Sandra and Jeff Mayernik had it all: successful careers as real estate agents, and a large custom-built home on five acres overlooking Oregon’s Cascade Mountains.
But over time, their idyllic life had become more stressful. Jeff suffered multiple heart attacks, their income stopped growing, and their bills kept rising. By 2023, the couple faced an uncomfortable truth: they were burned out and needed a change of scenery.
After selling everything they owned — their cars, home, and art collection — the Mayerniks, now retired, moved abroad. Since November 2023, they have traveled to or lived in about a dozen countries, including Panama, Costa Rica, Portugal, Spain, France, Mexico, and Argentina. Most recently, they’ve been living in Albania.
“It felt like a gut instinct that this place was good for us,” Sandra, now 62, told Business Insider.
In Albania, the couple has lived in Durrës, Pogradec, and now Saranda. While life overall has been good, the Mayerniks have experienced some growing pains.
Here are five pros and cons of living abroad, according to the Mayerniks.
It can feel lonely being far away from family
While the Mayerniks lived in different cities from their children and grandchildren back in the States, they were close to Sandra’s sisters, whom she saw on a regular basis.
“I miss a few things about the States, like going kayak fishing with my sisters and spending time with family,” Sandra said.
Being in another country miles and hours away from them has been challenging, and the couple admitted that they sometimes feel lonely.
“There’s a lack of face-to-face connection,” Jeff, 62, told me. “You lose contact with friends and family. You’re less involved in their day-to-day lives. Even if you’re really introverted, it sometimes feels like loneliness, because you don’t have that group.”
They’re eating healthier in Albania
A huge benefit of living in Albania has been the access to high-quality, locally sourced food, which they said contains less sugar, dyes, and preservatives.
“We’ve definitely noticed feeling healthier,” Sandra said. “Our sugar intake has definitely gone down. The foods here aren’t as sweet as in most countries.”
Jeff said that even the packaged Ramen has less sodium.
“Occasionally, for lunch, we will cheat and have ramen and a handful of frozen vegetables. In the States, I could use maybe a third of the seasoning packet that came with my ramen, but the big shock we’ve had here is that when the whole packet goes in, it’s still not salty enough,” he added.
They’re spending less money on healthcare and housing
While the couple has not required any serious medical treatment or faced any emergencies while traveling around Albania, they have had to fill a few prescriptions.
Not only is the process simple, Jeff said, but it also costs far less than they anticipated.
“Healthcare is a lot more affordable; my medications usually cost less than my copay back in the States,” he said.
Pogradec, Albania. Photography Aubrey Stoll/Getty Images
The couple is also saving a lot on housing. Before moving abroad, they briefly rented a 300-square-foot studio apartment in Redmond, Oregon, for $1,200 a month.
In Pogradec, however, they rented a large apartment with a full kitchen, a washer, and three balconies overlooking Lake Ohrid. Their short-term rental — which included utilities and high-speed internet — averaged about $1,100 a month. It would have been even cheaper had they signed a yearlong lease.
Learning a new language and currency has been difficult
Living in a different country means adapting to a new environment, which often involves picking up a new language, blending in with your surroundings, and, most fundamentally, learning how to navigate the local grocery store.
“You’re dealing in a different currency and a different language,” Jeff said. “So every trip to the grocery store is just a little more work.”
“Back in the US, I could walk into a Kroger, read every label, and instantly know what I was paying for,” he added. “Here, I once grabbed what looked like a package of ham — but it definitely wasn’t. Those little sorts of things, people get frustrated about, and it can build up.”
They have more freedom and feel less stressed
“The biggest benefit to living here is probably the slower pace of life,” Jeff said. “Here, people are just less hurried and harried.”
Instead of starting their days in an office or constantly checking their email, the Mayerniks are free to do as they please. They spend their days walking along the promenade by Lake Ohrid, reading, or relaxing on the beach.
Sandra walking along a beach in Durres, Albania. Courtesy of Sandra Mayernik
Sandra noted that the sense of freedom has improved their quality of life.
“Before we left, I was a workaholic. In fact, when we decided to leave, I arranged with my principal broker to keep me on, working in an administrative capacity, because I really loved my job. But after about six to nine months on the road, I realized I didn’t want to do that anymore,” she said. “The stress just evaporated.”
