Being Practical

Doesn't come naturally to me...

We are moving out of a house I love. We’ve been here only five years, after having then sold our complex farm and garden with a rambling house built in 1806. That was wrenching. And practical. Now this is wrenching. We don’t have to move; it’s practicality calling. We are two, and we’re noticing the years flitting by. The house is almost 6000 sq. feet of marvelous living space. And we are in Italy or traveling for at least seven months a year. Easy to see that upkeep, taxes, house sitters for the two cats, and endless mowing of a big lawn might overweigh the advantages of a great kitchen where friends can easily join in, a luxurious library/study space, screened porch with fireplace, and lots of other joys.

Still. Look who is being uprooted:

Fitz and SonnyMan already know something is afoot. What they have no way of knowing is that they are moving to Italy. They’ve endured the vet trip, checking for shots and tags. They yowled and drooled all the way there, which makes us know the flight is not going to be fun for them at all. Fitz, the white Turkish Van cat, is, at 21 pounds, too big to fly coach, and only service animals are allowed in business. Fortunately, cargo for animals has improved a lot since many now are traveling with pets. Large carriers are required and they will have room to move around, plus little cups, like in canary cages, for food and water. Still, a nightmare no doubt, but once in Italy, I know they will love living at Bramasole, where they can roam among the olive trees and snooze in beds of lavender and roses. Fitz is incredibly sociable and soon will be dropping by our neighbors for a pet and a snack. Sonny will lounge at home, with many prime places to view the goings on around the garden.

As for us, this decision to move has opens a big door. We decided to give away a lot of furniture, to winnow down the attic storage—furniture that needs reupholstering and will never get it, tax records long yellowed, heavy cumbersome suitcases, etc. Although I am not a believer in “death cleaning,” it’s good to stay lean. As for things I love, I’m not sacrificing to the idea that when you’re older you should downgrade to strict minimalism. Freeing for some, but not for me. I like my books, paintings, china, silver, and antiques shipped home from Italy. Minimalism holds no appeal.

The big decision we made: not to move into another house yet. We are putting everything in storage. For an indefinite period of time we will be without a US address. For decades we’ve spent large amounts of time in Italy. Freed of the necessity to report to steady jobs now, and having written eighteen books and saved well, we are able to travel where we want to go. Two years ago, we took a trip around the world, which lit matches in our traveling shoes. Countries we’d ignored in our Italian obsession became compelling. We adored places we’d never dreamed we’d find so fascinating: China, Laos, Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, India, Viet Nam. Now we are eyeing Uzbekistan, Georgia, returns to Asia, and so many alluring places in Europe that we don’t know. I’m attracted to a long journey exploring the Silk Road. Not at all that we are running away from something; instead, we are running toward a period of adventure. This choice to move out into the world feels right at the moment. If I’m ever sitting in a rocker unable to go, I’ll have seen as much of the world as I could.

Meanwhile, we are starting to have the last dinner parties, movie nights, and gatherings for drinks here, where I’ve loved the big windows in the living room that fills with light in early afternoon, the attic that looks like a small cathedral in progress, the tiny room for flower arranging, miles of bookshelves, our bedroom also flooded with sunlight, and the woods out back where herds of deer gather to munch, and at night the coyotes frolic and howl.

This house has anchored our cherished American life. We will be back later, much later, to this area where we have a loved group of friends and a lucky life near family. Saying ci vediamo North Carolina for now…

Decisions are hard but you make them.