Four American Women Over 50 Find New Homes Abroad

Laid off, priced out, and restless, these women retired in Europe for a better quality of life.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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Four American women over 50 - Cindy Sheahan, Sandy Adam, Natalie Lynch, and Dawn Belisle - have found more affordable housing, a lower cost of living, and a new sense of self by retiring in Europe. Facing high living costs, job loss, and a desire for reinvention, they have moved to places like Sicily, Paris, and Nice, trading the US for a slower pace of life, new friendships, and personal fulfillment.

Why it matters

The stories of these women reflect broader demographic trends, as net international migration to the US has declined in recent years. Factors like high inflation, political unrest, and a search for meaning are driving more Americans, especially older women, to seek lives abroad. Their experiences highlight the tradeoffs and challenges of retiring overseas, from navigating bureaucracy to coping with loneliness, but also the potential rewards of a fresh start in a new country.

The details

Cindy Sheahan, 64, left her job and Denver home behind to travel the world, eventually settling in Palermo, Sicily, where her $1,500 monthly Social Security check covers her rent and living expenses. Sandy Adam, 69, moved from Pittsburgh to a Paris suburb after losing her tech job, finding the cost of living more manageable on her Social Security benefits. Natalie Lynch, 56, burned out from running a home-staging business in the Bay Area, moved to Europe to slow down and rediscover herself, though she's still figuring out where she wants to settle. And Dawn Belisle, 56, an attorney from Atlanta, fell in love with France after a pastry class and moved there in 2022, pursuing a new lifestyle brand while enjoying the country's slower pace.

  • Cindy Sheahan took a sabbatical from her job in the US in the early 2020s.
  • Sheahan made Palermo, Sicily her home base in 2025.
  • Sandy Adam was laid off from her tech job in 2025.
  • Natalie Lynch left her home-staging business in the Bay Area in 2024.
  • Dawn Belisle moved to France in 2022 after a pastry class trip there in 2019.

The players

Cindy Sheahan

A 64-year-old woman who left her job and Denver home behind to travel the world, eventually settling in Palermo, Sicily where her $1,500 monthly Social Security check covers her rent and living expenses.

Sandy Adam

A 69-year-old woman who moved from Pittsburgh to a Paris suburb after losing her tech job, finding the cost of living more manageable on her $3,608 monthly Social Security benefits.

Natalie Lynch

A 56-year-old woman who burned out from running a home-staging business in the Bay Area and moved to Europe to slow down and rediscover herself, though she's still figuring out where she wants to settle.

Dawn Belisle

A 56-year-old attorney from Atlanta who fell in love with France after a pastry class trip there in 2019 and moved there in 2022, pursuing a new lifestyle brand while enjoying the country's slower pace.

Cepee Tabibian

A Spain-based relocation coach who has helped many Americans move overseas, noting a growing number of her female clients are now also worried about the political climate in the US.

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What they’re saying

“I figured I'd start traveling abroad. My company was kind enough to let me take a sabbatical while I sorted out my world. It turned out to be a mistake for them, because I decided I wasn't coming back.”

— Cindy Sheahan (Business Insider)

“I asked myself: If I tried to live off Social Security, could I afford to stay in that house? I probably could, but it would be really tight. Long-term, though, the financial predictability felt increasingly uncertain — my everyday living expenses like groceries were going up too. I wanted to simplify my life, with fewer fixed costs and fewer surprises.”

— Sandy Adam (Business Insider)

“The pandemic, with its loss of freedom, loss of connectivity, and the very clear message that life can be short, was a real wake-up call for me. I decided I needed to make some big changes, even if I didn't have a clear idea of what the endgame would look like.”

— Natalie Lynch (Business Insider)

“My spirit felt at peace there in a way that's hard to describe. Everyone was just living. They're out and about, enjoying each other's company. They sit at cafés, eating and drinking together. They don't have the same hustle-and-bustle culture we have in the US.”

— Dawn Belisle (Business Insider)

The takeaway

The experiences of these four American women over 50 who retired abroad highlight the growing trend of older Americans, especially women, seeking a better quality of life and lower cost of living overseas. Their stories reflect broader demographic shifts, as net migration to the US has declined in recent years, driven by factors like high inflation, political unrest, and a desire for personal reinvention. While the transition has not been without its challenges, these women have found more affordable housing, a slower pace, and a renewed sense of purpose in their new European homes.