A nice place to visit but ...

I think many fantasize about it, some ponder the many difficulties, others like me simply have too many commitments to where I am at (Parents, grandkids, property, etc.) to just chuck it all and live elsewhere.

That said, certainly Italy, Greece had some interesting options, Spain is sort of attractive right now as well, all having the type of lifestyle and food choices I enjoy, but likely can never fulfill.

My plan has always been to be able to retire comfortably enough to enjoy extended trips to a variety of locales as opposed to committing to a single spot.

Maybe somewhere central with decent weather and rents that aren't outrageous. Would Ljubljana fit that description? I haven't been there yet. If the weather's good and the rent's not too high, I could probably live there.

You'll notice that most of the ex-pats on this website tend to live in countries with well-functioning economies? That should tell you something...

I lived in France for a year, in Paris and Fountainbleau. I would do it again. I also can imagine myself very at home in Nice, and perhaps Bath, England.

I studied in Italy for several months, and while I could spend some more years there, I think I would rather do Switzerland (if I could afford it..ha!) or Germany if I were choosing a location for a more permanent home.

Jeff,

The thought of living in Europe has crossed my mind but as Paul mentioned, I also have too many commitments here (family, grandson, financial, etc.). Living by myself in a distant location and away from my family is not something that would work for me.

If I were to live in Europe, I'd probably be most comfortable somewhere in the U.K. (that's where my family originated), perhaps somewhere in Italy north of Rome or the Canton of Ticino in Switzerland.

As much as I like to travel, it's always so nice to get back to my familiar world here, as this is really "home" for me.

Interesting question.....

I lived in Berlin for four years, but it was in the 80s. It is much nicer there now than it was when I lived there. It's a beautiful city, much rich history, and a fantastic place for artists. I went there to do a recording and ended up moving there later. Everyone speaks perfect English. I found people to be very friendly. Public transportation is very good. It's at its best in summer, winters are long and gray. It's a little far out of the main Europe 'loop' being so far east.
Last spring I visited my brother in Belgium and stayed in Brussels for several days before flying to Berlin. I really liked it. It was much nicer than I remembered, and it's so convenient to other countries. I also enjoyed being in a French speaking country. Nice atmosphere. Kind of expensive for apartments, but any big city in Europe would be the same. One question to ask yourself might be: do you prefer an urban environment or a small town atmosphere?

To Tom's point, I agree that a well functioning economy is vital, especially if I were still to be working. As retirement goes, I think I could handle the Mediterranian Countries fairly well, despite...maybe because...of the lesser economies.

Hi,

I am one one those North Americans who have never lived anywhere else. If Schengen were no obstacle, as in the '70s and '80s, I could easily live in Paris or Fontainebleau, or Amiens, etc. No problem with culture shock, ie, no air conditioning, small WC space, all those factors pointed out as being different from here...typically.

And, of course, Berlin, except that I would have to adjust myself to the winter, coming from Calif. Berlin and Paris I know the best in getting around by public transportation, absolutely no language problem in Berlin, just know what to expect in terms of the unwritten rules of society and adjust to them or put up with them.

Austria. Not going to happen, but it's a nice dream.

Like some others, I am too tied to where I am to actually live in Europe, even if i had the opportunity. But if I were able to maintain two residences, one here and one there, I would choose Darmstadt, Germany. I feel most comfortable in Germany. Darmstadt is a great city small enough to avoid feeling like a big city, and big enough to have everything I need in it. It is close enough to Frankfurt to have easy access to all the big city things, including a good airport, that aren't available in Darmstadt. It's close enough for easy access to the Odenwald, and the Rhine area. Plus, I just really like the city.

As others have noted, it's a fantasy really, but I've spent enough time in England and France to feel like I could live comfortably there for at least a few years (assuming my French was better, as I suppose it would become). I did live in England for a year as a pre-college student, but that was so long ago and so structured that it doesn't count in constructing my fantasy. Paris would be great, also various places in England. Haven't spent enough time elsewhere to fantasize effectively. But yes, I often get the "I could live here" feeling and start to think about how that would work. Apart from all my ties and commitments here, and the legalities, I expect I'd come up against the economics too. It's one thing to rent an apartment for a couple of weeks and spend as a vacationer does, it's another to live indefinitely in the expensive places my fantasies would favor.

Visiting a place is very different from living in a place. There are many places that I enjoy visiting that I suspect would be frustrating as an expat. Stockholm is a really outstanding place to live for many of the reasons noted in this video:
http://youtu.be/CAkdWUjdJyA
I never would have thought this when I visited Stockholm as a tourist; however, I also got to live there for a couple of years.

