Turn off the News, Hop on a Plane, and Start Enjoying the World...
There’s a whole world out there you won’t find in the headlines.
A few weeks ago, Nicolas Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic, shared a letter to the editor of The Economist, written by a fifth grader named Maya. Maya makes the point that, though she enjoys reading the magazine, sometimes the news is too gory or depressing.
She suggests, “I think you should add a Good News Section. In this section, you might add something about a species being saved from the brink of extinction, someone’s big plan going smoothly or other things I’m sure you can figure out.”
I feel the girl’s pain.
Spend too much time glued to the news or doom scrolling through social media, and it becomes hard to imagine anything being right in the world...
Sure, we face our challenges—economic, social, political. We all hear plenty about the on-again-off-again tariffs, the war in Ukraine, the humanitarian disaster in Gaza, the demise of democracy...
But there’s plenty that’s right in the world, too...
I mean, a little perspective: The average American today retires at 64. One hundred years ago, the average American died at 57.
It may feel like the planet is coming apart at the seams... but in truth, there’s a whole world out there you won’t read about in the mainstream press...
...a world full of opportunity and possibility. This is our world at International Living.
A world where it’s quiet and the pace is slow. Where you can settle into a good life with friendly neighbors in beautiful surrounds.
In this world, your fruits and vegetables are grown nearby and sold at the local market... food isn’t processed and packaged.
In this world, you don’t have to worry about healthcare bankrupting you—because care is not only accessible and first rate, but it’s affordable, too.
In this world, you can spend time doing what you want to do with people whose company you enjoy... because you can afford to employ a housekeeper and even a gardener if you like. You can eat out and travel... and do all of it on less than $2,700 a month.
Low-Cost Living
“When I go back to the US, I’m just shocked by the prices,” Teresa says. “A cappuccino in our town is €1.20 ($1.34), a small gelato is €2.80 ($3.13). In one of our favorite restaurants, we have a meal with arrosticini (traditional sheep meat skewers), pizza, and wine for €40 ($44.70) for two.”
Strong Community and Social Connection
Or consider Cheryl Orlov, who decamped from Southern California to Tirana, Albania.
She says, “The low cost of living allows me to breathe, literally and figuratively. I no longer feel pressure to keep up with the fast pace and high costs of Southern California...
“In Albania, people have time to connect with one another. There’s more emphasis on being rather than doing. I had spent many years being busy, working hard, and staying productive, like so many others back home.
“In Albania, I’ve been able to let go of that pressure and shift into a more mindful way of living. I find that people value community and social connection.”
Healthier Lifestyle... and Insurance for $56 a Month
Michael Flowers and his husband Daryl had built a busy, successful business in Chicago before they decided to reinvent themselves in the Costa Rican countryside. “I longed,” Michael says, “for a life where I could feel truly free and fulfilled.”
For over 40 years, their salon served students, postal workers, celebrities, and even the First Family. (Michelle Obama was a loyal client for 28 years, and they were her stylists for the 2009 Inauguration. Check out their photo below.)
Today life is slower paced—and they’re healthier. Michael says, “We’re each 30 pounds lighter—thanks to lower stress, daily movement through walking and gardening, and the simple joy of drying laundry under the sun in the clean air of Caimitalito.”
Their health coverage costs just $56 per month, including most prescription drugs. Michael says, “Doctors call us to check on our well-being and even make house calls (at no additional cost).”
So Many Options Overseas—Join Us to Explore Them
Ours is a world where you can create the life you imagine in your mind’s eye.
You have a lot of excellent options abroad today... more than ever before. But it can be hard to wade through them all and find the one that’s right for you.
And there’s more to consider than just where to go. You’ve got to think about how you’ll hold a property (if you decide to buy), how you’ll access your funds, how you’ll arrange your finances so they’re tax-advantaged, how you’ll get your “stuff” abroad, what visa you should get, and the list goes on...
Here at International Living, we’re uniquely placed to help you with all of that. Because August 30-September 1, we’ll be gathering with all our experts from all around the world for our Ultimate Go Overseas Bootcamp.
I hope you’ll join us.
Warmly,
— Jen Stevens, IL Executive Editor