A California teacher who lives inItalysays he's cracked the code for the perfect retirement by settling down in a calming environment free from commercial giants like McDonald's and Starbucks.
Keith Richardson decided to ditch his life in Southern California to live out his golden years after finishing up his career in education.
He decided on Puglia, a rural region in the South of Italy, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea.
When Richardson was researching where he wanted to live, a friend suggested the town of Nardo because it allowed him to escape from the fast-paced, big city life.
'Puglia is definitely the place to live and invest in, if you're searching for that dolce vita coastal lifestyle,' Richardson told CNN Travel.
The retired teacher is embracing a more carefree lifestyle after leaving his post as a director of research and curriculum in the Los Angeles suburbs.
He began traveling to Italy twice a year in 2015 and decided to take the plunge and purchase a home in 2023.
Nardo offered an escape from tourists who are often found throughout Tuscany, Venice, Milan, and Rome.
Keith Richardson revealed in an interview with CNN that he wanted to move to Italy to be far from McDonald's and Starbucks
Richardson decided on Puglia, Italy, for its proximity to the coast, authenticity, and affordability
Richardson's friend advised him to look into Nardo, a small town in Puglia that was far from any commercial fast food joints
Richardson said that when he isn't interacting with locals, most tourists he comes across are Italians or other Europeans.
'Beautiful beaches and coastlines, picturesque cities and towns, great weather (even in winter),' he said, adding that the 'dolce vita was genuine.'
In March of last year, Richardson finally decided to purchase his dream home in Nardo's historical center.
Not only was Richardson able to immerse himself in the Italian culture, but he was pleasantly surprised when he even saved some money.
He told CNN that he found a property that was one-tenth of the cost of a similarly sized house back in Orange County.
The house he purchased was listed for €138,000 ($153,000), but he was able to negotiate it down and only paid €100,000 ($110,000).
'It was a very pleasant surprise. I was willing to pay more, but started at 100,000 euros to see if the sellers would counter offer,' he told the outlet.
Richardson purchased a 667-square-foot house with two bedrooms and two bathrooms.
Richardson said it was a 'breeze' purchasing a home abroad and is even saving money than if he were to buy a similar property in Southern California
He quelled any rumors about the difficulties when purchasing property abroad, telling CNN that it was a 'breeze.'
'Horror stories only exist because most people don't do their homework,' Richardson added.
His property is located near some of Italy's most pristine beaches and is just steps away from one of the town's main piazzas with numerous cafes.
Richardson is experimenting with new cuisine, including bombette, which are a classic Puglia dish featuring pork meatballs stuffed with cheese and pepper.
He's also adjusting to the Italian lifestyle, admitting that stores closing in the middle of the day is still shocking to him, but he's learning to let go and accept the 'dolce vita' mindset.
Richardson revealed that one of the most difficult parts of the move was obtaining an Italian bank account.
He said the bank needed his Social Security number, federal tax code, or both, which proved to be time-consuming.
Richardson said he's adjusting to the 'dolce vita' lifestyle of Italy and is learning from the locals
The retired California teacher is near the coast and has been splitting his time back home in California until he applies for Italian residency
Richardson also hasn't been able to purchase a car yet because he hasn't received his residence card.
The retired teacher is still splitting his time between his new home and his old one to spend time with his aging parents.He plans to apply for Italian residence in May.
Richardson has relinquished his stress and said he's 'fallen in love with the Italian lifestyle and domani (tomorrow) attitude.'
'No need to worry because there is always domani.No worries, it will be taken care of domani, so for now, let’s just have a coffee and watch the people promenade by,' he said.