When I hit a really big US lottery and wanted to move to Europe, I would settle into a warm climate somewhere and take lots of trips to all of the other places I have visited in the last 11 years. Only as far as one dreams, can one go! aloha

I have found a location that I have visited a few times a year for about a dozen years. Finally about 5 years ago I invested in a small business that doesn't take a lot of full time oversight; and in a part time home with American Air Conditioning ... Fred ;-).

That has worked well so I have begun testing the water with support services. I now have a couple of doctors and an attorney there. I have made an effort to meet people and have gotten to know some of the neighbors in the neighborhood; and it has all gotten very comfortable..

Still after a long deliberate transition I couldn't imagine spending more than half a year there at a time. For me the US is still the best place in the world and I wouldn't fee comfortable abandoning it; especially now. But upon retirement I do intend to split my time there. One thing to remember, if a foreign national comes to the US he can become an American, but I doubt there are many other places in the world where you could go and become one of them. My guess is that you will always be an outsider or a guest.

Before Schengen I lived in Rome on and off for nine years. I would move back today.

"Austria. Not going to happen, but it's a nice dream. " Paul, there's an ex-pat on this website who is currently living that dream. Never say never.

Leigh get's my vote for most unexpected answer with Darmstadt. Darmstadt has grown quite a bit on me over the years.

"It's close enough for easy access to the Odenwald..." Enough said! Probably my favorite region in all of Germany.

It's definitely something I dream of, but the reality is I'm more likely to enjoy lengthier trips upon retirement. Once our parents are gone, we don't have anyone in particular to keep us here, but right now I am kind of wedded to my pension.

As far as location, I also love Austria, but found that I felt at home in Poland. Maybe because my dad's people are from just over the border in Ukraine, its in the DNA. But it felt very familiar.

I remember seeing my husband's company on the drive to the airport in Vienna, and I almost dropped - "why didn't you tell me your company was here?!". Alas, he informed me the Vienna operation is all about petrol and he is in mining R&D. (So far he's only been sent for six weeks to the plant in Chita, Siberia. NOT my dream!).

The point of a good economy is well taken. Every American I personally know who became an expat moved to France, Austria, or Germany, some were fluent in the language, one was totally unfamiliar with German, they went back to the native country of their spouse or chose to retire there.

Darmstadt is not a poor choice, basically from Heidelberg to Gießen, such as Butzbach, Marburg too; university towns would offer more activities.

Thanks for the encouragement Tom. I do speak and understand German quite well. Hey, it's a start! Interestingly enough, we talked at length with our hosts in Ramsau Am Dachstein about this very subject a few months ago during our stay. They came from England and visited often, loved the area so much that they finally bought a B&B in Ramsau a few years ago.

Paul

Sicily struck a cord with me. I would love a part-time residence there, where I'd stay from March to May, then mid-September to mid-December. As a dream, I'd spend the summer months of June to mid-September in Canada and December to March in a sunny spot, like Hawaii (island of).

The reality is that I'm quite happy renting for extended stays. Every year, I try for one trip to Europe, often two. Every second winter, I'm already spending 8 to 11 weeks in Hawaii, between January and March (odd years). 2015 will be my 4th stay, for 9 weeks. In even years, I try to spend up to 10 weeks in one trip to Europe. I'm currently into week 2 of 8, this time.

When DH and I started discussing where and how we wanted to spend our retirement, we came to the realization that neither of us would completely retire, but both can be mobile for extended periods. Oddly enough, we had both really liked the Extremadura region of Spain and it was the first time that we entertained the notion of buying a second home in Europe.

Then Sicily tempted us. Hawaii actually had us looking at the market in earnest. Crete is appealing and doable as well.

What we have slowly come to realize is that rentals are easy to come by for when and where we enjoy spending time. They are ultimately cost-effective and low-risk. It's also far more convenient to plan around life events and changing needs if we are not tied to a place we own. I see the appeal in going back to the same place, as James does, and I'm slowly developing that connection in Hawaii.

You can always marry into the EU. There are about a dozen Americans working in my office who are all spouses of Europeans.

I would move to Scotland in a heartbeat if I could.

i'm with you Hammish. I'd go in a heartbeat. I had a relative back in the 70's who spent every summer in Orkney. She did spend the fall in NYC, the holidays in Boston, and the winter in Florida so she had a wee bit more money than I do!

Pam

I have spent a great deal of time in the English Lake District and would move there tomorrow if I could. I love the pace, the feel of the air, the walking, the people, and even the rain.
I also love medium sized French cities such as Montpellier and some of the other towns in the southwest. Easy to travel around by rail, excellent food and culture, not far from the ocean, and a nice expat community already there.

