• Despite always being drawn to France, I chose to move to Southern Italy after my son left the nest. • My life is slower, simpler, and much more affordable here compared to in San Diego. • The best part, however, was that I fell in love and married into a wonderful Italian family.

It was 2019. I was reasonably healed from a grueling divorce, and I began to think about what I wanted my life to look like when I was solo.

My son, Max, would be graduating in a couple of years, and I knew I didn't want to remain in this empty nest. San Diego had never felt like a forever home.

When I was married, my now ex-husband and I discussed traveling around the world when our son graduated, and staying in one place for a few months at a time. For me, though, the idea of living out of a suitcase so

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