Why Greece? Why Now? And I Say: Why Not? And If Not Now, When?

Many people ask me "why Greece?" and "why now?" and "how?"

My answers never deviate: "why not; and if not now, when; and anything is possible -- for anyone. It's far easier to make excuses than to make changes. There is always a way."

For the "how" here is the quick answer:

Sell or rent your home, sell your car, store your household goods, if you have pets arrange for their travel and requirements to enter the country, then go...

At home when I just got out of the Saronic Sea yesterday after swimming with my sea noodle!

Here are my top reasons:

1. It's far cheaper to live here and I was going under fast financially in the US due to having 5 surgeries since September 2012 so it was virtually impossible to take a full-time job even had I found one (not to mention writing and editing freelance work tanked since 2011 since everything is going to social media and online; print publications and advertisers are becoming obsolete so no editorial copy is needed to fill space as before). Also, a major factor, my monthly bills here are 50% less than in the US.

2. I have no ties to the US except a hand full of very close friends and I consider several cousins my family because there I have no family to speak of since my brother and sister have only communicated with me via attorneys and very sporadic emails dealing only with our mom's estate and business since March 2012, not even throughout my cancer nor after to ask how I am…not once…

3. On Poros island, there is no pollution to speak of, no fear of war or attacks or terrorists, no crime…at all. My own little secure bubble in paradise, it is!

4. I love the Greek culture, food, people, traditions…and always have since my first visit here in October 2005. I have been here six times and now lived/living here two of those six -- Oia village on Santorini in 2006 and Poros now!

5. Living on an island allows downsizing, simplicity and a far simpler lifestyle (forced me to clear out my home in the US for either storage or trash), and minimalism to the max as you will see in my home photos here on Poros. Some people gather material possessions and expensive toys and prestige items; I prefer to gather experiences.

6. I have no choice here but to get healthy and healthier -- I walk everywhere except for the occasional taxi to Poros town, I eat Mediterranean style at all times, I swim in the sea, I drink enough water daily to float a boat…very healthy! Not to mention no stress to speak of…

7. I have amazing friends here in Greece, too -- both Greeks and Americans -- whom I value greatly!
8. No need for a car thus no car payment nor car insurance.
9. My US Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance is good here and there is a large providers' list to choose from when I need a doctor.
http://www.bluecardworldwide.com

I certainly will add to this list here on my blog as I think of more reasons every single day!

Steps right into the sea at the end of my lane about 100 steps at most from my front door...

Karma's lovin' life!

Sidenote: From rags to Greece's riches! This is Karma in Robeson County Animal Control, May 22, 2010, first time I saw her! Traumatized and scared. A tiny 7.5 malnourished pounds at age 3 months. What a difference now! I still ABSOLUTELY love those ears!

Koal being nosy in the refrigerator. Mainly water -- I drink tons of it here plus I also give the dogs bottled water here. I am averaging a minimum of 1.5 liters of water a day, which is awesome (52 ounces).

I make an acceptable horiatiki (Greek salad)! I also like this the day after and perhaps another day after that so I made a batch for myself the other night! There's nothing like Greek feta pulled right out of the brine barrel and sliced at the market…and Greek oregano, oh my, oh my…kali oreksi (bon appetit)!