If I do go, my door is always open to Buffistas.

apparently, we can start planning a FTF in Summer '13...

Now that I reread my post, I sound like kind of a downer, which wasn't my intention!

I didn't take it that way at all, Kate! The fact that I've even acknowledged this outside of my head is huge. Like I said, I cannot afford to romanticize this.

Screw Italy, move to Paris!

I'm fluent in Italian, NSM in French! I can converse, but I'm nowhere near the proficiency required for business. And I think that it's more difficult to get a job, even with the EU citizenship. There's a preference for French citizens, though I should talk with my cousins about that. The nice thing is that Paris is, at max, a three-hour flight from anywhere in Italy.

Sorella, changing jobs can't happen fast enough. I'm certainly not going to wait a year for that if I can help it. A lot is going to depend on that. If I can't make the change there (into a job I actually respect and enjoy), then the hard reset is much more palatable. I'm not opposed to moving somewhere else in the states for a position, either. That requires much less of a mental commitment from me.

I'm not opposed to moving somewhere else in the states for a position, either. That requires much less of a mental commitment from me.

West Chester is no Italy, but it's lovely! And it would be closer to the family restaurant! (And me and Sox and JenP are here ...)

screw that. I want a FTF in Italy.

(just kidding). really.

F2F in Italy does sound awesome ...

It's going to take at least 6 months to close out his estate.

I recall way way way up thread, you mention of the difficulty in facing this task. Understandably so. If nothing else, this idea/plan of moving to Italy could serve as the perfect catalyst to help you with the task. Sometimes a light is needed at the end of the tunnel. A focus on the finish line helps one jump over the hurdles.

Maria, can you have someone else clean out the basement? Someone who can donate the furniture and box up the electronics for you to deal with later? Paint it an outrageous color? I don't know that living in a haunted house is good for you.

If nothing else, it will give you something to focus on for the time being.

Maria, we are in vastly different places but I certainly understand the need/desire to have something you would enjoy to focus on. After I got divorced (the first time) and my brother told my parents he had been sexually abused, they needed a change and something to look forward to. This pushed them to design and build their NM house. They lived there for 10 years. Now, things have changed. Time and the mountains healed things and gave them the peace they wanted. They will both be here in Colorado and renting their mountain house by June because they are now ready for something new.

ION, I really need to pee but Sammy is found asleep on my lap and likely to wake if I move him. I guess I font have to pee bad enough because at the moment, I still prefer he sleep. As of yesterday, he is three months old.