Does this violate the 90 day Schengen Rule?

Unless they have a long-stay visa they would appear to be in violation.

Clearly they are violating the 90/180 limitation. The 180 day clock starts with the first visit. No way around that. But they could also have some type of extended tourists visa from one of the countries. Why don't you send them an email and ask how they deal with the Schengen rule?

I saw that article yesterday on Yahoo Finance. I would assume they have a long term visa.

I did send them an email, thanks. Quick question then. Could I fly in to a Schengen country for say a week on May 15th, trigger the start date then leave for 3 months,come back on - say Aug 22nd - then stay for 172 days? Thanks again.

One way to get your head around this confusing topic is to think backwards. Of today and the previous 179 days, how many have you spent in the Schengen zone? If your answer is 90 or fewer, you're OK.

In answer to your question about entering for a week in May and coming back in August, NO, you cannot ever stay 172 days! The limit is 90 days out of any 180, starting on your date of first entry. In your example, you enter on May 15 and stay seven days (83 days remaining of your 90). You are gone three months. Then you come back on August 22. There are still only 83 days left in your 180 to use, since your date of first entry was in May. So you could stay only 83 days beginning in August. It gets confusing when you come and go during your 180 days, and it is up to you to document just where you were when so that you don't violate. But without a long stay visa you can NEVER stay 172 days in a row.

Some requirements for longer stays are specific types of visas and proof that you can support yourself during your stay, rather than trying to enter the work force. Haven't read the article but I know a couple who can afford to spend half the year in Europe - but that's not most of us.

Thanks all, just curious is all. Learning as I go.

It looks like you're talking about the couple who sold their home and did nothing but travel. Maybe they got a long term visa. But, whatever, please stop throwing cold water. Some of us are having fantasies here.

I joined their blog and sent them that same exact question. If one of us hears from them, please update everyone. I, too, have been living a fantasy life about doing this, but thanks to this board the first thing I thought of was the 90 day Schengen Rule. On Facebook she says they have been inundated with new members of their blog, so it may take awhile.

It sounded like they take a cruise ship to Europe around April and back around November...so that is 6 months...but they don't have to be in Schengen countries that whole time. They could easily be in Schengen countries for 3 months and then elsewhere in Europe for another three (the UK, Croatia, or Romania for instance), or they could get to Europe and then travel to Northern Africa for part of the time...they said that they spend half of the year in more affordable locations, so someplace like Morocco is probably not out of the question.
It is also posible that they have EU dual citizenship...in some countries that is very easy to get (I could theoretically get Italian-American dual citizenship right now based on the fact that my great-grandparents were born in Italy...if only it didn't cost a bundle of money and a crazy amount of hours to get the paperwork taken care of...but then I could stay in Europe as long as i wanted, so it's on my short list of things to do some day when I have the time and money to do so).