Your video is inspiring. As an Italian engaged with an American girl, I visited extensively America. After seeing the differences in cultures, I believe that what gives us an advantage in life expectancy, as you pointed out, is the diet and the culture about food and vices. Especially, what keeps us in check is the 'shaming' culture that exists about eating too much and growing fat. If an Italian gains weight, everyone in the family and friend will notice, point that out and put some level of shame on him. This is the same phenomena that exists in some Asian cultures like Japan and China, and is a huge mental obstacle in overeating. Also, vices are a big no-no. This is a heritage of catholic culture, that teaches moderation. Even is almost no one is religious anymore, the heritage persist, and an Italian becomes basically an outcast if he is ever seen, even one time, being drunk or doped. Sadly, this is changing among the younger generations feeded by American culture and music. Food is also different. Italians have a low-protein diet, low in seeds oils, and with little meat, and high carb diet where the carbs (pasta, bread) are low processed (just dehulled). For example, I could not find in America a package of "non enriched" pasta or rice. Also, my girlfriend had a lot of allergies and digestive problems while eating American food. Since, being in Italy, she switched to our ingredients (while still doing American recipes) all her problems were gone.
yep, the moment I moved to the US 30 years ago, my stomach has never been the same. But as soon as I land in Italy, miraculously my stomach problems go away - the food there is healthy and amazing
Tony, i lost 60 lbs, stopped using my HBP meds and now love the taste of food. Italy's wonderful lack of processed food designed to sit on a store shelf for months was truly a godsend for us! We are grateful to be here. Thanks for the comment. I hope you get to move back. Chip
@@alessandroalessandro4656 That is true. Confession, once in awhile Chip and I still enjoy a pizza on the sofa in front of the TV, when we are alone of course. 🤫
I know what you mean but that’s not strictly true. They have a lot of street food, many small cafes are standing only, they eat gelato while walking, they have McDonald’s (why?!).
@@tommoncrieff1154 Yes, the young people maybe, for they are stupid, and easily compromised. And the existence of McDonald's is a mystery ... everywhere on this planet. No human being should lower themselves so much, as to to spend money on that dreck.
That is so true about the wine. I come from an Italian background. Nobody in my family ever got drunk and drinking wine BEFORE the food was served was never done. Your videos make me so emotional.
Thank you Chip; so true; I moved to Rome 1 year ago after being widowed, to be near my daughter who has lived here 12 years. I find the sense of community is so welcoming (even in the capital) and the pace of life is about enjoying socialising, home life and friends/family. I’m so glad to meet likeminded people!
It is my dream to move to Italy someday and to retire there. Thank you for your perspective. This matches the experience I had with my family in Italy.
The lifestyle is the main reason many others give for moving to Italy, but other countries may be comparable. We feel the Italian people with their warmth and kindness are special.
Well, you describe the way of life in a small village. In cities shops don't close at lunch times and people have a very light lunch otherwise they will sleep when back at work!! But certainly the diet and the quality of the food is very high, hormones and antibiotics for animals are prohibited, as well as GMOs. And if a friend comes to see you and if you ask him if he would like to have a drink, it can be a coffee (espresso of course) or mineral water not whisky!!
The town we live near is about 50,000 people and in the area, I estimate a least 100,000. You are, of course, correct about faster-paced city life, but that is true worldwide. Still, I think people find life enjoyable in Italian cities as well.
Not true, shops are often closed at lunch time in big cities as well (I was born and raised in one with 1 million residents). I've lived walking distance from dozens of such shops. Only big stores/chains might not close.
Italian living abroad here..but travelling back to the Bel Paese every 3-4 months....cos I love spending my time relaxing, drinking a glass of Prosecco with some good snacks as I stretch my legs watching the sea....
Hello I live in the USA 🇺🇸 but go back to Colombia 🇨🇴 at least once a year and that’s how it used to be There, unfortunately we became so Americanized so much of our traditions and healthy lifestyle are gone. 🤷🏻♂️
So true on cooking. In 10 yrs retired in Italy from Canada, I have eaten at a local restaurant once and it was very good. I cook at home, always. And use fresh produce. Make my own pasta, bread and gelato. Salad last because vinegar poisons the palette to tasting the meal. I do not drink a digestivo after a meal unless feeling bloated. Though, I like Grappa in my espresso after the meal.
What GREAT videos you offer your viewers!!!! My hubby and I are visiting the country for the month of May in 2024…maybe we’ll move there too😊. The US society is in a breakdown - morally, financially…lots of us citizens are seeking out different countries to move to. Thanks again
Ms. Della, we joined Internationa Living Magazine and looked at multiple countries before settling on Italy. It was the right place for us. I wish you well. Chip
Lived in Italy for a year as a student, a long time ago. And visited several times since. Remember the sun, coffee, gelato, the pasta. And how provincial they are, very hard to fit in since they stick to their lifelong friends and family. Maybe it's easier in the big cities. Their good health is a mystery, lots of carbs and veggies that want to kill you are normally very bad.
