Hello from California!

[mwillis3]

Greetings to you all. I'm Mary and I live in California. I have visited Kefalonia three times with the last visit this past July. Looking to work my way through the red tape with a view to living on the island...not as a tourist but as a contributing resident. Enjoy reading all the valuable info on this site. Can anyone share what type of business/service is obviously missing from your lives? I'd be looking to starting up a small business but not necessarily tourist based. Anyway, thanks to you all in advance!

Mary

[Cato]

Hello Mary,

Hmmmm..... Big decision. Most people who contribute to this site and have relocated to Kefalonia will tell you that this is NOT easy. If it's necessary for you to earn an income while you are living there, you need expert advice.
Renting for a long period is advisable to ensure that the year round life is definitely for you and that you can earn a living from the business you intend to start.
Greece's economic problems are legend at the moment and they appear to be teetering on the point of defaulting on their EC obligations.
One of the ex-pats will be much better placed than I to give any advice you need, but I wish you well with your plans. Cathy.

[mwillis3]

Thank you, Cato. Being American does not help the situation either but life is short and I'm up for a change.. a big one. Long term rental a good idea. Have 2 teenagers so perhaps we will spend late May/June on te island and suss out the situation. Thanks again and all your comments are most welcome!

Mary

[Bell]

Hi Mary welcome to the board. I agree with Cathy it is not easy to get work on the island or to set up business. There are many people who hqve tried and failed. Woud recommend that you come to the island as you have said and suss out what to do. Good luck.
Bell.

[KefaloniaNewHomes]

Hi Mary,

I'm glad you've discovered the forum!

As already mentioned, publicly and privately, there are some big gaps business-wise but this does not guarantee success. The economy is a big problem but not as big as some of the news reports - local or international.

Chris @ Kefalonia New Homes

[mwillis3]

...curious if most of you come and go from Kef or do you live there year round? Chris as a home builder I would assume you are there 100% of the time but do any of you on this thread fly in/out or are you residents? Did you bring your business with you or are most of you lucky enough to not need to work? Looking forward to a month-long visit late May. Referrals for a reasonable place to hang our hats: 3 teens and one mom?

As always...thanks very much!

Mary

[mrs_horgota]

Hi Mary, How many lives do you have? I only have one and for my sanity and all around me including martin we are doing the same as you. Life is for living, it's no good sitting in a wheelchair or teetering about on a zimmer frame at 80 wishing you had made the decision to go or wondering what if?? We cant go for two years yet but need to plan in advance. We've wanted to go since 2001 but now it's time to start putting things into place. If we don't activly physically go we'll carry on dreaming and as nice as that is at times i feel my life will just stagnate here. xx welcome aboard xx

[Julian]

Hi Mary,

Welcome to the forum from me too Im a newbie here as well and unfortunately i am not qualified whatsoever to help you, as ive only visited the Island once and due back in June of this year, but i can wish you all the success (and i guess a sprinkling of luck) with your life changing adventure. Im always dreaming of pastures new and far away but it always comes back to being near to our families, perhaps one day, i'll dream until then ...

OBW, one of the places that springs to mind is California especially when this commercial is aired

Good fortune to you and your family
All the best
Julian

[mrs_horgota]

Pastures new and far afield are always a delight on a cold damp day here but I think Kef gets under your skin and if it's the right place for you to feel at one with yourself or happy to be alive then follow your heart. It's a fav destination for alot of holiday makers and for others it's a bit more than just a holiday setting. I've been dreaming since 2001 and have researched lots about the island, going off the beaten track, visiting odd places with no tourists in sight, going up going down, reading as many books i can find about the place and spending my holidays to kef not always doing obvious holiday activities. You will know if it's the island for you. Booking a holiday to kef doesn't feel as exciting for me as perhaps choosing one in the Maldives or Cuba (places I have considered) because it feels like home a place I feel whole and at peace with myself. I feel more out of place in a shopping mall here than I do on a dirt track in Kef?? My big problem is I keep comparing things to Kef. Kids want to go to Florida to visit Disney, great place no doubt, but it ain't Kef.
Is there anywhere on the island that anybody cant get to in their stay or is there a certain place you want to know about as we will be visiting later this summer and need new places to visit, picture and write about. please post your destinations, no matter how odd they seem.