“It’s easier to be happy here” | Wilnesh News

When Rubia Daniels heard that a small town in Italy was selling abandoned houses for 1 euro (about $1.05) each, she had to go and see for herself.

The Berkeley, Calif., resident booked his first flight to Mussomeli, Sicily, in 2019 and quickly bought not one, not two, but three shabby properties at bargain prices real estate.

Daniels, 50, has a background in architecture and envisioned three dream projects: a vacation home, a restaurant and a wellness center. So far, she has spent about $35,000 working with local crews on her vacation home.

Rubia Daniels, from Berkeley, California, bought several 1-euro houses in Mussomeli, Sicily.

Mickey Todiwala | CNBC Success

Despite the stress of renovating homes around the world during the pandemic, Daniels said the Mussomeli lifestyle has brought more happiness to her life.

Make friends in Sicily

One of the biggest reasons Daniels decided to buy a house in Mussomeli was the warm welcome she felt when she visited.

Nathalie Milazzo, the real estate agent who sold her the house, took Daniels to restaurants, cafes and other places in Mussomeli to get a real sense of life in the town. Daniels now considers her “like a sister.”

Mussomeli is small, with only about 9,900 residents, but Daniels said many people have strong connections.

“It’s much easier to make friends in Sicily than it is in California,” Daniels said. “Social life is very important in Sicily. Everyone has time to talk to you, get to know you, or share a cup of coffee.”

Daniels became good friends with fellow local Katerina Montagnino and the two became like family. Daniels recently hosted Montagnino and her husband in California, and she’s even godmother to their two-year-old son, Leo.

Socializing is important in Mussomeli, said Rubia Daniels, who has become good friends with resident Catalina Montagnino (left) and is now like a sister.

Mickey Todiwala | CNBC Success

That’s not to say Daniels’ California neighbors are unfriendly, just that the pace of life is different. “Usually at home, people are always in a rush” between work and home, she said, and they don’t have time to socialize.

Fewer money problems and less overall stress

Sicilians approach leisure time very differently from Americans. First, most Sicilians eat lunch and take a siesta every day from noon to 4 pm, when most of the town is closed. Large family dinners are common and can last from 9pm to midnight. Traveling around Italy and the rest of Europe is easy and affordable.

By American standards, the cost of living is low and the quality of life is high. A nice meal out might cost 10 euros ($10.50) or less, while a round-trip flight from Italy might cost less than 50 euros ($52.50). As far as housing is concerned, about 90% of Mussomeli residents already own their own homes or even multiple properties through inheritance law, so rent is no longer an issue.

This is a big difference from the high cost of living in the United States, especially in the Bay Area where Daniels lives, where a typical family of four would need a household income of more than $300,000 to live comfortably.

Daniels sees a direct relationship between the high cost of living and high stress, which causes Americans to be overworked, which means less time to invest in friendships and other passions.

“It’s a more stressful lifestyle,” Daniels said.

Now that she lives part of the year in Mussomeli, “it’s much easier to be happy here than at home,” she says.

The biggest challenge for me in Sicily was the amount of carbs they consumed.

Blonde Daniels

1 euro house owner in Mussomeli, Sicily

Each visit is another example of how, despite some stubborn vices, lower financial stress, more social time and moderate physical activity (many walking in the hilly town) can lead to better health result.

“People here consume a lot of alcohol, nicotine, carbohydrates, and they live longer Daniels noted, “It’s better than most places. I believe it’s because the stress levels are low and the community is very active, which makes them live longer.”

“The biggest challenge for me in Sicily is the amount of carbohydrates they consume,” Daniels joked. “Other than that, life is good.”

Conversion of euros to U.S. dollars is made using the OANDA exchange rate of 1 euro to 1.05 U.S. dollars on October 18, 2023.

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