What comes after the first step?
There are also those who take such a radical step with young children, and surprisingly, it works! Children learn a new language very quickly, and the younger they are, the better they get along with new friends.
We were only able to take that step because my dad decided to come with us and, at the age of 80, he enjoyed regular trips from the Czech Republic to Crete and back. He always looked forward to those multi-day car trips more than the plane ride.
The biggest problem turned out to be securing a living. If you are not a rentier with passive income, you still have a long way to go before retirement, so you need some income. If only to have something to pay the mandatory fees that we have to pay to the state if we are not willing to be registered with the Labor Office.
Overcoming subsequent challenges
Starting a new business from scratch after 50, and abroad, is a bit more complicated and takes some time. Plus, when you build a house completely by yourself and want to maintain a new lifestyle, everything goes quite slowly.
Nevertheless, we managed all, just two years later. Finish the interior of the house , and a new career with a regular income is starting to take shape.
I’m still dealing with some skeletons from when I wasn’t able to solve some things, we’re still finishing some small details in the interior, but it’s much more relaxed now!
Now, when someone from the family comes, they no longer have to book accommodation in an apartment, but have their own room in our house and a fully equipped, functional bathroom at their disposal.
Major life changes
We supposed that building a house from scratch would be challenging. In the end, however, it was much more challenging. The fatal problem was the delay in issuing the building permit, which then led to a series of other problems caused by this delay… Dad did not live to see the house completed.
We are here now with Hanka, who already has her own room with a beautiful view of two cardinal points and hopefully the environment here will help her to fully recover soon.
Home change completed
We are gradually getting to know the locals, adopting the local lifestyle, and we are now cooking Greek dishes at home. From May to October, we swim in the sea on average twice a week, less often the rest of the year. I even swam on New Year’s Eve! Although the sea was not as warm as in summer, it was also not something that only a hardy person could handle.
You only need to heat it for 2 months a year here instead of 10 months in the Highlands. We don’t have air conditioning yet, but it is still possible to live in the house very well even during the summer. It is also a bit cooler this year. The temperatures are still around 30 degrees Celsius and there have only been a few days over 35.
I was in the Czech Republic in the winter and it was confirmed to me that I no longer have a life and a home there. It is still my homeland, to which I have a relationship, I care how it develops and what happens there. However, for the next stage of life we need a different environment. And we found that in Crete! Although for Lucie it was all much more complicated, because unlike me, she didn’t miss anything in the Czech Republic.
Better late than never!
Life here is more pleasant, calmer, freer! We both agree on that. But it also has its challenges. Nothing is ideal anywhere.
So yes, it was a good idea to move to Crete, I just regret not making this move at least 5 years earlier! But as I always say: Better late than never!
