FROM THE EDITOR
Are Buddhists on to Something?
Stephanie Reed
Editor-in-Chief
On a recent overseas flight, I sat next to an American returning from a summer holiday in Israel.
FROM THE EDITOR
Are Buddhists on to Something?
On a recent overseas flight, I sat next to an American returning from a summer holiday in Israel.
“I don’t know what it was about the place,” he told me, “but the minute I set foot there, I felt I was home.”
I’ve heard similar comments from other travelers over the years… people who’ve arrived in foreign places, only to feel an otherworldly sense of peace, as if they’d finally come home. It’s enough to make you wonder if Buddhists are right about reincarnation…
In one of my favorite stories this month, Seattle native and reluctant expat Michael Mercado explains why he’s more at home in Copenhagen—high taxes and all. “Nobody is more surprised than I am to still be in Denmark… but I’ve come to believe life here is simply better.”
Greg Goodmacher, a San Francisco native, arrived in Japan for what was meant to be a short hop. Three decades later, he’s still there… immersed in a community that embraces the Japanese philosophy of ikigai—finding one’s joy in life—in varied and fascinating ways.
Expat Jennifer Sontag shares how she no longer felt connected to her American community—and turned to her ancestral home of Sicily for a far better quality of life… and a new business helping other Americans relocate to Italy.
IL’s resident relocation specialist, Kristin Wilson, has traveled to over 60 countries. But in this issue, she reveals four places on the planet that keep calling her back… including the one that immediately felt like home.
And as always, we’ve scouted out off-the-beaten-track places for you to explore…
In this month’s feature story, Sean Keenan takes us to Green Spain, “an exquisite slice of coastal Iberia” with all the sunshine and jaw-dropping terrain that make Portugal so tempting.
And it’s just waiting to be discovered…
PUBLISHER INFORMATION
September 2023 Volume 44 Number 5
Founding Publisher: William Bonner
Publisher: Jackie Flynn
Executive Editor: Jennifer Stevens
Editor-in-Chief: Stephanie Reed
Managing Editor: Megan Ritchie
Designer: Derek Westwood
Online Editor: Donal Lucey
Illustrator: Colleen Clapp
Advertising Inquiries: Advertising@InternationalLiving.com
Media Inquiries: PR@InternationalLiving.com
COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
International Living (ISSN 0277-2442), © Copyright 2023 by International Living Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved. Protected by copyright laws of the United States and international treaties. This magazine may only be used pursuant to the subscription agreement and any reproduction, copying, or redistribution (electronic or otherwise, including on the world wide web), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited without the express written permission of International Living Publishing Ltd., Woodlock House, Carrick Road, Portlaw, Co. Waterford, Ireland. International Living is published monthly. Subscriptions: In the United States US$129 for one year, in Canada CAN$165 for one year, elsewhere US$149 for one year. Printed in the USA.
Postmaster: Send address changes to International Living, International Living Publishing Ltd., Woodlock House, Carrick Road, Portlaw, Co. Waterford, Ireland. Copies of this magazine are not available on newsstands but are furnished directly to the public by mail subscriptions only. International Living presents information and research believed to be reliable, but its accuracy cannot be guaranteed. There are many dangers associated with international travel and investment, and readers should investigate any opportunity fully before committing to it. How to contact us:
How to contact us: Customer service: To place an order for a product/ subscription, renew a subscription, pay a maintenance fee, change an address, follow up on the status of an order, or inquire about a missed issue, etc., see: www.internationalliving.com/about-il/customer-service.
Stephanie Reed
,Editor-in-Chief
In the Issue (Articles)
Our Magazine Team
| Founding Publisher | William Bonner | |
| Publisher | Jackie Flynn | |
| Executive Editor, International Living | Jennifer Stevens | |
| Editor-in-Chief | Stephanie Reed | |
| Managing Editor | Megan Ritchie | |
| Designer | Derek Westwood | |
| Online Editor | Donal Lucey | |
| Illustrator | Colleen Clapp |
Past Issues
November 2025
Balancing Timing and Opportunity
October 2025
Finding Adventure—and Community—in Far-Flung Corners of the World
September 2025
The Path to a More Fulfilling Life Abroad Is Paved in… Gold
August 2025
This is for the Dreamers
July 2025
They Call It Retirement—We Call It Act II (With Better Wine)
June 2025
Your Dreams Deserve a Better Address
May 2025
You're Not Late to the Ball—We've Been Saving You the Best Dances
April 2025
The Right Community is Like a Good Melon
April 2025
The Most Livable Island in Southeast Asia
March 2025
One of These Hidden Places Could Be Your Next Home
November 2025
Balancing Timing and Opportunity
October 2025
Finding Adventure—and Community—in Far-Flung Corners of the World
September 2025
The Path to a More Fulfilling Life Abroad Is Paved in… Gold
August 2025
This is for the Dreamers
July 2025
They Call It Retirement—We Call It Act II (With Better Wine)
June 2025
Your Dreams Deserve a Better Address
May 2025
You're Not Late to the Ball—We've Been Saving You the Best Dances
April 2025
The Right Community is Like a Good Melon
April 2025
The Most Livable Island in Southeast Asia
March 2025
One of These Hidden Places Could Be Your Next Home
