A Trip with a one way ticket – Fantastic Fifty
I have been itching to write this post for about a month now. I wanted…
We could say that this is a continuation of my blogging journey. Today I am going to talk to you about my recent move, my trip with a one way ticket.
Full of DIY projects. Full of learning. Full of new friends. But most of all full of work.
Lots and lots of work!!
I am not a traditional blogger, I have never taken a proper blogging course in my life. I kind of learned backwards. I’m sure many of my blogging buddies know exactly what I’m talking about.
Why did I start blogging?
I was able to overcome all that because in blogging I found a passion for DIY and more specifically re-purposing and up-cycling. There is great joy in being able to take something that is headed for the trash and give it a second life. Maybe that is an analogy for my life as well.
Many of us who are empty nesters have this feeling of no purpose after their children are grown. In my case, although I was not an empty nester, I had children who did not need my help as much as before, I so I was free to pursue my own interests. Also I had been a stay at home mom for over twenty years. If I was going to get back into the job market I needed to have a something to show for it. Because we know how valuable moms are, but the big companies don’t really see that as something worthy on a resume.
I plodded on. The first few years I had no clue what I was doing, I did a lot of learning by going on other blogs and lots of Facebook groups where the bloggers shared their knowledge.
Like the one that has created this wonderful blog hop today. We are just a bunch of gals helping each other out. And it was good because I was determined to grow my blog just the way I do my projects — frugally!
The Never Ending Recession…
Greece is a gorgeous country as many of you who visit my blog already know. And if you don’t I have a ton of photos to help you along. It is the perfect place to plan a retirement. In fact I have a lot of friends who are doing just that. One couple in particular, who are bloggers at TravelnWrite, just moved to Greece on a full time basis after selling their home in the States. I could really enjoy retirement here!
It is great for us older folks who don’t have to worry about raising a family or putting down a mortgage. When all we have to worry about is which beach to go to, what meal to cook, where to go out in the evening for a walk. It is paradise!
But when you are young, those are not the most pressing questions on your mind. You want to move forward, to learn, to create and eventually to get married and start a family. This is proving to be quite difficult for many young people today because the average monthly income is about 500 euros. Now that may not sound like much and in fact it isn’t, but things are not so expensive in Greece as they are in other places in the world. The point I’m trying to make is that even so, it is very hard to raise a young family on that kind of income. Even if we have a lower standard of living.
…Which Seems to have Turned into a Depression
And for the rest of our family? We would wait till the girls finished high school and decide if we would stay in Greece or leave. Well, truth be told, we didn’t have to wait six years in order to come to a very definitive conclusion. This recession which seems to haveturned into a depression for some of us has shown no signs of letting up.
We did all we had to do as a nation. We got rid of the old politicians and put new ones in their place because they were supposed to show us the light. They would stand up to the European bad guys and demand that the bailout we had received be reduced or even better erased all together. Otherwise we threatened to leave the European Union. Well guess what? Our threat was an empty one. We now owe more money than we ever have before… in fact, it seems as if our debt seems to be mounting.
Honestly, I stopped paying attention to the propaganda spewed on the TV years ago and have gained my health. After all the nonsense that went on a few years ago I realized that very little has changed. It is harder than ever to start a business and even harder to keep one afloat!
It became painfully obvious to us that the girls would also be better off leaving the land of their birth.
New York
You don’t sit there and hope for the best when you see that the government has not changed and the politicians are still arguing with each other when there are too many people below the poverty level.
You don’t sit there when a sizable number of youth have left the country and moved to other European countries to try and have a better quality of life. This is the so called brain drain. We have a very high number of college graduates who have been reduced to waiting tables – if they are lucky. But to get those college diplomas, many families have had to sacrifice and sell property in order to pay for their “free” education.
We have moved to New York. Permanently! Because I honestly don’t see any substantial changes happening in Greece for another 20 to 30 years. Maybe the next generation will be able to implement some changes. I hope so, I really hope so.
We have left all of our friends behind, my children’s classmates who are off to college now, armed with their hopes and dreams. I pray that they can realize these aspirations. They are all great kids and are not at fault for the mistakes of the older generations or the European politicians who went along and encouraged this mess.
