Lisa La Valle’s story begins in New Jersey, where she once planned a life abroad with her husband. After their separation, she stood at a personal crossroads. At 57, she decided to take the bold step, a one-way ticket to Paris. Today, at 64, she calls Brescia, Italy home, nestled at the base of the Alps.
She says life in Europe feels lighter. The slower rhythm, affordable healthcare, and lower cost of living allow her to breathe easier. Retired but still teaching English part-time, she earns modestly yet lives comfortably, describing her €550 apartment as “hotel-like.”
Her European journey hasn’t been without hurdles. Making friends in Paris proved tough. Navigating the housing market felt like a lottery. Even everyday tasks, like measuring ingredients in grams instead of cups, require patience. Still, she says the local food, fresher and simpler, reminds her why she came.
For La Valle, moving abroad isn’t a fantasy but a reinvention. She acknowledges the challenges, distance, loneliness, cultural gaps, yet her tone holds confidence. Seven years later, she insists the leap was worth it. “I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life worrying about the rat race,” she says, smiling from her Italian terrace.
My Take…
Excellent story. Just do it, live life while you can.
Sometimes, reinvention requires a passport stamp.
Click on the link below for the full article:
https://www.businessinsider.com/divorced-retired-in-europe-paris-italy-pros-cons-2025-12
