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Well, in brief yes if you are of Greek descent, and yes to the first and no to the second if you are not. This little treatise is not directed at those who have Greek heritage but rather those wishing to live in Greece (specifically Crete) without having to work here. Because America is outside the European Union, Americans can not freely take up a job here. The procedure for getting employment in Greece is complex. But for those wishing to retire in Greece or simply enjoy what we believe to be a highly desirable lifestyle, there is indeed a fully legal way for an American to live permanently in Greece. And of course if you have an Internet-based business, you could still operate that from here!

If you are not familiar with the beautiful Mediterranean island of Crete, it is the southern-most province of Greece and is a 45-minute flight from Athens. It is a big island; so big that we often forget that the sea surrounds us. Crete is about 160 miles east to west and ranges from 37 miles to 7 miles north to south. No village is very really far from the blue Mediterranean, nor is any far from the glorious mountain ranges than run almost the entire length of the island. And it is almost Alpine-like in the winter with beautiful snow-covered peaks visible from practically everywhere on Crete. Our highest mountain peaks are over 7,800 feet above sea level.

What is life like on Crete? Many adjectives come to mind … peaceful, stress-free, laid-back, natural, exhilarating, healthy, and on and on. The traditional Cretan diet is famous worldwide for longevity. For nine months of the year, Crete is not a tourist haven and it is these months we Cretans treasure most. The weather is pleasant, the skies are most always clear, the sea and the mountains beckon, and of course all the best tavernas remain open year-round! If you have never visited Crete and are thinking of coming here to live, we suggest April/May or October/November for your holiday. And if you can, also plan to come during our brief winter (usually from the end of January to the end of March). Our summers are warm and clear with daytime highs of 28-32 C and sometimes reaching 35 C but with generally cool nights. August brings cooler nights and by October a light jacket is needed in the evenings but the daytime temperatures are in the mid-20s. We usually have a spate of summer-like weather in the middle of January but then the rains come in February and March. The mountains start accumulating snow in late November and the last vestiges melt away by late May. Our beaches are fine for swimming year-round.
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Being an island, Crete is extremely safe and crime is virtually non-existent. We grow most of our own fruits and vegetables and raise our own goats and sheep and pigs and of course our olives so our food is healthy and inexpensive. And we do dance to a different drummer … we’re very content to be relaxed and laid-back. Our watches, if we wear them at all, always seem to run slow. A hectic pace of life is something we see no need for … things will always work out here in Crete; it’s simply a matter of time.  Another adjective we consider to be true of our lifestyle here in Crete is “free.” We Cretans are generally skeptical about rules and regulations and generally act accordingly! This is not to say there is no law and order … quite the opposite! It’s just that there is no senseless law and order here in Crete.

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We generally avoid government interference wherever we can. But with our sincere hospitality and stress on family values, it is a very wonderful place to live.

Is Crete expensive? Not at all. I suppose if one insisted on having Kellogg’s Corn Flakes and Maxwell House coffee and other name-brands in the cupboard then one might consider it costly. But our local fruits and vegetables and meats and cheeses and breads are excellent, healthful, and very reasonably priced. Petrol (gasoline) is presently has just moved over 1 Euro per liter. It is about 1.03 Euro per liter today, which translates to approximately 3.06 US Dollars per gallon. Not cheap but then we have small cars here and we don’t have to drive far (if at all) to get to our village markets and tavernas. Local taxes are minimal (about 150 Euro per year pays the equivalent of state tax for police, garbage collection, street maintenance, etc) and water and electricity and Internet connections are very reasonable.

Housing? Well, here too we can speak with some authority and my husband and I along with another couple have a small real estate office. Prices are generally quite stable and land, especially in the villages not right on the beaches, is very reasonable. Good village land ranges from 25,000 to 70,000 Euro per acre while new homes (traditional stone or conventional concrete frame) run about 115 Euro per square foot, less if you do it smartly! And generally our homes are typically European meaning smaller and more space-efficient. A typical three-bedroom home here is about 1,300 square feet that would cost in the neighbourhood of 150,000 Euro.  And this includes solar panels, winter heating unit, built-in wardrobes, fully-fitted kitchen, etc, etc.
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