CNN
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Packing up your lives and beginning afresh in a brand new nation collectively is a big transfer for a lot of {couples}.
However Patricia Mahan and Dan Matarazzo, from the US, have opted to do it twice prior to now 20 years.
The retired pair, who’ve been married for 37 years, left the States for Mexico in 2006, earlier than swapping Mexico for Greece final 12 months.
“There’s some soul looking about what it’s you’re searching for within the final third of your life,” says Mahan, a former flamenco dancer and trainer.
“We wished to maneuver by the ocean, for one factor. In an inexpensive place.”
Based on Matarazzo, from New Jersey, “economics” was a significant component of their choice to maneuver to Mexico over 20 years in the past.
“We realized how way more economically we might dwell in Mexico if we discovered circumstances that had been going to be snug,” he says, including that they had been additionally influenced by different components.
“US politics had been getting in an space I wasn’t nuts about, and I’ve all the time wished to dwell by the ocean.”
The couple, who had been beforehand primarily based in Tucson, Arizona, purchased a property in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico and threw themselves into life within the colonial-era metropolis, recognized for its baroque Spanish structure.
Whereas they had been pleased there for a few years, the pair say that issues modified when town’s reputation started to develop, bringing “extra visitors” and “extra air air pollution.”
“After various publications in American magazines, its reputation grew so quickly it misplaced its small city atmosphere and have become a metropolis in a single day, with all of the hustle and bustle that goes with it,” says Mahan.
Craving one thing totally different as soon as once more, Mahan started trying to find a vacation spot the place they might proceed to dwell by the ocean and expertise a unique tradition in “an adventuresome however easy means” as soon as once more.
“She saved looking,” says Matarazzo, who beforehand labored as a therapeutic massage therapist. “And someday I mentioned to her, ‘Look, you discover me a spot the place our life could possibly be pretty much as good, or higher than it’s right here in Mexico, and I’ll go.”
Though they thought-about totally different elements of Mexico, spending a 12 months in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Mahan and Matarazzo had been tempted by the thought of transferring a lot additional afield.
Mahan, who Matarazzo describes as a “tenacious researcher,” quickly began wanting into potential locations in Greece, a rustic they’d visited various instances, and got here throughout Kritsa, a village in Crete, the biggest of the Greek islands.
“We wished village life, however we wanted to be close to facilities like cutting-edge medical services, close by airport, weekly farmers’ markets and supermarkets and shops of every kind to furnish our home,” explains Mahan. “Kritsa was that village for us.”
After a bit extra analysis, the couple discovered an inexpensive property within the space and traveled over to view it in April 2023.
“We got here right here a few 12 months and a half in the past to search out this one little home,” says Matarazzo, explaining that whereas they didn’t find yourself shopping for that exact property, they knew virtually immediately that they wished to dwell in Kritsa.
“It was peaceable and tranquil. We felt at dwelling.”
They went on to buy a two-bedroom stone home, which had beforehand been a bakery named Sofia’s, within the village for 137,000 euros (round $148,200.)
“When the villagers couldn’t afford to purchase bread, they traded Sofia for different meals,” explains Mahan. “We appreciated the vibes of the home and felt it possibly had some good ‘yeasty’ karma.”
In September 2023, the pair left Mexico behind and moved to Crete, coming into with Kind D Visas, which might allow them to remain for as much as a 12 months.
Whereas they had been extremely excited concerning the prospect of residing someplace new, they had been additionally apprehensive.
“There’s the monetary disaster and the emotional disaster,” says Matarazzo. “Loads of our connection to what we had been doing is being taken away.
“Our entire social circle is gone. That familiarity of (understanding) the place to get a great pizza, or locations you’re assured to get a nasty pizza.
“The essential issues… We now have to start out throughout. And , there’s that outdated saying, ‘It’s robust to make new outdated pals.’”
As soon as they arrived in Kritsa, the pair had been stunned by the “kindness and generosity” of the locals, who warmly embraced them.
“Once we first moved to our little stone home, all our neighbors introduced over items of meals and produce,” says Mahan. “They proceed to do this.”