The Melting Pot of the World
I am so glad to finally be here. To give a chance to the kids to make a new life for themselves. A life that they truly want and not one they have to settle for. My youngest wants to be a filmmaker. This is something that would have been impossible in Greece. At least now, she has a fighting chance.
As for me, I’m planning to retire in beautiful Greece but that is in the future. For now I will continue to blog in the land of opportunity and hope to grow and prosper with my blog. Because being fifty is really fantastic once you realize that if you put your mind to something you can achieve a lot. I am living proof of that.
And I hope you join me along for the ride. Now for the big question! Do I need to change the name of the blog from “the boondocks” to “the big city”? (wink)
Linking up to these Link Parties
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What a huge move. And a life-changing decision. I have made the same move and decision 20+ years ago.
Enjoy your new life. All the best.
Thank you so much. I am really looking to life in the big apple!
Good luck with your new adventures in New York – quite a change from Greece I’m sure! Thanks for sharing at The Blogger’s Pit Stop! Roseann from http://www.thisautoimmunelife.com
Thanks so much Roseann. I am really looking forward to my adventures here in NY.
What an honest post! It is not easy to leave a country you love in search of opportunities. I am from Puerto Rico and left many years ago in search of new horizons. That was when things were not that bad. Then, things started to spiral down and with the hurricane, I do not see a lot of positive in the near future. But, I have learned a place does not defines you. You make the best of what you are and where you are. Easier said than done but grateful for the opportunities. Wish you the best!
Ruth thank you for your honesty. It is so true that a place does not define you. I have always relied on myself and my strengths to make ends meet and will continue to do so here in the States.
Mary, I so enjoyed reading this post! How you’ve started your blog and how you’ve grown in the journey so far. What an exciting journey you are on and what new adventures await you and your family in a new land, so excited for you all!!
Thanks so much Keri, and you have also been a part of it since I have known you from the start of my journey. Looking forward to lots of adventures.
Mary, I’m so happy that you’re here! Now to schedule a road trip to NYC!
I’m sorry that you had to leave Greece, but I’m sure that you are happy to be back with your children again. You are such a wonderful mother and you’re kids are obviously the light of your life.
I can’t wait to see where the blog goes with the move. And seeing where your camera eye focuses. Here’s to a new chapter, I know you’ll make it a great one!
Thank you so, so much dear friend. It certainly has been a big change since NY is not what it was 20 years ago, but I’m looking forward to exploring it with a fresh eye from my fifty plus self.
Wishing you and your family all the best, Mary! 🙂 I know it must have been a very hard, bittersweet decision, but I hope that it’s one that will open many new opportunities for you as well.
Thank you so much Ginnie. I am so glad to be here and know that I will be able to broaden my horizons.
This is exciting!
Good luck!
Thank you, a new adventure begins!
Finding you for the first time! I am glad that blogging has offered you some hope! I started blogging 9 years ago as a way to document our family life, share recipes, and our travel adventures. We are Americans living this year in Germany. I hope New York offers you much good luck and fun new adventures. Welcome to the USA!
Thank you Kelleyn. I lived here for many years and have had to return home because Greece has become difficult to put it lightly. Good luck in Germany.
Apparently I missed this post and you can imagine my surprise when I read it!!!
Good luck to you and your family. I am sure you are going to take the best out of NY and I cannot wait to read more of your new chapter about the new world!
Thank you so much Maya. You know how difficult things are in Southern Europe but even worse in Greece because we cannot get it together to save ourselves.
Wow, welcome to the USA. What a story. Our country is filled with those who have migrated in search of a better life for their families. I wish you and your family the best. I know what it’s like to reach the 50 mark. I’m going to check out your linkup and try to connect with the other bloggers. Thanks for sharing on Sunday’s Best.
Rhonda thank you. I spent 30 years here before we moved to Greece. And it was good while it lasted but now its good to be back home.
Lovely story, I enjoyed it all, and I felt your pain, I am sure you have done the right thing, by moving. I always say to my children “life is tooooo short” do what you want, and say what you feel, and be honest and true. 😊
Very true words Penny. Life is so short and we should not have to spend it waiting for something to happen!
Mary, I cannot imagine what you’ve been through, but your bright attitude is so uplifting. Best of luck with this move and life in New York. It’s a beautiful state. Glad your family is reunited.
Thank you so much Sheri. It is good to be back home. My girls are living here for the first time so it will be quite an adventure for them.