuriating b/c the US is one of the only countries in the world that double taxes citizens even if they don't set foot on US soil. For people who are retired and living off of retirement income, it's no problem but that is not my situation! Different people tell you different things, including that the US and Italy have a tax treaty and that US can not double tax you so I would file with both Italy and US and then deduct the US taxes from Italy taxes or vice versa. Other people say you have to keep your income below a certain threshold. Some say it depends on where you are making your money (so if i was making all my money in Italy the US can't tax it. It's so confusing. This is something that I will be figuring out. LMK what you find out!
I have the US/Italy tax treaty on my computer. I'm going to work through it.
It's true though, US is pretty much alone in that they require ALL US citizens to file US income tax returns, regardless of where you live or make your money. But they give you an international tax credit for taxes paid elsewhere, and that's "supposed to" make it more fair and less double taxed.
International tax from the standpoint of a US citizen is SUPER confusing and complicated! And the IRS and lawmakers are making it more complicated every single year with more and more filings.
Thank you for sharing this conversation. It gives a better understanding of your reasoning behind relocating to Italy.
I’m still getting “likes” on the comment I made on that piece of yours.
Kristen and Courtney, thank you! I loved reading this. It brought back lots of memories. The point that stood out most was Courtney's feeling of opportunity and adventure. I never felt I fit anywhere until my 3rd year of Uni when I worked (and was paid!!) as an intern for a company in Sophia Antipolis, The Science Park, near Antibes, France. That was a tipping point year, many moons ago.
I've just started a section on my website called 18/10 (Eighteen relocations over ten countries). This is the first article on Brussels: https://www.carermentor.com/p/brussels-the-sixth-and-sixteenth-f4b
One tip: The expat network & social events of Internations - https://www.internations.org/
It's changed over the years, but it's still a great hub of different events globally, per city. - business trip or living/studying I used to meet lots of expats, - it's the extrovert in me. Not sure how subscriptions etc work these days though.