What would you do if in order to avoid rising prices and work burnout you had to sell all your possessions and start with a clean slate in a country that most Americans wouldn’t even think of? Sandra and Jeff Mayernik made that daring decision and moved from Oregon’s Cascade Mountains to the Albanian Riviera. Their story shows both the uplifting and difficult sides of giving up your home country to retire in another one a choice that is being made by an increasing number of people as living costs in their own countries keep rising.
Albania has, in the last few years, become a silent destination for people who are to retire there and are looking for a place that is inexpensive, beautiful like the Mediterranean and where visas are easy to get. Nevertheless, as a study published in Psychology and Aging points out, relocating abroad at an older age has some concealed risks such as loneliness and difficulties in cultural adaptation. The Mayerniks’ trip is a very honest reflection of what they have gained and what they have lost by exchanging the familiar for a slower life in another country. Below you will find the nine truths they have uncovered since they decided to take the plunge.
1. Loneliness Can Sneak Up on You
Loneliness is something that can come unannounced even if you have a spouse by your side. Missing of face-to-face connection, the Mayerniks confess, is something they experience in the absence of regular kayak fishing outings with Sandra’s sisters. This is in keeping with the results of a research on 4,995 retirees living abroad which points out that those who are socially isolated from their old home circle have a higher level of loneliness than people who stay in their country. It is of utmost importance to keep relationships with friends and family at home and to make new local friends, but establishing deep bonds at an advanced age may turn out to be more difficult than you expect.
2. Healthier Eating Comes Naturally
Giving up processed food and sugary stuff has been a drastic change for the couple. They have remarkably reduced sugar in their diet and even the instant ramen that they buy contains less sodium than it used to in the US. Markets are full of fresh produce of the season and Mediterranean staples have become the main courses in their diet. This change is not only about the taste but also the health aspect of it. Sandra points out that they “definitely feel healthier” since they have made the move which is a very significant health benefit that most retirees tend to overlook when they are deciding on relocation.
3. Healthcare Costs Are a Fraction of U.S. Prices
Filling up the prescription in Albania is less costly than the copays in the U.S. and is very easy. The Mayerniks have not had serious health issues but, at the same time, they have found private clinics to be affordable and convenient. A visit to the doctor usually takes 30 euro in Tirana, and private medical care is becoming more and more available and modernized to keep up with tourism in the coast towns. Healthcare costs down can really make the difference in the lives of retirees on a fixed income.
4. Housing Offers More for Less
The duo was shelling out 1200 dollars a month for a tiny studio in Oregon before leaving. It took Pogradec only $1,100 to get the couple a three-bedroom apartment with a total of three balconies including the utilities. However, Rents lining the shores of Albania generally can be 43% more affordable than those of the U.S. and those apartments in Sarandë that have a view over the sea usually go for less than $500. More extended leases can bring the rental fees even lower while the coming and going of the seasons around the beach towns might have an impact on availability.
5. Language and Currency Take Work
In the Albanian language one has to wonder from time to time just what the heck they’re dealing with regarding everyday life be it grocery shopping or label reading. Jeff still can’t figure out what he bought that looked like ham but wasn’t. There is a handy usage of the English language in the tourist hubs but out in the villages, no one is fluent. Speaking barriers are usually accompanied by stress and cultural assimilation, so experts advise that starting learning early is the key to being able to mingle in an unfamiliar culture.
6. Freedom and Reduced Stress Redefine Daily Life
You will no longer find office hours and the never-ending checking of emails in the life of the people. Days in Albania proceed at a more unhurried speed strolls around Lake Ohrid, reading, and hanging out at the beach are the things that have replaced work and its deadlines. Jeff refers to it as “the biggest benefit” of their living there. This coming-shift-in-culture-to-leisure reflects not only in Albania’s strong sense of community and the hospitality but also gives a chance to retirees to regain their time and go on with their mental peace.
7. Visa Flexibility Is Unmatched in Europe
Albania is a paradise for the citizens of the US in terms of stay without visa since the country is allowing them to stay there for a whole year without the need to ask for a visa and they do it the most in Europe. After a pension or a property acquisition permits being granted initially the residence options broaden with renewals later on transforming into permanent status after 5 years. This extraordinary visa privilege is the main reason why the move is so convenient compared to the large amount of paperwork and regulations one has to deal with when relocation is to other European countries.
8. Cost of Living Stretches Retirement Savings
Quality food is not necessarily a very expensive thing here, as in North America, where a restaurant meal can range anywhere between $8 and $15, while the bills are such that €60–€120 gas for home accounts for a much larger part of the budget than the rest of the expenses. Living in the region of the seaside cities with a budget of $1,000 to $1,500 per month allows a comfortable life to the residents. While deciding to move, the Mayerniks realized that with less money being spent they could not only keep but raise their standard of living, which was the main reason behind their relocation.
9. Seasonal Rhythms Shape Coastal Life
What with the influx of people and activities April to September puts into Sarandë life, the winter months stand for calm, few residents, and business closures. The retiree’s main concern might be to get used to these changes in terms of the seasons and thus be able to switch between the liveliness of the months at their peak and the seclusion of those off-season ones. For some, the rise and fall of the months are part of the charms; for others, it might intensify feelings of being secluded.
Retiring abroad is sometimes the way to reach those dreams of living with a lower budget, better health, and at a slower pace however it still requires a strong personality to deal with issues like being far from your loved ones, language barriers, and having to readjust to the new culture. The Mayerniks’ story of Albania points out that being successful is actually more about how emotionally and practically one prepares for living overseas than just about the destination chosen. People who are willing to sacrifice their comfort for freedom will be able to reap great benefits but only if they see things for what they really are.
