Finding Balance in Life
It was a Thursday night, and an email came through from an incredible employee of mine. The subject said it all, and not enough at the same time. It read, “It’s not working out.” I immediately called him but wasn’t able to connect. It didn’t seem like him to end his employment in this manner. It’s critical that you understand that I recognized he was a highly intelligent and very empathetic human being from day one. I was proud to have him not only as an employee but also as a respected friend. We had deep conversations about life and the challenges that come with it.
It was the next day that I was able to connect with him and have a conversation. He explained that he didn’t have balance in his life and that his life had become consumed with work. He admitted he was not only working full time for my company, Biz Buzz LLC, but that he was also doing other work on the side. He was working 15+ hours a day in total. I could relate, I was also working long days, but I invested everything into my company to grow it into a national footprint. I was actually paying myself less than I was paying him. As typical, he and I had a deep philosophical conversation about life and how to achieve balance. While we were talking about his situation, it also applied to me. During this conversation, I decided to adjust my goals and gain a better work-life balance.
Selecting Italy as My New Home
The decision to find a better work-life balance led me to ask myself the question, what is it that would bring joy into my life. Without hesitation, I responded (to myself) that I have always dreamed about traveling the world to experience life firsthand. I wanted to learn about and experience the many cultures of the world, taste the food, meet the people, ask questions, and learn firsthand about humanity and the world. Ok, I thought, I know what I want to do, but how can I achieve this in my current circumstances. What will it take to make this a reality? The answer seemed obvious, money. To travel the world takes money and freedom of time. I’m fortunate to own my own company and one that provides digital advertising services, as I can work anywhere with a fast enough internet connection. I knew that travel within the US is expensive, let alone travel from the US to other parts of the world. I also knew that travel is much easier and far less costly once in Europe, which made me realize that this dream could be possible if I lived somewhere in Europe.
I had read about programs in Italy such as the €1 homes that you could purchase and renovate, tax incentives, and other work programs. I also have family from Milan, Italy and so it was only natural for me to start by looking into Italy as an option to call home. This led me to research and learn about a Smart Workers program designed for people who visit specific provinces of Italy and work remotely from there. At first, it seemed all the programs were only available in Southern Italy, which is incredible, but I knew that I wanted to be near Rome for the ease of traveling. Then I found a Smart Worker program in the province of Rieti, near Rome. BAM!! This could be my ticket to visit Italy and test the waters to determine if I would enjoy living there before committing to buying a home.
The more I thought about it, the more questions came to mind, almost all of which related to the cost of living. How much is car insurance in Italy, how expensive is the rent, groceries, gas, utilities, etc.? What’s the weather like near Rome? The more research I did, the more I realized that this idea was feasible. If I lived outside of the city of Rome, the cost of living was significantly less expensive compared to the US. The savings could allow me to have funds to use for travel. The weather near Rome is relatively moderate, and while winters are colder in Rome than in Florida, where I was currently living, I was happy about cooler weather because I enjoy living somewhere with four seasons. I missed seeing snow but didn’t want to live somewhere that had snow too frequently. I always dreamed of having a home in the mountains with a view facing westward to enjoy sunsets. If I had my choice, I’d have an incredible view of the mountains from my home, but just living in the mountains would allow me to enjoy more of the outdoor activities that I love so much, like hiking, camping, canoeing/kayaking, etc. The region of Lazio, home of Rome, offered all of these things and so much more. I had found the location that seemed like the perfect solution.
Getting to Italy
I knew that it would be challenging to navigate the Italian bureaucracy to get my visa. As I researched and researched, it only became more confusing and frustrating. One site told me one thing, and another site said something different, and these were the official sites of the Italian Government. I learned that I needed far more than a Visa. I needed to get permits for work and to stay in the country. Of course, many of the sites were in Italian, making things more difficult. I didn’t want to bother my Italian relatives too much, so only when I was feeling defeated would I call my cousin Marco and ask for his help. Even for him, it wasn’t easy to navigate the complexities of determining what was required and how I could complete the requirements to obtain my visa.
Once I finally believed I had everything in order, I scheduled my appointment with the Italian Consulate in Miami. It seemed odd that I had to secure a property to rent in Italy before being approved to receive my visa. But, I did what was required keeping a positive outlook that it would all work out and I’d be approved. When I drove to Miami to drop off the paperwork for my visa, it was an exciting day. I was in high spirits as I made my way south from Orlando. The excitement ended abruptly when the representative at the consulate said I couldn’t get the Nulla Osta al Lavoro (work permit) that I was told over the phone by another consultate representative that I could obtain at the same time as dropping off my Visa paperwork. My world came crashing down. I was frustrated, angry, and defeated. I decided to enjoy a Cuban sandwich for lunch because at least then something good came from the nearly 8 hours it took to get to and from the consultate’s office from my home.
I changed my flight, notified the landlord that my arrival would be delayed, and got back to researching how to get the Nulla Osta that I must have approved prior to turning in my Visa application. A few weeks of failed efforts later, I called my cousin Marco and said, “I think, at this point, I have two options, either I give up, or I go to Italy for less than three months using my US Passport. Once in Italy, I can meet with an attorney in Rome to help me get the process sorted out and ultimately get my visa to return to Italy for a longer period.” Marco agreed and suggested that I go to Italy. Even if I can’t get my visa approved, at least I’d have an incredible experience for a couple of months. I secured a car rental and finished up the remaining details to prepare for my trip to Italy. While I wasn’t thrilled that things came to this result, I was still excited that I would be going to Italy for at least a couple of months.