From Wanderer to Settler

What began as a one-week trip to Italy unexpectedly led to me buying my first home. So how exactly did that happen? 

My primary reason for travel is the people and nature. I had never been to Europe and was reuniting with a friend I had met in previous travels. One thing led to another and the friend and I had a falling out whilst on the trip. A misalignment in lifestyles and comfort zones really.  I’ll spare the details, but this left me at a crossroads in deciding where to go next. 

I was in Milan on a train ride to meet a date when I received news about a change in itinerary. It was the evening before my flight, and though I am not typically one to panic, I was certainly not at ease with the news. I needed to decide, within hours, if I was going to board my flight and explore the next country, or blow it off entirely and stay in Italy. I had no accommodation booked for the next night and morale was low. When I stopped to think about what I actually wanted, the answer was surprisingly clear. 

“I want nature, peace, and amazing food”

Seems simple enough. I began the search until I stumbled across a home for rent in a hilltop village surrounded by vineyards in the Italian countryside. The rent posting mentioned this was a medieval village, and the host had lovely things to say. It was clear to me that the person writing had deep love for the people who lived there. I was compelled and booked without hesitation. 

The village is located about an hour outside of Napoli. I arrived on a Sunday, which provided an obstacle because there were no buses or trains to the station nearest the town on Sundays. The host  arranged for a local to pick me up from the airport and we were on our way. 

I was enchanted by the village. From a distance, with the sun glistening off the stone buildings just as the host had described, the village was perched on the slopes of a mountain range,  overlooking vineyards and olive groves. 

We drove up the winding road and pulled into the lot of an old church, surrounded by many other residences. The buildings appeared to be connected, however, it was apparent that they had different owners. With noticeable differences in decor, materials, and window fixtures, each casita had its own unique character and allure. 

The wheels of my suitcase were no match for the cobblestone streets, nor was I prepared for the incline. 

I hauled my luggage up the narrow road laden with Juliet balconies and ivy leaves climbing up buildings when finally I land at  the little door, which would welcome me home for the next month. 

One crisp sunny morning, I was taking a walk through the streets when I noticed an older man working outside on an old stone building. I complimented the work he was doing; the building looked incredible. 

His face lit up and he beckoned me to follow him to see the work he was doing inside the building. He shared that he was restoring it and intended to turn it into a hotel. “Piano piano” he said, step by step. The work inside was even more lovely than the outside, with mosaics on the floor, ancient stone sinks, and rustically beautiful wooden beams and a number of other endearing little quirks. The furniture was restored with a distinctly Italian beauty and craftsmanship. 

As the gentleman guided me through the many rooms, I heard myself make the cavalier statement,“I want to buy a house here!”, knowing full well I had no intention behind those words. 

His excitement launched him into rambling of Italian far too quickly for me to decipher, and he swiftly guided me to another property, then another, with our last stop landing at a little house with a garden. 

The house was small, a cozy one bedroom one bath, with two cantinas (wine cellars) underneath. The home, a little old and beaten up, was the canvas of opportunity. However, the little garden, with its breathtaking panoramic view of the vineyards and olive groves captured my heart.

Upon hearing the price, my jaw dropped. This was quite possibly the most affordable house I’d ever heard of. 

I made a promise not to share the exact dollar amount, but for your gauge, my 2014 Nissan Altima paired similarly in price range. 

For the rest of the month I found myself deep in contemplation. I wasn’t sure if I could even share the information with others because with a price like that, I figured everyone in my life would believe it was a scam. I can’t remember in what order, but I remember calling two people right away: the most zealous person I know, and the wisest, my mother and father. 

They both had the same point of view - I had to take the chance. And take the chance I did. 

A few days later I gathered the documents and the week after I met the previous owner and signed the paperwork. She is a lovely elderly Italian woman, and since that moment I still keep connected with her. She watches many of the renovation videos on the home and supports every step of the way.

I can’t wait to complete this project for myself, and am equally excited to restore to allow the previous owner to see the home with new life. I arrived on the doorstep of this little town as an adventurer in need of a place to land for a minute, and found myself embraced and encouraged to stay. I have so much respect for this community, and am grateful to call it my home.

Special thank you to the community for your warm embrace, and Roberto, who quickly became my Italian zio, paving the way to make this possible.