New analysis on expat life in Albania

A longtime Los Angeles entrepreneur moves to Tirana seeking a calmer life and a chance to travel more.

California Woman Leaves LA for Albania Embraces New Life

Cheryl Orlov, 55, left her life in Los Angeles in 2023 after 23 years in the city and a 32 year furniture business. She downsized properties and dissolved her company to pursue a move abroad, ending up in Tirana, Albania, where she rents a ground level two-bed apartment for about €400 a month and enjoys low daily costs for food and transport. After a scouting trip and researching via podcasts and conversations with other female travelers, she decided Albania fit what she was seeking: safety, culture, and a chance to recharge.

Since the move, Orlov says she travels more and now uses Albania as a base for broader exploration across Europe, Africa, and Asia. She notes the visa setup for Americans is straightforward, and the local cost of living remains affordable. She has kept ties to the United States by returning for visits but does not plan to move back full time. The experience has lowered her stress and given her a sense of freedom, even as she confronts the reality that many expats stay only a year or two and moving again can be part of the norm.

The story highlights a trend of older adults choosing relocation as a form of personal reinvention, driven by burnout and the appeal of affordable, culturally rich destinations. Albania’s combination of safety, interesting history, and a coastline network makes it attractive to many expats, but the piece also underscores a major trade off: expat life can be highly transient, which complicates building lasting community ties. Readers may see a blueprint for financially independent relocation but should weigh long term social and linguistic adjustments against the lure of travel and lower costs.

Beyond the personal tale, the piece prompts questions about how housing markets, visa rules, and language barriers shape where people feel at home. It also raises awareness of the emotional toll of leaving established networks and the potential for a redefined sense of home that can shift with every new destination. The broader implication is a world where mobility is easier but stability remains a moving target.

Highlights

The journey of one traveler hints at a changing idea of home in a world of constant movement.