Fred, we have not had a problem fitting in! The pasta its fresh and not designed to sit on grocery store shelves for 6 months. The veggies are out of the garden within 10 Km much of the time, and Italians walk a lot. We have not had a problem! Maybe it has changed. Also, we work at speaking Italian. That may help. Thanks for watching! Chip.
Americans are SO competitive, we have to "out do" the next person . . . . school, work, kids, sports, homes, cars . . . .the list is endless. No wonder there is so much depression. But we also have a great economy because of this! I'm over it! Looking to semi-retire in Italy. Thank you for your channel and valuable info and insight.
I really appreciate you breaking this down, it maps to how I travel in Italy and what I imagine retirement like there if I orient myself correctly. Constructive comment: Get a better web cam. Your content is professional-level. Your camera isn't: it makes you look amateur. You're not. Fix that.
We got an elective residency visa through our Italian Consulate in LA. After six months of residency with your Permiso de Soggiorno, you qualify for the Italian Healthcare System. We pay about $480 a year each for complete coverage! I hope this helps. Chip
Non ha detto che gli italiani non bevono vino ma che non sono ubriaconi. Ha specificato che gli italiani bevono il vino ma accompagnandolo ai pasti. Ed è vero, gli italiani non sono ubriaconi, lo sono molto di più tedeschi, rumeni o inglesi. In effetti questo signore ci conosce molto bene, liberandoci dai falsi stereotipi con i quali siamo conosciuti all'estero
I have relatives in Sicily and then in Italy. Their quality of life leaves a lot to be desired at times. Ex. When my parents were visiting in Sicily, the water was turned off at various times during the day/evening to conserve. Even some of the most basic food items---popcorn, candy, coffee---were regarded as delicacies by the family. They simply didn't have the income to purchase these items, so they went without. During the summer the family went to the farm to work----from sunrise to long after sunset. It was work, or starve. Women often worked harder than the men did----caring for the farm animals, cooking, cleaning, raising the children, and then caring for aged relatives. If someone went to the hospital, the family members would bring food, change the bed with fresh linens from home, take home the laundry, and then care for the patient----that's socialized medicine at its finest. The family members who died didn't have lives of leisure----they worked up until they were too ill to get out of bed. Death actually became a release for them from their daily existence and all the problems of making a living. Their lifestyle was NOT easy going in the least----they struggled to put and keep food on the table, and they went to work at very young ages----ex. the children were working on the farms when they were 5 and 6 years old. They fed and watered animals, they worked on planting and harvesting the crops, and some even had jobs in salt mines or mines. Not easy work for young children, but the family needed the money. Everyone in Italy and Sicily does not share in the abundance of qualtiy life----that comes with a change in attitude and finances. Birth, life, death----the cycle is fixed for these people. They word hard, eat what they raise or barter, and live a life that's full of uncertainty and poverty. All is NOT what it seems on the surface. It's when you talk to the people, look beneath the glitter of this slower pace of life, and then realize that they're just making by to get by that you see the true picture of life in Sicily and Italy for many people.
@@thelaughingretirement4714 I am very sorry they are having these problems.....there are people at every end of the economic ladder. We are the lucky ones. I hope your family finds a better way in time. All is not as it seems. Thank you for responding.
I am italian and this sounds to me like a picture of Italy of 1950s or rather rare cases of extreme poverty. I know literally nobody that cannot afford pop corns and coffee, or need to send 5/6 years old kids to work. It's not a perfect country and there are many issues, but these u mentioned are really rare cases
Your video is inspiring. As an Italian engaged with an American girl, I visited extensively America. After seeing the differences in cultures, I believe that what gives us an advantage in life expectancy, as you pointed out, is the diet and the culture about food and vices. Especially, what keeps us in check is the 'shaming' culture that exists about eating too much and growing fat. If an Italian gains weight, everyone in the family and friend will notice, point that out and put some level of shame on him. This is the same phenomena that exists in some Asian cultures like Japan and China, and is a huge mental obstacle in overeating.
Also, vices are a big no-no. This is a heritage of catholic culture, that teaches moderation. Even is almost no one is religious anymore, the heritage persist, and an Italian becomes basically an outcast if he is ever seen, even one time, being drunk or doped. Sadly, this is changing among the younger generations feeded by American culture and music.