I've spent a great deal of time in Switzerland and, although it is beautiful, I don't think I could live there. Everything is just far too orderly and clean - strange to say but I like a little grit and messy in my life!
I retire in 9 years and can't wait to sell my house, buy a cheap condo by the beach here in L.A., rent it out when I'm gone, and rent my way around Europe and the world until I find a place where I can hang my hat legally for a while!

If I could move to Europe (and I can't for the same reasons others here have mentioned), I would definitely choose England - absolutely love everything about it and could even adjust to the weather. My second choice would be Sweden - really like it there and have relatives. I would probably choose Stockholm.

We talked about France. Have lived in UK, and loved it.

But then I want to be near a border or two. But we have family commitments and that wins. I would definitely feel good about spending half the year in France and half home.

Rome. Feels like home to me. But unfortunately, even without a language barrier, I don't think I would be able to do my job there without going to school again. So unless I win the lottery or find another skill, it is not a realistic possibility. I have looked!

I have lived and worked in Europe and recall a prior post (Tom?) identifying some of the details of living in another country. Assuming your are conversant in the local language, being on holiday and living for an extended period of time in another country are two different matters.

I have always though about Italy where I could have my own house and stay there. It is a lovely place and worth your money.

Two places I could live (for at least a little while): Lisbon (Portugal) and Ghent (Belgium).

Since my dream isn't tied to any reality, I'd probably choose Orvieto. I absolutely love it. The food, the wine, short commute to Rome or Florence. I also love Assisi or just about any other place in Umbria.

Since my dream isn't tied to any reality, I'd probably choose Orvieto. I absolutely love it. The food, the wine, short commute to Rome or Florence. I also love Assisi or just about any other place in Umbria.

@Kristen,
I watch House Hunters International all the time, makes me extremely jealous. I don't have definitive answers to you questions but I have always assumed that the show is just the 'house hunting' part of the move and all the logistics of visas etc. are taken care of by the hunters before going on the show.

Yes, I think that these people are, if not fabulously wealthy, at least self supporting for the most part - at least the ones that aren't being transferred for their jobs (which I think a lot of them are). I have also noticed that a lot of them have spouses/partners that are citizens of the country they are moving to, another easy 'in'. I also believe that buying property in the destination country does qualify you for extended visas of one sort or another (for some countries, maybe not for others).

So, when I win the lottery, watch for me on House Hunters International, searching for my new home in either Tuscany or Provence.

There are many places to visit in Europe like Barcelona, Paris, Berlin and many others.Your personal opinion about Italy and England is good, and Eilat is a good place to visit, its not actually in Europe, but it at the crossroads between Europe Asia and Africa. I have visited here recently.

If you have money you can live anywhere even in Switzerland.

@Kristen, @Nancy

I was approached by House Hunters International and I can tell you that there is "some" truth in the show.

So Ilja, when do we move to Switzerland? I'm ready.

James,
anytime. I would suggest Luzerne. In my case I am afraid that Switzerland is out of my reach. But I am playing with the idea to look for something modest in Prague.

Ilja; pack it. I will be there in 10 minutes..... Naaaaa, better not. I get in trouble that way.

Modest in Prague. I can't speak to Prague but I do know that it is possible to get a really well situated apartment in a "Top Destination" city for about the price of a modest car in the U.S. The problem is, if there is a problem, that investment would represent the local lifestyle for someone in your/my position; and despite the overly romantic vision of living anyplace in Europe it is definitely a different life style which by US norms might be hard to accept. I know you know this. I am just rambling.

But I learned that there are ways to have your cake and eat it too.

James, that would be nice if a modest apartment there is a price of modest car in US. I am afraid that it would be several modest cars (like 10). I am aware that there is a different lifestyle in Europe. More fun and less rat race. I think I can adjust to that.

I would love to see a similar discussion topic but for folks who have actually made the move to Europe and whether they liked living there (as opposed to visiting).

" I am aware that there is a different lifestyle in Europe. More fun and less rat race." Not at all. This is one of the biggest myths that Mr. Steves and other travel writes seem to enjoy propagating. If you live here, you have to work just as hard as in the US. It's not quite the same, but rather than it being a "rat race" vs "more fun", its more a matter of two different kinds of rat races. Maybe people spend less time commuting to and from work, although probably not in major metropolitan areas, like Berlin, Paris, London, Brussels, Rome or Amsterdam. But work is still work. And because most businesses close on Sunday and earlier in the evening, you have to compress your errands into a smaller period of time. I do not find that I have any more spare time here than I had in the US. The difference is that I have to regiment my time more carefully so that business and pleasure times don't interfere with each other.

Basel Switzerland. We visited for five weeks last summer and I've been going through withdrawal ever since. I would love to move therefor a few years if family obligations weren't keeping us here.