After realizing that England would be too expensive of a proposition we have decided, this year, to embark on a fact-finding expedition... to Greece.

Why Greece? Well, for one thing, Terry speaks the language. At least enough to get us by. It's also an inexpensive country in which to live - we think. There are other reasons, of course, but let's leave it at that for now.

This site will chronical our experiences...

We're starting out from our home in the San Fernando Valley, a "bedroom suburb" located north-west of downtown Los Angeles where we have a modest three bedroom house, a somewhat steady income from our self-employment efforts, two dogs and a cat.

What we don't have is a large savings or retirement, thanks to an economic downturn in the late 90's and some failed stocks in our IRA. We also don't have Chris, our 20 year old son who has recently moved to a small town in South Dakota (another story). While most people may be moving from South Dakota, our only child moves to South Dakota. (A note of information: While we say "only" child in reference to Chris, he is the only child between Terry and Alan. Alan has three grown children from previous marriages -- yet, even another story). But, we digress... Chris has moved for the love of a beautiful, red-haired young lass who has captured his heart and, for now anyway, he is enjoying peace and harmony in the bountiful mid-west.

Chris' leaving has presented us with the opportunity to re-examine not only who we are as a couple, but to look more deeply at where we are and where we want to spend our declining years.

Don't think that this is a mis-guided adventure of a couple of "yuppies" with loads of money and lots of options. Oh, we do have a little equity in our home, a small inheritance is due soon and we have the basic social security down the line. Oh, no, this is the mis-guided adventure of mature, sensible adults. We were having so much fun living in the moment that we forgot to plan for the future. So it's now time for Plan B!

First Stop: Greece!

Originally Terry had her heart set on (don't laugh) the Cotswalds in England. Her passions are: 1. Family (of course), 2. Politics, 3. England, 4. Europe. In that order! So, when it became painfully clear that England was only for the very rich or the very poor (kinda like the U.S. these days), she decided to cast around for a second European country.

But why Greece?

Terry spent time there and learned the language when she was 18 years old. Once you learn a language as arcane as Greek you spend the rest of your life looking for an opportunity to speak it again. She has fond memories of a country that is hospitable and, hopefully, inexpensive! But is the Greece of Terry's memory still alive? After all she was last there in 1973! Or, has it been completely swamped by 20th century American culture?

That's what we're about to find out.

We're visiting Greece in October of 2003 to see what it's like now. We're going to travel to a few lesser known locations with the plan of finding an area where we might want to settle down. Terry was all hot to buy a house now, over the internet, and move right in. But cooler heads (Alan's) have prevailed and we are now going with an eye to rent, possibly for about a year.

So this will be the history of our adventure.

Maybe we'll make it to Greece, maybe we'll wind up in somewhere else, or perhaps we'll buy a camper with mobile satallite capabilities and tour Europe while we work? What about a small boat? A moped and a large backpack? Who knows what lies ahead?

We invite you to join us on our adventure. We will update the Diary Page frequently (hopefully twice a week during this first trip) so be sure to vist often.

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So, follow us as we embark on our quest... two middle-aged Americans looking for a place to live... just around the next corner.