Their dwelling, which has round 2,900 sq. toes of land with loads of carob, lemon and pomegranate timber, in addition to a vegetable backyard, didn’t want a lot work.
The couple say they’ve tried to place their very own stamp on it whereas “honoring its conventional fashion,” including skylights and repainting the partitions.
They shortly settled into life within the village, situated round a 12-minute drive from town of Agios Nikolaos in jap Crete, and instantly felt protected there.
“It’s an exquisite little village that we dwell in,” says Mahan, describing Kritsa as “a standard village with conventional values” the place folks look out for one another and crime is just about non-existent.
“There’s a kind of phrase of honor… These are very proud folks. They’re happy with who they’re.”
Mahan and Matarazzo usually go on hikes and spend their afternoons on the seashore studying and swimming earlier than heading dwelling for dinner.
They are saying they love the quietness of Kritsa and really feel that their existence are a lot more healthy now.
“The meals we eat right here is all native, and it’s seasonal,” says Mahan, earlier than describing how they’ll accumulate mountain spring water “from faucets throughout city.”
Nonetheless, there are some issues about residing within the European nation that the couple have discovered tough to get used to – the Greek language being high of the record.
“I’m studying lots of vocabulary,” says Mahan, explaining that her “affected person” neighbors have been serving to her enhance her Greek.
“And I’m studying to string some sentences collectively, nevertheless it’s a tough language. First you must be taught to learn it, after which the pronunciation.”
Mahan and Matarazzo have made many new pals, together with some from different elements of the world, primarily the UK, Scandinavia, and France, who’ve relocated to the realm.
One of many issues they recognize most about residing in Greece is the truth that it’s “an older tradition.”
“They’ve conventional methods which are tried and true,” says Mahan, pointing to venting in public for example.
“In America, it’s probably not straightforward to vent – that’s why we’ve got sports activities. When you get mad, particularly in public, you’re thought-about loopy…
“Not in these older cultures. Individuals perceive that individuals have to vent. So that they allow them to…
“And I recognize that. I recognize that there’s a spot for folks to be folks.”
Mahan goes on to emphasize that Crete is “totally different from the remainder of Greece,” and he or she and Matarazzo really feel a powerful affinity with Cretans.
“Cretans are extra rugged folks. They’re free spirits. And we’re realizing that we too are free spirits. We are able to have enjoyable on the drop of a hat.”
Though they’ve discovered some issues, equivalent to home equipment, to be costlier, they are saying that life in Greece is extra inexpensive for them general.
“Our home was very inexpensive for us,” says Mahan, noting that their family utilities are cheaper, and consuming out prices lower than it did in each the States and Mexico.
“We might simply have an excellent meal for 30 euros (round $32) for the 2 of us.”
The couple have medical protection in Greece – the nation has a common well being care system, and say their experiences have been “glorious.”
Mahan and Matarazzo nonetheless return to the US to go to their household and say they haven’t dominated out the notion of transferring again someday, notably in the event that they had been to want long run medical care.
“We now have free healthcare in the USA…” says Mahan. “Who is aware of what the long run will deliver? However proper now it’s working.”
The couple, who’re within the strategy of making use of for a two-year visa, are happy with their choice, stating that they know many individuals who discuss transferring away, however have by no means labored up the braveness to do it.
“Certainly one of my finest pals has been speaking about leaving the US for years,” says Matarazzo.
“And he’s speaking much more now about it. However all that’s ever occurred was speaking. And I maintain telling him, it’s type of a leap of religion.
“Regardless that folks don’t like what they’re used to. Doing one thing totally different is simply too horrifying for them.
“Utterly altering, throwing out the child with the bathwater is the worry, I suppose.”
Whereas they admit that their new life hasn’t been with out its challenges, the couple really feel extremely fortunate to have been in a position to hunt down new adventures whereas they’re each nonetheless match and wholesome.
“You’ve received to grab no matter elements of life you’ll be able to whereas you are able to do it,” provides Matarazzo.
“Once we got here right here the primary time, I mentioned to Patricia, ‘Let’s do it whereas we will stroll. And possibly keep in mind what we did.’ Trigger we might get to some extent the place we will’t.”