You know our story from my post, "Why We Moved to Mexico" and I continue to see more ex-pats on Substack wondering how long it will be before someone starts at stack "Ex-Pat Stack". I was joking with @ChrisStanton about so many stacks and suggested Smokestack and Haystack and now here's yet another possibility. I'm not a starter upper. I did start-ups in a previous career but if someone wants to pick up the baton or the suggestion for an "EXPAT SUBSTACK" I'll join. Count me as a founding member!
And then there is the food. The quality of the food. I am a cook. I am 71 years old. I've cooked for over 50 years and I have never had a chicken, a carrot, or piece of celerty that tastes so alive. Don't even get me started on the cheeses. Or the olive oil. And may I say even the FROZEN peas tasted like peas. Not like a non-pea green thing. There is life here in all these ways. You inhale it and you ingest it. And, it is so much less expensive to live here! You DON'T have to be rich to live here . (I'm in Pistoia, Italy - north of Florence 25 min.)
“There is life here.” That’s really it. When you leave the U.S. and see how people are living in places like Italy, you think, they know how to live! And we’re not really living in the US. About to get on plane back to Edinburgh after two weeks back and feel such relief!
I so love this. Kirsten for months now I have been saying I want to move back to the UK Scotland in particular as that is where my parents were born in a small fishing village called Fraserburgh. I was actually born in the Channel Islands, St. Helier Jersey. My parents adopted me a year before they were married as my birth Mother couldn't see providing a good home for me. You were so kind to me during Covid I had my 60th Birthday and then I lost my Mom. My Dad is almost 92 and what has gotten me thinking I want to move back to the UK is that my parents wishes are to buried in the Cemetery where there family is buried. So once my Father passes there is really no reason for me to stay in the US. I work as an event planner but when living in Fort Myers, Florida i started a party planning business which is something I want to get back into doing too working for myself not someone else. www.blessedeventsparties.org is my business.
Listening to Courtney and you as well as Zerlina has really fueled in me to make the change. My Dad has diastolic heart failure and I help take care of him as i take him to his appointments and messages that he needs so I know I wouldn't want to leave before hand even though my Sister is here in the US and 2 Brothers as I am my Dads Uber lol and I see him almost everyday as where I work is a Golf Club and he lives on the fifth hole. For me the cost of living here in the US is getting higher and the political environment is just sad. I also don't want to live in the US if Donald Trump becomes President again as i just can't believe the things he does and says.
I would miss my Sister, Brothers, and friends but like you have written about mental health has a lot to do with it as well its just so divided here and the stress level is so high. I love my job I have great bosses but I want to work for me and not be on someone else's schedule. I have always felt even as a young child that Scotland was my home because that's where my Grandparents were, my Cousins, Aunts, Uncles. I missed that living in the US even though my Dad gave us wonderful summer vacations in Scotland every three years and then I stared going myself as my Grandparents aged. The last time i was there was my 50th Birthday back in 2010 my Grandmother passed away 5 days before my Birthday in 2011 at the age of 96.
Thank you for doing these podcasts and interviews they really hit home for me. Sorry for the book. Depression is something I have struggled with as well so I really could relate to Zerlina and what she is saying.
Y’all can have a powerful voice that says: “it doesn’t have to be like this!” Thinking of the gun problem (proliferation of guns and deadly weapons); health care stress (risk of loss of healthcare plans with support for preexisting conditions); the need to keep making progress with racism; making it easier for people to walk; easier access to wholesome food etc. It’s infuriating in a way because America has so much going for it.
it truly does not have to be this way -- that's the tragedy. Richest country on earth should be the best pace to live with the best services and support and yet.....
I just listened to this podcast. Thank you for sharing. I’m taken by how much your experiences are different than mine. Thought provoking. I’m content with my life choices and wish both of you all the best in your separate but similar journeys.
Most maybe believe it's expensive to live in Italy because they automatically think you're moving next door to George Clooney on Lake Como. 😄 Which, I must admit, would be fabulous, lol... I cannot wait to visit Italy one day soon!
Thanks for sharing your experience. We are thinking about buying a place in Poland (my wife is from there) and your bit about how your therapist recommended it definitely got my attention. We enjoy our annual summer trip "back home" as people do seem to be more "in the moment" and life is definitely less stressful there. Best wishes as you move forward!
Miss reading your insights. I’m happy that you’re on a path of living fully. On another odd observation: I see that CNN has an Analyst that resembles you. When I first saw her I thought how bizarre that CNN would hire your doppelgänger. Also what does that say about them as an employer. Just glad you got out
You know our story from my post, "Why We Moved to Mexico" and I continue to see more ex-pats on Substack wondering how long it will be before someone starts at stack "Ex-Pat Stack". I was joking with @ChrisStanton about so many stacks and suggested Smokestack and Haystack and now here's yet another possibility. I'm not a starter upper. I did start-ups in a previous career but if someone wants to pick up the baton or the suggestion for an "EXPAT SUBSTACK" I'll join. Count me as a founding member!
