Survived the Twin Towers Terrorist Attack, Sold Her House, and Travels the World

This is the extraordinary life story of Sherry Price from New York, who is spending this summer in Montenegro. She survived the attack on the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York, where two passenger planes hijacked by terrorists crashed. On September 11, 2001, at around 8:00 a.m., it is estimated that 17,400 people were inside the towers. After the planes struck the 110-story buildings, 2,606 people lost their lives, either instantly or later from their injuries. The horrifying images of New York engulfed in smoke are impossible to forget. As a successful businesswoman, Sherry soon retired, exchanging her „300 km/h, 24/7“ lifestyle for a complete change of pace. Making a significant turning point in her life, she sold her house in New York and, as she puts it, “freed herself from the material.” This decision allowed her to turn a new page in her life and embark on years of travel. Now, four years into her retirement, Sherry has not slowed down; instead, she continues to explore the world. One of the destinations where she is staying this summer is Montenegro.

In an interview with Primorski Portal, she shares that she now lives freely, breathes fully, and doesn’t constantly check the clock. Her love for travel began in her youth, starting with her first trip at the age of 15, when she visited parts of Italy and France with her sister. Ten years later, she took a trip to Portugal and North Africa. Although she traveled frequently for work, she seldom had leisure time.

“I worked for several international investment firms, which allowed me to travel. However, that type of travel often felt tense and work-related. I was very dedicated to my job and had a successful business career. I retired from my position as a EA and special projects manager,” Price explains.

According to her, New York is no longer a relaxing destination.

“The city where I grew up and worked, and New York as it is today, are two completely different places. The world is changing and becoming more chaotic. New York is a city that never sleeps. I no longer need that; it doesn’t suit me. I realized I don’t want to be part of that world and that I don’t have to keep up with that pace. Once I earned the right to retire, my life changed dramatically. Staying in the United States was never enough for me—I wanted to experience the freedom I now have. Since I was never married and don’t have children, this lifestyle was somewhat easier for me to pursue.

I’m not saying it was easy at first—on the contrary. Just a few years prior, I had built a new house and invested a lot of money and effort into it. Yet I chose to let it all go. Parting with items that had been in my family for 40 to 50 years—like my favorite clothes and jewelry—was difficult. But at one moment, something shifted within me. I realized that true freedom comes from letting go of material possessions. I understood that I didn’t need all those favorite blouses, skirts, sandals, or the closets overflowing with them. Just what is essential for living on the road. And that realization set me free,” she says with a cheerful smile.

She Has Been Traveling the World for Four Years – Without Rushing

“As a joke, I say that I follow the sun. The first year I left New York in November and spent the entire winter somewhere cold. Since then, I no longer want to drag coats and boots around the world. Of course, I have to keep in mind the Schengen Zone. I’m allowed to stay in any Schengen country for 90 days within a period of 180 days. The zone covers 24 countries. So, I look at the calendar, plan flights, and compare prices—I take everything into account. I also plan where I’ll go for my regular medical check-ups, and that place is Malaysia,” explains Sherry Price.

Why Malaysia?

“I go to Malaysia for health reasons—specifically for my annual check-ups—because they are much more affordable. Prince Court Medical Centre has a great program for travelers and nomads like me. Most results are ready within just one day, unlike the situation in the U.S., where it would take at least a month to get everything done, and I would have to pay thousands of dollars for the required examinations. In Malaysia, I pay about $400 for all the necessary tests and check-ups,” says Price, who is spending this summer in the Balkans.

“I know that Montenegro, as part of the former Yugoslavia, shares history with Croatia and Bosnia, but these are all different countries, each with its own culture and norms. Many places I’ve visited have their advantages and disadvantages, and I simply try to experience the culture. I love observing families and their gatherings—that kind of thing is quickly disappearing in America. It used to, when I was growing up, but a lot has changed over the last four years,” says Sherry Price, adding, “I’ve been to Bar and visited the Old Town of Bar. I was fascinated by the history—every stone there tells a story. I also visited Podgorica, Hercog Novi and Kotor.”

“To friends who enjoy beach bars and a faster pace, I recommend Budva. For those who prefer a calmer, more relaxed atmosphere, Bar is the place to go. Everyone has different tastes. For instance, I love history, which is why Kotor and Herceg Novi are particularly dear to me. I also enjoy Bar—walking by the sea every day feels like a true gift. From Montenegro, I’m heading to Shkodra and then to Tirana, using ground transportation. Essentially, I have to think analytically and carefully plan my next steps and how to get there. In Albania, I’ll be meeting a friend,” says the New Yorker.

She emphasizes, “There are so many reasons why I would recommend visiting Montenegro. It’s relatively affordable for retirees. I know that may not be true for everyone, but for U.S. pensioners, it is. Everything here is more relaxed: the sunshine, the kind people, the slower pace of life… Of course, we all have different preferences, but overall, I warmly recommend the Balkans. Everything here fascinates me.”

When asked how many countries she has visited in these past four years of travel, which destinations are next, and how she decides where to spend her time, she responds, “I haven’t counted how many countries I’ve visited. In each country, I stay for at least a month. I’m not on vacation; I live there for a while, and that makes a significant difference. I rent an apartment with a kitchen, internet access, a washing machine, and air conditioning—those are the essentials. Anything beyond that is a bonus. And of course, it must have an iron—I’m a lady, and I don’t want to go around looking disheveled. As for how I choose countries, there’s no fixed formula. They’re all small pieces that fit into the bigger picture: meeting friends, calendar constraints, Schengen rules, warm weather… The goal is simply to be as relaxed as possible and live without stress.”

After a demanding career that required her to work around the clock, she made a clear decision upon retirement—she doesn’t want to work anymore; she just wants to enjoy life. “I don’t do anything—that’s the beauty of retirement. I don’t clean, I don’t cook for anyone, and for the first time in my life, I can devote myself completely to me. The only thing I truly miss is my dogs—that’s what I really long for. When you work, you always need a vacation to enjoy yourself, eat, and drink, but your thoughts are often still on work, worrying about obligations. You can’t completely relax and surrender to the present moment. You’re on vacation, but your mind is stuck on responsibilities. I’ve put an end to that,” says Price in her interview with Primorski Portal.

What is Sherry Price’s life philosophy?

Keep your head and feet in the same place: live in the moment. When we reach the awareness that we are not enslaved by material things—that is freedom. That is a gift. The feeling of liberation cannot be described in words. It has to be experienced.

I am never bored. I am content. I walk with a smile on my face and excitement in my heart—right now I am in Montenegro! Wherever I am, I am fascinated. Life is only one, and it should be lived to the fullest.

We never know when we will leave this world. My life hasn’t been easy—I worked very hard—but that is why now I live—truly live—this very day.