Today began like any other day. I said 'good morning' to Alexa to start my morning news brief, then rolled over in bed to grab my phone to begin the daily morning social media scroll. In which I came across an article:
"A picturesque town in Sicily is selling off homes for $1 to anyone willing to renovate them"
The town... Sambuca of Sicily. Now I've been to Italy many times before, but I've never been to Sicily. However, I have had sambuca and I find it delicious. So clearly this had to be fate telling me that I needed to investigate this further.
I sent the link to a group of girlfriends encouraging an early retirement investment and motivating a plan to take over the little town ourselves someday to live out our elderly years together. You see, I have this amazing group of friends in Grand Rapids, Michigan, my home base. It is a GIANT group of genuine, fun, kind-hearted, balanced, funny, successful, adventurous and loyal friends of both ladies and gents my age. And I know without a doubt, this is extremely rare to find such a group and that we are all so incredibly lucky. Thus why, I will always find it hard to move away from Grand Rapids completely. This is where my heart is... with my people: my family and my friends. It is a good community and relationships that lead to a long and healthy life. Even if 1/2 the year that means you have to freeze your arrrse off. That's what travel is for. I can quench my insatiable desire for travel and experience while also having a beautiful foundation people I love to come back home to in GR.
Anyway, back to the story. Obviously, the ladies were all supportive of the idea. I also sent the idea to my parents, my brother and his wife, who were also digitally verbally supportive. And finally, I sent the article to my college friend, Jenny, who lives in Tampa and who I've seen to have the same deep love and appreciation for Italy as I have had. I knew she studied there as an exchange student. I knew she was just in Italy this past year. And I knew she was planning to go back next month. Naturally, she would love this idea. Either way, I've found that when someone comes to mind, for any reason at all, it's good to follow-through with that impulse as sign to reach out. Many times those are life's little hints trying to lead you somewhere intentionally, and you never know what important role you were intended to play in that moment. But those fleeting thoughts are no coincidence. Timing is everything.
Jenny responded that she couldn't get the idea out of her head since I sent the link. It was the same for me. I had already started researching the town and the opportunity. And then, like that, 2 hours later... my flight was already booked to join her in Italy for a week, departing only 3 weeks from today. When I looked at the Delta flights, the cost in miles was only 50k for a round trip ticket to Rome. That's the cost of what is normally a round-trip domestic ticket! With a deal like that, it was pretty hard to justify passing this up. I said I would think about it but I paced the house and couldn't get the idea out of my head, so I booked.
Now let me tell you a little about my schedule for those next 3 weeks. Next week Wednesday, I fly to Europe to meet a colleague for a whirlwind of a crazy busy business trip. We will spend 2 days in Amsterdam meeting with supplier summit venues, then drive to Dusseldorf, Germany for a day of rehearsing discount store tours in the market... a total of 12 stores in 8 hours. Then we drive to Cologne, Germany for 3 days of Candy Show attendance including planned meetings with over 270 suppliers. Then I fly home for 1 day before I jump on a flight again, this time en route to Austin, Texas, where I will meet 9 friends for our annual Superbowl weekend trip. I finally return home on Tuesday morning, February 5th.
Prior to this morning, that would have been the 1st day of almost a full month home (a long time for me anyway). However, the universe presented me with another plan. And as much as I also enjoy my downtime home in between long trips, this was one of those opportunities that you just can't pass up. A once in a life time adventure with an old friend in my favorite country with a free flight.
And this, my friends, is how you live life to the fullest. Take advantage of the moment. Push past the doubt and the excuses, and just GO. Explore and experience.
Will I be overwhelmed with work in my spare time leading up to this? Absolutely. There will be many late nights and zero free time. Will there be social occasions that I will miss out on that I was also looking forward to? Yup. Will I miss my friends and family in Michigan having only been home 7 days scattered throughout a month? 100%. Will I miss my pets and want time with them? Yes, yes, all of this, yes. But will I have this chance again, no. Not like this. And I can promise you, it will be worth it. It always is. Food for the soul. And those I love will be there at home when I return 1 week later than expected. And I will return with even more joy and appreciation for them.
So where will we go?! What will we do?!
Depending on what we hear back from Sambuca... we may end up on a journey down the coast from Rome to Sicily. Or, we may venture up to Tuscany or other northern areas, tour retreat areas for her Barre employees, and visit with my favorite Italian friends. Whatever it is we end up doing, don't worry. It will be an adventure regardless and I plan to take you along for the ride. Will we leave Italy owning a villa, or maybe a vineyard? Stay tuned to find out...
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