Food is also different. Italians have a low-protein diet, low in seeds oils, and with little meat, and high carb diet where the carbs (pasta, bread) are low processed (just dehulled). For example, I could not find in America a package of "non enriched" pasta or rice. Also, my girlfriend had a lot of allergies and digestive problems while eating American food. Since, being in Italy, she switched to our ingredients (while still doing American recipes) all her problems were gone.
yep, the moment I moved to the US 30 years ago, my stomach has never been the same. But as soon as I land in Italy, miraculously my stomach problems go away - the food there is healthy and amazing
Tony, i lost 60 lbs, stopped using my HBP meds and now love the taste of food. Italy's wonderful lack of processed food designed to sit on a store shelf for months was truly a godsend for us! We are grateful to be here. Thanks for the comment. I hope you get to move back. Chip
You also never ever see an Italian eating while standing. Simple explanation: "We're not animals."
Or on a caouch
@@alessandroalessandro4656 That is true. Confession, once in awhile
Chip and I still enjoy a pizza on the sofa in front of the TV, when we are alone of course. 🤫
I know what you mean but that’s not strictly true. They have a lot of street food, many small cafes are standing only, they eat gelato while walking, they have McDonald’s (why?!).
@@tommoncrieff1154 Yes, the young people maybe, for they are stupid, and easily compromised. And the existence of McDonald's is a mystery ... everywhere on this planet. No human being should lower themselves so much, as to to spend money on that dreck.
That is so true about the wine. I come from an Italian background. Nobody in my family ever got drunk and drinking wine BEFORE the food was served was never done. Your videos make me so emotional.
After living in Perugia for 50 years I can only agree with you 100% !
Thank you Chip; so true; I moved to Rome 1 year ago after being widowed, to be near my daughter who has lived here 12 years. I find the sense of community is so welcoming (even in the capital) and the pace of life is about enjoying socialising, home life and friends/family. I’m so glad to meet likeminded people!
Lisbeth thank you so much for watching us. I hope you will follow TLR as there is more to come
It is my dream to move to Italy someday and to retire there. Thank you for your perspective.
This matches the experience I had with my family in Italy.
Take a quick look at our invitation to come to Reiti and learn next Sept, 2024, You might be interested. It is on our latest video. Chip
My wife and I will be visiting in November definitely Rome and Venice probably a day trip to Florence
Great video Chip, no one beats the way Italians live life…..Ciao
The lifestyle is the main reason many others give for moving to Italy, but other countries may be comparable. We feel the Italian people with their warmth and kindness are special.
Well, you describe the way of life in a small village. In cities shops don't close at lunch times and people have a very light lunch otherwise they will sleep when back at work!! But certainly the diet and the quality of the food is very high, hormones and antibiotics for animals are prohibited, as well as GMOs. And if a friend comes to see you and if you ask him if he would like to have a drink, it can be a coffee (espresso of course) or mineral water not whisky!!
The town we live near is about 50,000 people and in the area, I estimate a least 100,000. You are, of course, correct about faster-paced city life, but that is true worldwide. Still, I think people find life enjoyable in Italian cities as well.
@@thelaughingretirement4714 👍👍
Not true, shops are often closed at lunch time in big cities as well (I was born and raised in one with 1 million residents). I've lived walking distance from dozens of such shops. Only big stores/chains might not close.
@@AlessandraHudson If they are not in the city centre they close because there's nobody around.
Italian living abroad here..but travelling back to the Bel Paese every 3-4 months....cos I love spending my time relaxing, drinking a glass of Prosecco with some good snacks as I stretch my legs watching the sea....
Hello I live in the USA 🇺🇸 but go back to Colombia 🇨🇴 at least once a year and that’s how it used to be There, unfortunately we became so Americanized so much of our traditions and healthy lifestyle are gone. 🤷🏻♂️
Excellent and sustained answer. Thank you for your program. It’s been wonderful and educational for us. As we look at our transition. 🙏🇮🇹🙏
good luck!
Molto Grazie!
So true on cooking. In 10 yrs retired in Italy from Canada, I have eaten at a local restaurant once and it was very good. I cook at home, always. And use fresh produce. Make my own pasta, bread and gelato. Salad last because vinegar poisons the palette to tasting the meal. I do not drink a digestivo after a meal unless feeling bloated. Though, I like Grappa in my espresso after the meal.
Thanks for sharing! We like to cook at home too!
Robert, it sounds to me like you, too are living the good life. Chip
You are really discovering the Italian life philosophy 😊💖
It's the reason we moved here!
Good video as always Chip! Thank you.
What GREAT videos you offer your viewers!!!! My hubby and I are visiting the country for the month of May in 2024…maybe we’ll move there too😊. The US society is in a breakdown - morally, financially…lots of us citizens are seeking out different countries to move to. Thanks again
Ms. Della, we joined Internationa Living Magazine and looked at multiple countries before settling on Italy. It was the right place for us. I wish you well. Chip
We are happy to share our experiences.
Lived in Italy for a year as a student, a long time ago. And visited several times since. Remember the sun, coffee, gelato, the pasta. And how provincial they are, very hard to fit in since they stick to their lifelong friends and family. Maybe it's easier in the big cities. Their good health is a mystery, lots of carbs and veggies that want to kill you are normally very bad.
