As the year wraps to a close I started focusing on what I want in 2026 and the usual things spilled out automatically like a child reciting times tables until I caught myself and circled back to the beginning, ready to try again with (I hate to say it) intention.
I am not rich. My forever husband of 12 years ( last night was our wedding anniversary ) and soulmate, moved to Italy almost 5 years ago because we couldn’t afford to live in my birth city, Seattle, WA in retirement. We rent a 500 year old house in a beautiful, small, but not a village, it is a town in Le Marche (50,000 people). It is safe, beautiful, full of culture and activities and near the sea and the mountains. We have made good friends here, walk everywhere, and have access to healthy local affordable food. Oh and let’s face the important facts for coffee lovers: the best coffee in the world. It is hard to get a bad coffee in Italy and it is affordable -everywhere. It is considered a human need and right and caffe time is sacred. (Sorry France -you excel at so much more- pastries, bread, flowers, aesthetics etc)… we miss our children, 5 grandchildren and friends but we have a lifestyle here that serves us better. I am grateful we were bold enough, brave enough to make this life changing move that sustains us so well.
Happy New Year to you all. Onward and upward in all things that are truly important.
I have a cozy house and a garden, lots of books including yours and a kitchen that works even if it is tiny by American standards. Hopefully, I can come to Paris in the New Year (I have been intimidated by the crowds I’ve seen in everyone’s posts). I love the title of this newsletter and feel the same.
"What would past you be amazed at now?" At how little I'm involved in on the weekends and post-working hours. And I LOVE IT. I LIKE sitting and contemplating and reading. I like lazy weekends, listening to jazz and watching the sun stream in my windows. Past me thought I was losing if every bit of time wasn't filled with purposefulness and busyness. Hooray for slowing down.
Inspiring, and good reminders. I have Instagram and Substack and am constantly surprised how much time flies by (is wasted) when I’m scrolling. Will try to be more mindful of that screen time. However, I did learn some new gift wrapping techniques and how to fold my napkins into Christmas trees and make Brie Christmas tree appetizers when I hosted my Cookbook Club earlier this month. Then it was fun to demonstrate both napkin and Brie tree making ideas because everyone wanted to do the same as it was easy, it looked good and also Brie, so yay! At least a happy result of some of that too-much-time I spent scrolling.
I am not rich. My forever husband of 12 years ( last night was our wedding anniversary ) and soulmate, moved to Italy almost 5 years ago because we couldn’t afford to live in my birth city, Seattle, WA in retirement. We rent a 500 year old house in a beautiful, small, but not a village, it is a town in Le Marche (50,000 people). It is safe, beautiful, full of culture and activities and near the sea and the mountains. We have made good friends here, walk everywhere, and have access to healthy local affordable food. Oh and let’s face the important facts for coffee lovers: the best coffee in the world. It is hard to get a bad coffee in Italy and it is affordable -everywhere. It is considered a human need and right and caffe time is sacred. (Sorry France -you excel at so much more- pastries, bread, flowers, aesthetics etc)… we miss our children, 5 grandchildren and friends but we have a lifestyle here that serves us better. I am grateful we were bold enough, brave enough to make this life changing move that sustains us so well.
Happy New Year to you all. Onward and upward in all things that are truly important.
I have a cozy house and a garden, lots of books including yours and a kitchen that works even if it is tiny by American standards. Hopefully, I can come to Paris in the New Year (I have been intimidated by the crowds I’ve seen in everyone’s posts). I love the title of this newsletter and feel the same.
SO “grown up” of you.. and you got there approximately 45 years ahead of me! 🤣(I’ll turn 80 in 2026) 🍀🤩
Fingers crossed the mimosa will still be there at the end of February!
"What would past you be amazed at now?" At how little I'm involved in on the weekends and post-working hours. And I LOVE IT. I LIKE sitting and contemplating and reading. I like lazy weekends, listening to jazz and watching the sun stream in my windows. Past me thought I was losing if every bit of time wasn't filled with purposefulness and busyness. Hooray for slowing down.
Inspiring, and good reminders. I have Instagram and Substack and am constantly surprised how much time flies by (is wasted) when I’m scrolling. Will try to be more mindful of that screen time. However, I did learn some new gift wrapping techniques and how to fold my napkins into Christmas trees and make Brie Christmas tree appetizers when I hosted my Cookbook Club earlier this month. Then it was fun to demonstrate both napkin and Brie tree making ideas because everyone wanted to do the same as it was easy, it looked good and also Brie, so yay! At least a happy result of some of that too-much-time I spent scrolling.
Hi Emily, this is a perfect list. I shall try to do the same. 😊