That’s a great idea!
I love this idea too!
And then there is the food. The quality of the food. I am a cook. I am 71 years old. I've cooked for over 50 years and I have never had a chicken, a carrot, or piece of celerty that tastes so alive. Don't even get me started on the cheeses. Or the olive oil. And may I say even the FROZEN peas tasted like peas. Not like a non-pea green thing. There is life here in all these ways. You inhale it and you ingest it. And, it is so much less expensive to live here! You DON'T have to be rich to live here . (I'm in Pistoia, Italy - north of Florence 25 min.)
“There is life here.” That’s really it. When you leave the U.S. and see how people are living in places like Italy, you think, they know how to live! And we’re not really living in the US. About to get on plane back to Edinburgh after two weeks back and feel such relief!
I so love this. Kirsten for months now I have been saying I want to move back to the UK Scotland in particular as that is where my parents were born in a small fishing village called Fraserburgh. I was actually born in the Channel Islands, St. Helier Jersey. My parents adopted me a year before they were married as my birth Mother couldn't see providing a good home for me. You were so kind to me during Covid I had my 60th Birthday and then I lost my Mom. My Dad is almost 92 and what has gotten me thinking I want to move back to the UK is that my parents wishes are to buried in the Cemetery where there family is buried. So once my Father passes there is really no reason for me to stay in the US. I work as an event planner but when living in Fort Myers, Florida i started a party planning business which is something I want to get back into doing too working for myself not someone else. www.blessedeventsparties.org is my business.
Listening to Courtney and you as well as Zerlina has really fueled in me to make the change. My Dad has diastolic heart failure and I help take care of him as i take him to his appointments and messages that he needs so I know I wouldn't want to leave before hand even though my Sister is here in the US and 2 Brothers as I am my Dads Uber lol and I see him almost everyday as where I work is a Golf Club and he lives on the fifth hole. For me the cost of living here in the US is getting higher and the political environment is just sad. I also don't want to live in the US if Donald Trump becomes President again as i just can't believe the things he does and says.
I would miss my Sister, Brothers, and friends but like you have written about mental health has a lot to do with it as well its just so divided here and the stress level is so high. I love my job I have great bosses but I want to work for me and not be on someone else's schedule. I have always felt even as a young child that Scotland was my home because that's where my Grandparents were, my Cousins, Aunts, Uncles. I missed that living in the US even though my Dad gave us wonderful summer vacations in Scotland every three years and then I stared going myself as my Grandparents aged. The last time i was there was my 50th Birthday back in 2010 my Grandmother passed away 5 days before my Birthday in 2011 at the age of 96.
Thank you for doing these podcasts and interviews they really hit home for me. Sorry for the book. Depression is something I have struggled with as well so I really could relate to Zerlina and what she is saying.
Susan I fully support this idea of moving to Scotland!! Esp since you will be returning to your roots 💜
Thank you Kirsten so much i love your podcasts and your blog writings so much. So relevant in so many ways <3
Y’all can have a powerful voice that says: “it doesn’t have to be like this!” Thinking of the gun problem (proliferation of guns and deadly weapons); health care stress (risk of loss of healthcare plans with support for preexisting conditions); the need to keep making progress with racism; making it easier for people to walk; easier access to wholesome food etc. It’s infuriating in a way because America has so much going for it.
it truly does not have to be this way -- that's the tragedy. Richest country on earth should be the best pace to live with the best services and support and yet.....
Your approach to this topic is always very welcoming and clear-eyed.
TY 💜
I just listened to this podcast. Thank you for sharing. I’m taken by how much your experiences are different than mine. Thought provoking. I’m content with my life choices and wish both of you all the best in your separate but similar journeys.
Most maybe believe it's expensive to live in Italy because they automatically think you're moving next door to George Clooney on Lake Como. 😄 Which, I must admit, would be fabulous, lol... I cannot wait to visit Italy one day soon!
Thanks for sharing your experience. We are thinking about buying a place in Poland (my wife is from there) and your bit about how your therapist recommended it definitely got my attention. We enjoy our annual summer trip "back home" as people do seem to be more "in the moment" and life is definitely less stressful there. Best wishes as you move forward!
Miss reading your insights. I’m happy that you’re on a path of living fully. On another odd observation: I see that CNN has an Analyst that resembles you. When I first saw her I thought how bizarre that CNN would hire your doppelgänger. Also what does that say about them as an employer. Just glad you got out