The cosmos are conspiring to change the certainty of the course of our circumstances.
Since retiring Alice and Ringo and I have been on a slow trek through Italy and Europe. We are currently in the Chianti section of Tuscany living in part of a 500 year old, Renaissance era villa. The villa is surrounded by gardens which in tern are surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. We planned to stay here until the end of the summer or perhaps the end of the following summer. But shit happens as it will. First my older son, Sergio, has, with his wife Erica, a beautiful little girl, Lily. She is now a month and a few days old. We are the grandparents. Next my younger son Dante, and his wife Lauren, announced that they are expecting to be parents by August. We will be again grandparents. And then there is my mother. She is 93 years old and is in declining health.
Our European trek will be suspended for an indeterminate duration. We will be packing our two suitcases and moving back to the States. Probably to Jersey City. It should be interesting. It will not be an end of this journey. Just a diversion from the initial course.
There is much to think about and do in the meanwhile. I have a car with French registration here in Italy. To sell the car I must register the car in Italy and then somehow sell it without getting fleeced. I also have to sell my e-bike. Again without getting fleeced. And then there is Ringo. We will be traveling back to the USA in April for my mothers birthday. We had planned this months ago. Now we are planning on making the move at the end of May. We were not planning on taking Ringo with us in April but now with this change of plans we may and then just leave him while we do our thing in Italy in preparation of the move. He will have difficulty understanding all of this.
And then there is all the legal, governmental stuff to have to deal with. Like taxes. Look for updates.
I’m glad to hear this is just a diversion. I have so enjoyed reading about your experiences and seeing your fab photos. Sending best wishes to you and yours for whatever the cosmos holds in the future.
May our ‘internet’ lives intersect again. x
Thanks Lorraine. I’m not stopping the blog, just redirecting it for now. There may be long lapses just because busy times are coming up.
Hi Sergio, I second what Lorraine said, but family is what matters most and the first years with a (grand)child are the most precious.
Good luck with everything concerning leaving the Italy and settling down in NJ.
Looking forward to updates.
I only recently discovered your blog through expat exchange (I’m golgol), and have both enjoyed reading it and also felt immensely grateful for the useful information. I relate to a lot of the things you said in your back story page. Regardless, I wanted to thank you and also to wish you luck in your future endeavors. I hope you find joy in the grandparenting journey (Lily’s such a muffin, by the way, with that little smile in the photo). And I wish your mother’s health improves and peace for her. Take care.