Life On A Greek Island
A Slower Pace & Happier Existence
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Today’s edition is part of My Stories where I share vulnerable thoughts around my opinions in Finance.
Typically Charts & Chit Chat is our next edition where I share Financial Data/Charts alongside quick takeaways that get right to the point.
However, I am doing some travelling at the moment and have been working less as a result. I’ll get back to full time in a couple of weeks.
For now, let’s get vulnerable.
Greek time. Island time. Greek island time -- it's all a thing.
I've experienced it before but it always surprises me when I experience it again. I'm doing a bit of travelling in the motherland and it never ceases to amaze me how much slower the pace of life is compared with what I am used to.
The stress is few and far between out here. My favorite shirt I've seen said, "drink ouzo forget crises."
I don't think they are kidding either. That's less a joke and more a way of life out here.
There's no stress and no rush.
In the states I am used to being rushed out of a restaurant. It's all about table-turnover. How quickly can the servers get you your food, get you your drinks, and then get you the heck out of there!
It's nothing like that on a Greek island or in the village.
When I arrived at the Airbnb I unpacked my suitcase, changed into some shorts, and walked down the street to a taverna to get some food and practice my Greek.
Turns out I still got it, which is a relief. I've heard if you don't use it you lose it.
I quickly scanned the strip of tavernas and picked one that looked like it had some great seafood. Nobody was up front. It was 7pm which is a bit early for dinner on the island in the summer months.
I walked in and there were only 2 other people there, having a drink and playing some cards at a table. I thought they worked there. I walked up to them and in Greek asked if I could sit anywhere. Turns out they didn't speak Greek or even work there. Just some tourists enjoying the views.
I sat down and after a few minutes a waitress finally came out the back and walked over to me. Yassas, she said, and it was my time to shine and show off my Greek.
I ordered a few small plates which ended up being a lot bigger than I thought. A greek salad, tzatziki, bread, shrimp, mussels, and calamari. They came out one by one, but slowly. By the time the calamari came out I was full and my beer was finished. I had to eventually box it up to go.
I say eventually because after that calamari came out the waitress was nowhere to be found again. Maybe she was the waitress, hostess, chef, owner, and bus-girl all at once. More likely she just was just taking a cigarette break out back.
I don't know. All I know is I was amazed at how relaxed the working environment seemed to be even though I have experienced it before.
When I finally saw her again I told her everything was delicious but I ordered too much and I am stuffed, so I need a small box. At this point she insisted I have a little dessert. I told her there's no way I could fit it. She emphasized it's just a small refreshing melon sorbet and it's on the house.
I couldn't say no, even though I was stuffed and about an hour and a half into my meal. It was just me too, my parents needed to rest after a long day and a half of travel.
At this point it's 8:30pm and more people started to show up and sit down around me.
The sorbet came out and she wasn't lying. It was delicious and refreshing. The perfect way to end my meal which is going on 2 hours long now.
Mind you, the bill still hasn't come out yet. In the states, the bill is definitely coming out with your dessert.
I finally waved her down again and asked for the bill, which took another 15 minutes to arrive.
She seemed to have no concerns. No stress. No bad attitude.
Just love as she serviced everyone that started to come in, and her daughter played with ONE small toy in the corner of the taverna.
A family with 3 kids walked in around this time, and one kid saw the toy that the daughter of the waitress was playing with and started pointing at it with big smiles. Her daughter graciously went over and gave the kid her only toy to play with for a bit.
It's easy to see how simple they live. It's easy to see how much less they need to be so much happier than anyone I know back in the states.
I had a similar experience the next morning.
I woke up at 9am, which is early for us Greeks, and walked down to the beach and tavernas. I found some palapas on the sand to sit down at which were clearly part of one of the tavernas and I imagined were reserved. But I'll cross that bridge when I get there because again, I was one of the few people out there.
After 20 minutes a server came over and told me I needed to spend 30 Euros to sit there for the day. I told her that would be fine, and that my parents would be coming down in the next hour or two.
She then handed me the menu and was off! Off to where? I have no idea. I finally saw her again 20 minutes later and waved her down. She acknowledged me, but it took another 20 minutes after that acknowledgment for her to come over. This is funny to me because again, there wasn't too many people around!
I ordered some breakfast, which came out quickly and I had another delicious meal.
I love the American hustle. I love my routine back home. If I skip a day at the gym I feel awful about myself. I love the feeling of being on top of everything in my life. I love making the most of every hour I have in my day, reading, writing, consuming, creating, hustling to get to the next level of success in my life.
But man, what a humbling experience to see the simpler side of life.
A slower pace. An easy going lifestyle. And a happier existence I'm sure we could all learn a little bit from.
Let's see if I can find me a wife out here and maybe never return!
Yamas!
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Disclaimer: These are not recommendations and I am not a financial advisor. These are just my two cents, or two satoshis as the kids say. Remember to do your own homework before making any financial decisions. Also, keep in mind I usually have some personal investments in the things I discuss.
Love the lifestyle. Well done.
Christos, are you Greek? Your name suggests you are.