Living the Dream

A year ago we were on our way back from an Italian vacation with thoughts of buying a very expensive house on the Amalfi Coast. A beautiful tumble-down house that needed a lot of work. It was a great dream, but would have made us broke. However, it made us determined to find a house we could afford. I searched long and hard and found Abruzzo. I was captivated by its beauty, its reasonable property prices (and its lack of tourism). So captivated that by the end of August 2017 I was on my way back to Italy to find my retirement home.

I remember the first time I walked through this door into the kitchen area of the Old Olive Mill in Colledimezzo. Without even seeing the rest of the house I knew it was the one! My daughter was with me and she felt the same.

Now, less than a year later, this house is ours. We’ve been back a couple of times, but not able to stay there because there was work to be done. A kitchen to build, a boiler and radiators to put in, and of course furniture to buy, but now its ready. When we fly out in October, we can make it our home.

Having a dream is great, but living that dream is much, much better!

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The Old Olive Mill in Colledimezzo

An old stone building in a quaint old village. From the moment I set eyes on it, I knew it was special. A building that had been restored with loving care. In years gone by, it produced olive oil. From now on, it’s going to produce happiness and lots of laughter.

It’s my new home in Italy and I can’t wait to share it with friends and family.

The Old Olive Mill in Colledimezzo!

Trabocchi Coast – Beautiful Adriatic

When I need a zen moment I remember August 2017 and my first visit to Abruzzo. A visit of discovery. I immediately fell in love with the place. Why did it take so long to find? Good things are worth waiting for!

Abruzzo – Italy at its best!

ABRUZZO ITALY

Can’t wait to call this place my home.

I’m enjoying a lovely Colorado day. Catching up with my blogs and trying to finish the last short story in my current book, but my mind wanders off the to the dramatic unspoiled beauty of Abruzzo.

Own This Life!

When the sun goes down on your life do you want to say you just lived it? Or do you want to say you really lived it! Do you want to say you OWNED IT?

Looking back at my life, I’m pretty happy. It wasn’t perfect, but I have an amazing daughter, quirky husband, a job I really enjoy and a great future ahead of me when I retire to Abruzzo. I’m not rich and worked hard for everything I have, but I always had something to work for. We moved from England to the US in 1995. I changed my career (by accident). We travelled as much as our money would allow.

This old girl writes, laughs, loves and cries. She didn’t just live her life, she took control and owned it.

Keeping up with the Italians

 

Retirement was always something I dreaded.
It meant I was getting old.
Only two weeks ago I was in my sixteen! Now I’m in my sixties.
Last year we bought a home in Abruzzo, Italy. It changed my whole prospective on retirement and now I think about long lazy days in Colledimezzo with a goofy smile on my face. I have a few years to go yet, time to practice my cooking. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to compete with the fabulous traditional dishes that have been passed down from mother to child, but I can start with the sweet treats. So far these have been a success. On the left, Almond cookies, on the right, Italian breakfast cookies, which are very good to dip in your morning cappuccino.

When Will I See You Again?

Missing Abruzzo and our lovely village home in Colledimezzo SO BAD! Owned it less than a year. Only visited twice. Once to view and make an offer and then the second time (earlier this year) to clean it, buy furniture, work hard and make it home. During the summer its being painted, having radiators fitted and a toilet replaced. Kitchen has been fitted and marble stairs installed.
Where did I get the money from to do all of this? I have no clue. This was meant to happen. Someone guided us to Abruzzo and now its hard to leave.

We’ve always felt at home in Italy and now we have an Italian home.

 

The Real Italy

I never get bored with Italy. Been visiting since I was a teenager. It’s beauty and history are captivating. The food, the wine, all the usual things make me love the country. However, until I visited Abruzzo, I realized I hadn’t seen the real Italy. It took only a short visit to remind me that local Italians make Italy what it is, and the folks of Abruzzo are the warmest, most helpful people I have ever met. While writing this blog my eyes fill with tears as I recall our recent visit and all we achieved with their help. We made more friends in two weeks than I’ve made in the last 20 years.

Colledimezzo is a tiny village in Abruzzo, less than 600 inhabitants. Of course everyone became familiar with us immediately. A mixed race couple with British accents. We stuck out like a sore thumb. Those locals immediately accepted us, helped us and made us feel like one of them.

It’ll be a few years before we can retire there, but the ground work is done. We have a second home there now, and lots of vacations to look forward to. Good things are worth waiting for!

Searching for fairies

Was I borne odd? Perhaps. It’s hard to tell. I was always a little different though. The odd one out. I didn’t enjoy playing with the other kids. Instead I’d find a place to sit in a quiet forest, surrounded by bluebells.

Making myself comfortable against the trunk of a tree I’d sit there for hours looking for fairies. I believed in fairies and every time someone said they didn’t, I’d cry, knowing a fairy died when you said you didn’t believe.

As I sat there I’d dream about my future. Not fame, fortune and riches. I’d dream about happiness and beautiful places I’d heard of, but never seen. I’ve visited many of those places now and I think I’m ready to settle down in the one that captured my heart.

Retirement is looming, not so young anymore, but I still look for fairies. I know they’re out there.

Tempes Fugit

How time files! Just over a week ago I was waking up to this magnificent view from my Hotel Room in the beautiful ancient town of Vasto.

I’ve been back for a week now. Once again caught up in the daily routine of work and the busy existence we all share. I’m not sad, I live in Colorado, which is lovely. I have a good job and work with people I like, but I do miss the tranquility and laid back life style I enjoyed for two weeks in Abruzzo.

It’s the carrot dangling in front of me. We’ve achieved a huge goal, we have a home in Italy waiting for us when we retire. Before that time I can enjoy lazy vacations getting to know the area. We feel incredibly lucky to have such a place, but it is the result of hard work and planning.

You can achieve a great deal when you put your mind to it. Figure out what is important to you in life and go for it. We did!