Fred, we have not had a problem fitting in! The pasta its fresh and not designed to sit on grocery store shelves for 6 months. The veggies are out of the garden within 10 Km much of the time, and Italians walk a lot. We have not had a problem! Maybe it has changed. Also, we work at speaking Italian. That may help. Thanks for watching! Chip.
Thanks! And yes, all is true... .
Americans are SO competitive, we have to "out do" the next person . . . . school, work, kids, sports, homes, cars . . . .the list is endless. No wonder there is so much depression. But we also have a great economy because of this! I'm over it! Looking to semi-retire in Italy. Thank you for your channel and valuable info and insight.
Look forward to a great life... Italy has its problems but they are decidedly different from the US. I suppose you chose your poison. Chip
I really appreciate you breaking this down, it maps to how I travel in Italy and what I imagine retirement like there if I orient myself correctly.
Constructive comment: Get a better web cam. Your content is professional-level. Your camera isn't: it makes you look amateur. You're not. Fix that.
David we just did that the day before yesterday. Thank you so much for the comment. Chip
Thank you Sir for your Kind Words
Thank you, we love living here
The pace of life is slow in Italy? It's true...but not in Milan😉
That is true, but it's still Italy. Many lifestyles to be found here.
can I ask you questions (very simple) regarding residence visa?
Absolutely send your question here as well as to.info@thelaughingretirement.
Loved this! Thank you!
La dolce vita!
What did/do you do about residency for more than 90 days and health benefits?
We got an elective residency visa through our Italian Consulate in LA. After six months of residency with your Permiso de Soggiorno, you qualify for the Italian Healthcare System. We pay about $480 a year each for complete coverage! I hope this helps. Chip
Universal health care, gun control, fewer drug problems.
Those are just a few of the reasons we like it. chip
Since when do italians not drink wine? Here in Friuli everything involves wine in some way.
Non ha detto che gli italiani non bevono vino ma che non sono ubriaconi. Ha specificato che gli italiani bevono il vino ma accompagnandolo ai pasti. Ed è vero, gli italiani non sono ubriaconi, lo sono molto di più tedeschi, rumeni o inglesi. In effetti questo signore ci conosce molto bene, liberandoci dai falsi stereotipi con i quali siamo conosciuti all'estero
Better spaghetti sauce!
And Italians don’t shovel down their food, don’t serve huge portions,
Absolutely true. A meal here is a different process! Well said!
❤
I have relatives in Sicily and then in Italy. Their quality of life leaves a lot to be desired at times. Ex. When my parents were visiting in Sicily, the water was turned off at various times during the day/evening to conserve. Even some of the most basic food items---popcorn, candy, coffee---were regarded as delicacies by the family. They simply didn't have the income to purchase these items, so they went without. During the summer the family went to the farm to work----from sunrise to long after sunset. It was work, or starve. Women often worked harder than the men did----caring for the farm animals, cooking, cleaning, raising the children, and then caring for aged relatives. If someone went to the hospital, the family members would bring food, change the bed with fresh linens from home, take home the laundry, and then care for the patient----that's socialized medicine at its finest. The family members who died didn't have lives of leisure----they worked up until they were too ill to get out of bed. Death actually became a release for them from their daily existence and all the problems of making a living. Their lifestyle was NOT easy going in the least----they struggled to put and keep food on the table, and they went to work at very young ages----ex. the children were working on the farms when they were 5 and 6 years old.
They fed and watered animals, they worked on planting and harvesting the crops, and some even had jobs in salt mines or mines. Not easy work for young children, but the family needed the money. Everyone in Italy and Sicily does not share in the abundance of qualtiy
life----that comes with a change in attitude and finances. Birth, life, death----the cycle is fixed for these people. They word hard, eat what they raise or barter, and live a life that's full of uncertainty and poverty. All is NOT what it seems on the surface. It's when you talk to the people, look beneath the glitter of this slower pace of life, and then realize that they're just making by to get by that you see the true picture of life in Sicily and Italy for many people.
I agree... are describing life inthe last 40 years or life during the 40s 50s 60s after a very nasty period of war and starvation?
@@thelaughingretirement4714 If things were that good right now, I wouldn't be sending them a package every other month.
@@thelaughingretirement4714 I am very sorry they are having these problems.....there are people at every end of the economic ladder. We are the lucky ones. I hope your family finds a better way in time. All is not as it seems. Thank you for responding.
I am italian and this sounds to me like a picture of Italy of 1950s or rather rare cases of extreme poverty. I know literally nobody that cannot afford pop corns and coffee, or need to send 5/6 years old kids to work. It's not a perfect country and there are many issues, but these u mentioned are really rare cases
This type of situation was very rare, even in Sicily, back in the 1970s. Today it is absolutely unlikely.