PART 104: It might be interesting to share how we pulled off living in Italy for part of the year. I will post some steps and what we are learning along the way.
We love every minute of it, and what was once a dream is our life!
We live in Tuscany in the Fall, then back again in the Spring, and in California for the rest of the time (in a previous blog, I explained why we live in Italy only part of the year).
Step 1: As we explore areas in Italy, we are discovering some gems worth sharing. Some are well-known tourist magnets, and others are lesser-known but always amazing.
This week let's explore some of the joys of living in Italy, even part-time!
Step 2: Culture
Living in Italy brings the joy of being part of American and European cultures. The more time we spend in Italy, the more I realize that things that I thought were absolutes are more flexible, people I believed fit into categories are more complex, and detaching from one's own culture, at least for part of the year, can give greater insight into what is important and what is not.
In Italy, access to culture is easier than in our area in California. Visiting major museums, attending classical music concerts, and exploring historical sites is simple. We can jump in our car in Tuscany and drive to the neighboring town to experience these cultural offerings.
Step 3: Experiential history
I spent 25 wonderful years as a high school history teacher and absolutely loved it (most of the time). Some challenges, such as the politics of education and classroom management issues, could sometimes get in the way, but it was a great experience overall.
One of the most rewarding aspects of teaching history was bringing the subject to life. I found that students were most engaged when they could experience history rather than just read about it. For instance, when we studied the French Revolution, I divided the class into 3 estates to simulate the social hierarchy of that time. The nobility were given complete freedom, the clergy had some restrictions, and the rest of the class, representing the peasants, had to follow orders from the other two groups. This simulation led to heated debates and disagreements, allowing us to empathize with the peasants' struggles during the French Revolution.
In Italy, there are numerous opportunities to experience history. For example, during a weekend trip to Rome, we visited the Mithraeum underneath the Basilica of St. Clement's.
Visiting St. Clement's felt like stepping into a time machine. The ground level houses a basilica dating back to 1100. While sitting and taking in the atmosphere, we reflected on the fact that services had been held at that altar for over 1,000 years. Afterward, we descended to the area of the 4th-century basilica, where we wandered through and admired the ancient frescoes.
Further descent led us to the second-century Mithraeum, a place where soldiers and followers of Mithras held their secret ceremonies. We heard the sound of rushing water behind the wall, indicating an underground river. Though there were school children present, they soon left, and my partner and I found ourselves alone in that mysterious place.
We discovered some seating carved into the rock just outside the Mithraeum and sat in that spot where Roman soldiers had once waited to enter the place of worship.
It was a truly immersive experience where history came to life.
Step 4: Meeting others who want a bigger life
One of the unexpected joys of living in Italy is meeting others on similar journeys. The people we have met come from various backgrounds and ages, but they all share one common quality: the desire for a more fulfilling life.
Those willing to take a risk for the kind of life they want, even outside their comfort zone and without knowing exactly how it will turn out, are some of the most interesting people. Whether they are retiring in Italy, starting a business, or living part-time, these individuals tend to have diverse interests and a sense of adventure.
It's truly a delight to meet others living in Italy and share in some of their adventures. Some of our friends from Puglia also resided in Budapest; we flew up for a long weekend, and they showed us the city from a local point of view. It was amazing.
Step 5: Using our home as a base
We have had the goal of using our home in Italy as a launching point to explore the rest of Europe. This was difficult when we were located in Puglia due to its southern location, as we had to fly for international trips. However, now that we are in Tuscany, we find that more of Europe is easily accessible. This Fall, we plan to drive to the south of France and then continue to Lourdes. Next Spring, we are considering spending two weeks in another European city (we are still deciding on the destination).
We are just beginning to use our home as a home base, and I will write more about it in the future.
Step 6: Life becomes an adventure
Life is short. I know this because my mother passed away when I was a child, and my closest friend passed away when he was 50 a few years ago.
I want to live my life as an adventure. I could have kept putting it off until I made more money, had more security, or better understood what living in Italy entails. But life is short. That's why my partner and I decided to dive in and start living part-time in Italy, as we can only live there part-time.
We love our routine in California, but we need more. We want life to be an adventure. With our lives split between Italy and California, it has become just that.
More next time.
Now on sale for $2.99: My book is "Stories from Puglia: Two Californians in Southern Italy." Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CRKMKPWF?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_X2WRQ3PTG2ZDD7AVF6GH
Amazon Italy- my book "Lei mi ha sedotto. Una storia d'amore con Roma": https://amzn.eu/d/13nuZCL.
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