Change is Good...Right?

That's what they always say, anyway. And mostly, I tend to agree. A get-out-the-rut shift in actions and attitudes can invigorate and rejenerate a person, and can often (dare I say, usually?)leads to a door opening on wonderful, new opportunities. I mean, that's what happened when ditched it all to move across the ocean, after all.

So now we're moving again, and I'm reciting the mantra, "Change is good!" while not quite sure if I've convinced myself. One thing I've discovered about myself in our adventures abroad is that I'm a 'nester'. I like having a settled-in feeling, even if the place is temporary. That's probably what drew me to the concept of Slow Travel in the first place, and is why we've pretty much planted ourselves in Ascoli Piceno for more than two years. Sure, it's been our base and we've explored a bit of Central Italy from here. We certainly have seen every hamlet, castle, and rabbit trail within a 100 mile radius. And while we've made several trips to Basilicata, realistically we've not spent much time really traveling around other parts of Italy. When I stop to think that we've been here 2 1/2 years and have never been to Sicily, I startle even myself! We must surely be the slowest of the Slow Travelers!

Which is partially what contributed to a sort of wake-up call. That, and the fact that our lease expires and our landlord won't be renewing the contract. And, when we looked into the coffers we realized we didn't have enough money to renew it in good faith for another year, anyway. Simultaneously, a friend offered a house-sitting position in his splendid villa on the Costa del Cilento. They don't want it left empty all winter, and since they also want to have some small projects completed during the off-season months, our presence there would make it easier for them to schedule the workmen to come.

So, while they may seem trivial, the little signs have pointed us south. We'll be heading laggiu` at the end of the month, and will take the change as the great opportunity it is - a chance to explore a beautiful, relatively unknown area while trying to regroup and coax the money tree to sprout and bear fruit again.

Our plan is to return to Ascoli Piceno, which we consider 'home', when business picks up again or some form of measurable income starts to trickle in again. Meanwhile, we'll be down in the land of sun, lemon groves, and mozzarella di bufala. New year, new adventures.

Ci vediamo laggiu`!