Holy Ravioli…I’m Moving to Italy!

22 Sep,2016 By Jagabond

Unbelievable, unexpected, seemingly unreal…these are the words I use to describe my current situation. I got ‘the call’ a few weeks ago. I work for an organization that can move your life with a single phone call, and not all moves are great. The last time I got ‘the call’ was in 2008, when I was informed I was moving to Bahrain, which ended up being the most boring place I’ve ever visited. This time was different. As much as I dreamed of moving back to Europe, I realistically thought it was a low probability…especially this soon. I’m now facing the reality that in a mere seven weeks, I will be living in Naples, Italy.

That’s not to say I don’t have mixed feelings about this move. I currently live in a city that’s considered a vacation destination for most. San Diego has provided a lot of memories…good and bad…but overall I love it here. To say this is a comfortable city would be an understatement, but maybe that is why it’s a right time to leave. Staying in your comfort zone can make one complacent, and can stunt growth…and I feel that mostly in my professional life. I love my job now, because I know it, and I’m good at it. However, challenges are what move people forward, and that’s what I need right now. My new job will be a diversion from everything I’ve done for the last ten years, and will require a major shift in attitude. When things are stagnating, curveballs like this are exactly what life requires.

What will I miss? The weather, of course, but this is common for anyone leaving San Diego. I’ll miss living by the beach, even though I never frequented it…I just liked knowing it was there. I’ll miss the Mexican food, as I never found a single high-quality Mexican restaurant in my previous European experience, and I doubt that Italy will be any different. I’ll miss the sunsets…I know you can see these anywhere, but the sunsets in San Diego are particularly beautiful. Most of all, I will miss the people. Although I feel I never fully ‘returned’ to San Diego in a metaphysical sense, the people I spent time with this last year impacted my life for the better.

So that’s it. My household goods get moved on October 4th, and my car gets shipped shortly thereafter. I’ll spend most of October sleeping on an air mattress, waiting for my international flight. Am I excited? Of course! My blog will now be more Italian-themed, as I aim to explore the entire country over the next few years. My Thanksgiving will be spent in Rome, and I will be arriving just in time for the European Christmas market season. Life is a gift, and I thank God for every moment.

“Good bye may seem forever. Farewell is like the end, but in my heart is a memory and there you will always be.”