‘Retired at 39 and moved abroad with my older husband – now our life is a constant holiday’

A woman who achieved early retirement in her 30s is revealing the steps she took to get there and the positive impact it has had on her life.

Christina Schwendeman, who had a history of dating older men, found herself unfazed by the 13-year age gap when she met Eric.

What caught her off guard was Eric’s plan to retire as soon as possible and relocate to Italy.

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Initially, the former chief marketing officer thought this idea was far-fetched, but just two years ago, the couple made it a reality.

At the age of 39, Christina left her career behind and embraced retirement, dedicating her days to travel and leisure.

Since then, the pair have explored 14 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas, with plans to visit 75 more in the coming years. Italy now serves as their permanent home base.

But how did they manage to make this dream a reality?

“When Eric first mentioned the idea, it felt like a fantasy,”

Christina shared with Luxury Travel Daily. “I wasn’t sure how much of it would come to fruition, especially since I was only 23 at the time. But the idea intrigued me, if it could actually work out.”

The decision to retire early came with mixed emotions. “I was anxious when he said we were ready to take the plunge.

I had just been recognized as one of the ‘40 under 40’ in my industry, and the thought of leaving everything behind became very real. It was both terrifying and thrilling at the same time.”

Despite her love for her career, Christina knew she valued life experiences more. “I realized that if something were to happen to me tomorrow, I would never regret not spending another day at work when I didn’t have to. Having that freedom at my age was an enormous blessing, and I knew I had to seize the opportunity.”

Originally from Florida, now 41-year-old Christina and Eric, 54, from Ohio, made the leap once their personal, professional, and financial lives aligned.

They bid farewell to their families and embarked on their new journey in September 2022.

Now, the couple is enjoying the perks of retirement and the benefits of living abroad.

Eric, who previously managed an automotive dealership, explained their motivation: “Italy has always seemed to prioritize quality of life more than the U.S. Moving here was more about embracing the culture, the food, wine, and beauty than it was about leaving America.”

He noted the stark contrast in living costs. “We moved from one of the most expensive real estate markets to rural Italy, so it’s hard to compare.

However, our house here costs about a fifth per square foot compared to our home in the U.S. Our utility bills are much lower, and while our grocery bills are about the same, the quality of food is significantly better.”

To achieve this lifestyle, the couple worked with a financial advisor to ensure their investments would generate the passive income needed for an Italian Elective Residency visa and support them long-term.

They sold their U.S. home, with their Italian residence now being their sole property.

Now, they’re encouraging others, including friends, family, and their over 3,000 social media followers (@fromusatoitalia), to aim for early retirement and travel.

Christina emphasized the life-changing benefits of their new lifestyle: “Our quality of life has improved dramatically, thanks in large part to retirement but also to the slower pace of life in Italy.

Start planning and saving as soon as you can. Living this dream required a lot of effort and sacrifices, but it’s something anyone can achieve with the right amount of drive and determination.”

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