When I told people I was spending a month in Crete, the first question was almost always, “Are you on vacation?”
Not exactly.
This trip had a purpose.
In just a few years, I’ll have the opportunity to retire, and I’ve decided that before making one of the biggest decisions of my life, I want to see the world one destination at a time. Rather than choosing a place based on YouTube videos or rankings on the internet, I want to experience it the way I would actually live there.
That means renting an apartment instead of staying in a resort. Shopping at grocery stores. Working from my laptop. Taking the local bus. Wandering neighborhoods with no agenda. Finding a favorite taverna. Seeing what life feels like on an ordinary Tuesday.
Crete became my first “retirement scouting mission.”
Over the course of a month, I settled into my apartment, learned to survive without a dishwasher, and discovered that having a desk overlooking the Mediterranean Sea is a dangerous level of productivity enhancement. I spent weekends exploring Heraklion, Agios Nikolaos, Rethymno, Chania, Elounda, and Spinalonga, mostly by bus or rental car, trying to answer one simple question:
“Could I imagine calling this home?”
The answer surprised me.
Yes… maybe.
The scenery was every bit as beautiful as I had imagined. The beaches were stunning, the water was crystal clear, and the weather reminded me just how much I enjoy sunshine.
But what stood out most wasn’t the landscape.
It was the people.
Again and again I experienced genuine kindness. Conversations with strangers. Restaurant owners who remembered me. People eager to help without expecting anything in return. The slower pace of life encouraged something I think many of us have forgotten how to do—simply enjoy the day.
I also had one of the highlights of the trip when my daughter, Annelies, joined me. Together we explored western Crete, visited the historic island of Spinalonga, spent plenty of time at the beach, and created memories I’ll treasure far longer than any souvenir I could have bought.
Of course, it wouldn’t be my trip without yarn. I somehow finished an entire scarf weeks earlier than expected as well as an entire cardigan, which naturally meant finding more yarn before leaving.
So… did I decide to retire in Crete?
Actually, the biggest decision I made was that I don’t need to decide yet.
Crete confirmed something much more important: I know the lifestyle I’m looking for.
Warm weather. Walkable communities. Friendly people. A slower pace. Good food. Plenty of opportunities to be outside. A place where life feels a little less rushed.
Whether that place ultimately ends up being Crete, Cyprus, Portugal, or somewhere I haven’t even considered yet, I don’t know.
What I do know is this: when retirement comes, I won’t buy immediately. I’ll rent first, give myself time to truly live somewhere, and make sure my heart and my head agree before I unpack for good.
The next stop on this journey is Cyprus in December, with Portugal’s Algarve region tempting me.
The adventure continues.
After all, that’s what Driving the Dream is really about—not just finding a destination, but discovering where life feels most like home.
Thanks for coming along for the ride. This is my final sunrise in Crete
Pageviews: 414,828
No comments:
Post a Comment