You Don’t Need to Move Abroad to Enjoy ‘The Good Life'
This article is dedicated to my dear friend, José Rafael Fernández of Costa Rica, an extraordinary soul and a truly exceptional human being.
Many Americans and Brits dream of escaping the grind, trading grey skies and packed schedules for sunny cobblestone streets, slow meals, and a better life.
They imagine moving to Italy, Spain, or France and finally embracing "the good life."
But the truth is, you don't need to cross an ocean to find it. You can learn to live *il dolce far niente*, *la buena vida*, and *l'art de vivre* right where you are.
- In Italy, they call it *il dolce far niente*, the sweetness of doing nothing.
- In Spain, *la buena vida*, the good life found not in wealth but in small pleasures.
- In France, *l'art de vivre*, the art of living with elegance, pleasure, and ease.
- And in Costa Rica, *pura vida*, literally “pure life,” a simple expression that means living gratefully, staying calm, and finding joy in the moment no matter what life brings.
These are not just sayings. They are invitations to slow down, to notice, and to savor what is already around you.
The problem is rarely where we live; it is how we live. The Anglo world teaches us that time is money, that productivity equals worth, and that rest must be earned. But when we chase more, we often miss what we already have.
You don't need a vineyard view or a Parisian café to practice presence. You can begin by protecting simple moments: your morning coffee without your phone, a walk without earbuds, or a meal where you truly taste the food.
Start by creating small rituals that invite stillness. Take a full lunch break. Step outside for a few minutes of sunlight. Prepare one meal this week with care and without rushing. Give yourself permission to do nothing and feel no guilt about it.
In Italy, an hour at the table after lunch is sacred. In Spain, *sobremesa*, the lingering after a meal, is where connection happens. In France, how you pour the wine or stir the sauce matters as much as the taste. You can borrow these values without booking a flight.
The secret to living “abroad” without moving is to let go of the obsession with efficiency. Life is not a checklist; it is a collection of moments. The goal is not to do more but to feel more.
Try this: one evening each week, turn off every screen. Light a candle. Make dinner. Sit with someone you love, or simply with your own thoughts, and linger. Let time stretch. Let silence be enough.
You will begin to notice small details again: the way the light falls on the table, the scent of something simmering, the quiet satisfaction of being fully present.
These are the same treasures people go searching for in other countries, yet you can find them at home.
And then something beautiful happens.
You stop dreaming of escape. You realize the good life is not a destination; it is a decision.
About the Author
Scott Oliver is a British writer and former Royal Marines Commando who has lived abroad since 1985. Over the last 66 years, he’s called twelve countries home, including twenty-five years in Spanish-speaking nations such as Spain, Costa Rica, and Guatemala. He has also lived in Sierra Leone, Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, Cyprus, the USA, Grand Cayman and now lives in Mauritius.
A warrior by nature, Scott is living with prostate cancer and writing from the front lines. He speaks directly to men about health, masculinity, freedom, and strength, physically, mentally, emotionally, and sexually. His views are proudly independent: he questions conventional medicine, challenges destructive treatments, and tells the truth most men never hear.
Scott Oliver is an officially accredited member of the National Writers Union (NWU) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the world’s largest organization of professional journalists. He spent ten years on Wall Street and another decade as an offshore wealth manager, specializing in globally diversified, multi-currency hedge fund portfolios. He is the author of What If Cancer’s Best Defense Is Free? — Sleep as a Defense Against Cancer: A Former Royal Marines Commando’s 4,000-Hour Research Roadmap, where he reveals how sleep repairs DNA, restores immunity, and strengthens your fight against cancer. He’s also the author of books on offshore investing and Costa Rica real estate and has written thousands of articles in English and Spanish on living abroad with courage, clarity, and conviction.
You can always contact Scott Oliver here with your questions and suggestions.
Recommended Reading and Viewing:
- The Art of Stillness by Pico Iyer
- In Other Words by Jhumpa Lahiri
- The Joy of Doing Nothing by Rachel Jonat
- The Art of Travel by Alain de Botton