We're Americans who've traveled to 12 countries this year doing the 'Schengen shuffle.' Here's how it works.

• The 'Schengen shuffle' allows non-EU citizens to stay in Europe for extended periods of time. • Eric and Christina Schwendeman, both Americans, have made Italy their base since 2022. • "It's the best of both worlds for us," Christina told Business Insider.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Eric and Christina Schwendeman, who left the US in 2022 to retire in Italy. The couple now does the "Schengen shuffle." Schengen countries allow non-EU visitors to stay for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. The "Schengen shuffle" refers to the practice of non-EU travelers hopping between both Schengen and non-Schengen countries indefinitely. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Christina: We had gotten our elective residency visas, which allowed us to