And then sometimes…life happens.

You work for so many years, and if you haven’t worked that many years…you will. But work for what? To look at all the things you’ve accumulated? To visit with grandchildren and family? To do all those things that sounded so cool when you were working – and now? How many books can you read? Netflix til you are exhausted…and then what? I can only speak for my wonderment when I first went to London, then Paris, then Basil, Switzerland…and soon the list got longer. I found the education of history in these place daunting and fascinating. Wondering why wasn’t I born in some of those places? In those ancient times? Maybe I was…but life has thrown a huge curve ball. And what’s next? Well…..

A new life presented itself. I’m pretty good at overthinking and excellent at problem solving…so I’m seeing a new life, with new adventures, new experiences. Yes I’m a bit older than one would think to begin a huge new adventure…but it is my best choice. So I will be staying in Europe for the foreseeable future. Yes I know, how awful…(I’m being facetious). Somehow I think it will be glorious. And I’m excited. Close a chapter, turn the page, yada, yada, yada…sometimes the saddest situations bring the biggest silver lining. Oh this journey excites me…(will I get homesick??)

So always being up for the next adventure, I am now embracing this new life. Making nomad friends and new connections. Leaving my country – and after the next few days, I will be homeless in America!! No I cannot stay permanently in Italy. Never could…long term dream? Hmmmm no, wish I could but I think I’ve explained how citizenship works not only in Italy but in Europe many times. I’m home in my apartment in Italy and getting ready for some new trips, new adventures and new people. Every 90 days.

So what makes a nomad? There are maybe around 40 million nomads in the world today!! Who knew??? And a whole slew of Americans, at all ages. So for 3 months, I am in my Italian apartment…the other three months in countries that are not ‘Schengen’ countries. I will be a part time nomad. I am intrigued….all I get to do is find the joie di vive. Adventure, places, people, dogs and fun! Sounds like a doable new lifestyle!

Are there nomads in America? Sure…’gray nomads’ are retirees in RV’s. Following the weather. Do they do the same around the world? Many do. They chat up all they cool places to visit, extra cool places to see, restaurants, everything. They hook up small apartments or rooms, they travel easily. And there is a ‘brotherhood/sisterhood’ in what seems to be a kind club.

What does this mean for you? Well if you like to travel, wonder how other countries get explored in modern day…it will be interesting. Maybe even exciting. And of course, most likely, there will need to be a ‘bail fund’ !!!

Getting to Rome, Italy from Phoenix, Arizona is an interesting trip. I’ve flown the major airlines and their partners…and sadly my choice for the flight I just took – did not go well. Yes the planes on each flight landed, so that was very good…but the lack of assistance when I missed a flight was nothing short of huge aggravation and disappointment. The American Airlines flight from Phx to Philly was late arriving. All international passengers with connecting flights were asked to be first to get off the plane to make their flights. Okay, a group of us were near the front…ready to go. AA would not call any of the Gates to hold the flights for 5 – 10 minutes so we could make the flights. But the worst was the Jetway was not working and it took another 10-14 minutes before it did finally work. And then we all started trotting down the jetway and the terminal to the international flights. Carrying a huge backpack of primarily my silver Trattoria Vase, I walked fast but was careful. Seeing an electric cart and driver immediately, I jumped in and said I would give him $20 to go as fast as he could to my gate…just as we are heading off, an older woman, yes older then me, jumps in and says can he take her there also? And would he wait a moment as her husband on a cane was not quite up to the cart…we waited 3 minutes for him to catch up…he settled in. Then one of the flight attendants walked a blind man to the cart, placed him next to the driver and gave the driver his Gate #. Now we are fairly behind on time. The blind man’s gate was before mine. The driver parked the cart to walk the man to his gate. I got out and started down the corridor to my gate, a fair piece away. Finally there, the Gate door is open but no passengers. All boarded, plane there. I stated I need to get on, Gate agent said no. I protested, she walked to the Gate door, took the ticket taker guy, they walked through the open door, closed it behind them and I was left to mutter a word that seemed most appropriate…and you know what it is. Customer Service placed me on a London to Rome flight leaving very soon. My flight into Rome was now a longer longer journey. I’m watching movies, eating bad food and drinking worse wine. Finally at London, I now try to go Standby on the next connecting flight to Rome. British Airways has a ‘Standby’ kiosk. I explain to what seemed like a very nice man, that there is a noon flight to Rome. My ticketed flight is at 4:15pm. It’s 9:30am. The British Airways Standby guy says ‘Oh no, we can’t move your luggage – you’re on the 4pm flight. To which I said, are you kidding? You move luggage with less than an hour connecting time. You’ve got 2 1/2 hours to move my luggage. Then he says, American Airlines made the flight reservation, they have to make the change. To which that one word, “are you f….. me? It’s your plane, you have the information, this is a Standby kiosk…?????” He said let me check …went to someone and came back with, call AA, blah blah blah. Unbelievable. AA had a 3-6 hour window that they would call you back, no one to chat with immediately. Or I could go to AA in Terminal 3 and see if the ticket agents there could help me. I’m in Terminal 5. So knowing that this hope of getting to Rome earlier was a possibility, became a ‘not going to happen’ so just sit down, people watch, shop, eat…or take 2 minutes to walk around saying, F F F F to myself and let it go. So I did. Why such a big deal? Getting to my hometown after 10pm at night is dicey. Roma Termini closes down after 10pm. I wouldn’t make my train home, etc.

So I had 6 1/2 hours in Heathrow Airport. Now if you’ve been there, you know it is pretty cool. Lots of great shopping, restaurants and things to see. But still, a long layover. American Airlines had a 3 hour wait to speak to a Customer Service rep. Long story short…I am done with AA and BA. My prior trip with them – someone stole a purse from my luggage. An expensive purse. Got nowhere so I am not flying either of them again.

However, Heathrow is pretty cool. The people watching is so interesting. I found a bench of seats that were empty and sat. Across from me were empty seats. All of a sudden, a bunch of fathers and sons were taking all the vacant seats. Then they started chatting with each other. Irish. Now I’m fascinated as I could understand one word for every 15 spoken!!! I’m eavesdropping on their conversations and understand nothing. They talk fast, they are laughing, boys are all over the place. Some wives show up…so the guy next to me shares they have just won a rugby championship. The boys, 11 and 12 years old. They are from Belfast. So we chat. About 7 of us. They are so funny and charming…the wives Irish brogue is just as thick. They speak slower so I can understand. I ask questions, they answer…just so fun. What a great experience. I’ve been to Belfast and it’s beautiful. The boys show me the medals they won. They beat out the English, French and not sure who else so truly a big deal. Rugby is football with no safety equipment. Yeah. We all laughed and shared life incidents – so much fun. I must go back to Belfast.

And finally time to board for Rome, plane sits on the tarmac for 45 minutes, late into Rome, get my bags, all 5 of them as my life was condensed to 5 bags of luggage, and off I go to Rome on the Leonard0 Da Vinci fast train from the airport. Arriving in Roma Termini, main train station in Rome, it’s now way too late to catch a train to Orte, the place is closing down as it’s a national labor holiday!! 4 of my bags weighed 50 lbs each. I manage to find a ‘gypsy’ cabdriver who drives me to Orte, home after midnight!! (Yes I know, can be a very dangerous option-desperation – although I did take his photo and figured I could outrun him). Almost 36 hours travel and flight time. But so worth it. I’m now home. And the new adventure begins.