Why I Spend Summers in European Cities

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I've always dreamed of renting a Villa for a month (or more) when traveling to and spending time in Europe.

The Villa would be a decent-sized house with multiple rooms, a beautiful kitchen, an expansive backyard area (with shade), maybe a swimming pool (although not required), and located just outside a small town to walk into to buy groceries, wine, and such.

Something like this:

Once I found and reserved the (almost) perfect Villa, I would let all my friends know the location and the dates I'd be there and invite them to come and join us.

All they'd have to do was show up.

However, the parameters necessary for this to work are: the Villa would have to be within walking distance of a train or bus stop and no more than an hour away via public transportation from a major city.

And while I'm sure there are some that may fit the necessary parameters, the time involved in searching for one is too extensive.

At least more time than I am willing to invest.

Having said all that, I received an email the other day from one of my best friends, The Iceman (I interviewed him for this newsletter; you read the interview here).

The Iceman's email, which I received after publishing last week’s newletter article on my next mini-retirement, contained some great advice.

The email reads:

The Iceman knows me all too well.

He sent this email without me ever sharing my dream of renting a Villa with him.

(Fun fact: The Iceman and I were roommates back in the day in Germany).

So, the question that needs answering is:

If renting a Villa is a dream of mine, so much so that one of my best friends (whom I've never shared my dream with) encourages me to explore renting a Villa (or monastery), why won't I do it?

For one reason and one reason only: I do not want to rent a car.

When planning a trip to Europe, I always look for accommodations like I dreamed of (villas, monasteries, large houses in the country).

And I find them; the accommodations I find are incredibly affordable, tick all the boxes I am looking for, and are drop-dead gorgeous.

The catch is that I'd have to rent a car.

If friends did come to visit, I'd become a chauffeur, ferrying them to and from the airport or the closest town's train station.

If no one came to visit, I'd rent a car I wouldn't really use because I'd be chilling in the Villa.

It's an added unnecessary expense.

Especially with the European public transportation system being what it is.

So, I spend a month (or more) in a European city.

But why a European city when all I crave is time away from the chaos of New York City via mini-retirements, off-grid getaways, and cross-country road trips?

First, because almost any European city (compared to New York City) is relatively tame to me.

The sidewalks are not flooded with pedestrians, vehicular traffic is almost non-existent, and I can actually find a seat on a train or tram when I have to take one.

I don't constantly hear first responder sirens, construction noise, or the honking car horns of impatient people rushing to get somewhere like I do in New York City.

It doesn't matter if I'm sleeping in an Airbnb, enjoying a drink in a cafe, or eating dinner in a restaurant.

European cities are not as chaotic as New York City is.

Second, I love exploring European cities.

One of my favorite things to do when I am in a European city is to walk out of the Airbnb I am staying in, pick a direction, and then walk in that direction.

If I come across something interesting (a bar, cafe, restaurant, or museum), I can stop and spend time there.

I am not in a rush and my day does not revolve around a daily "down-to-the-minute" planned itinerary.

And some of the best experiences I've had in European cities are the ones I stumbled upon, not the ones I planned for.

Third, I can do the exact opposite of my day-to-day in any European city.

I live in a city. I work in a city. And every day, I experience that city.

However, my experience in New York City is quite different from my experience in a European city.

In NYC, I have to wake up (to an alarm clock), get out (into a chaotic environment), and go to work (without enjoying the charms of my city as much as I'd like to).

When I am spending time in a European city, I wake up naturally (without an alarm clock), go out and explore (in a relatively calmer environment), and do not have to do any work at all.

I explore, discover, and live.

I can enjoy the charms of a European city by exploring as little or as much as I want.

More importantly, I can enjoy a drink whenever I want. I do not have to wait until 4pm, when I am finished with work, to have a beer. In fact, I can enjoy a beer with breakfast because most cafes in most European cities serve beer as soon as they open.

The bottom line is that I get to experience life completely different from (and opposite to) my typical day-to-day life.

This life experience provides me with the time and space to slow down, reflect, and reanalyze my life goals.

Additionally, it allows me to live more slowly, appreciate the beauty of this world, and be grateful for simply being alive.

Don't get me wrong, I will always be on the hunt for that perfect Villa I've been dreaming about.

But until then, during most summers, you can find me leisurely spending my time in a European city.

Quote that caught my attention:

“I see my path, but I don't know where it leads. Not knowing where I'm going is what inspires me to travel it.” —Rosalia de Castro

You can find the collection of financial tools & resources that helped me grow from a 6-figure debt to a 6-figure net worth by clicking here.

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