What is my plan. My real plan.

Italy could as easily have been Spain or Portugal, maybe even Greece. The plan was to have a place in the sun that I could use and enjoy while I renovate it. Then, that finished house to become a good base for my family to use for longer holidays through the Spring and Summer and maybe Winters. Plus it to become a house and home to use in my retirement.

I am 49 years old so retirement is way off!

The budget came from me downsizing my house in England. I figured that this is a good time for me to invest in this long term plan while I feel that I have the energy and appetite to get it all done.

Work life is busy. My daughter’s lives are busy. Having a house in Italy that I could not live in and relax in would probably be a step too far. While the house is ‘basic’, to say the least, and is in a condition where I can accept, the plan is working.

I don’t mind the mess and dust. Having a temporary kitchen works perfectly for how I need to use it. Hot water is essential and so having that warm shower to clean off and relax under is a blessing. Other than these, a space to relax outside is all that is needed.

Realising the small things now that I did not even think about when I was looking are a lucky bonus. Being remote and out of view of neighbours means that I can leave things in a bit of a mess sometimes. If I was close to neighbours I would feel that I would need to keep the place tidy all of the time. Also, as the weather improves through Spring and into Summer I can leave things outside that I know I will need the following morning. It is these things that take the pressure off the renovation side of the plan.

As for that. The hardest part is scheduling and aligning deliveries. These have to be booked and paid for in person and then I have to be there for the delivery. The delivery rarely happens on time and the gap between ordering and receiving the materials can be weeks. This is difficult with the visa restrictions that I have at the moment.

Other than that, things are working well.

I am sure that the children, and my guests, do not see the place through the same rose tinted glasses that I do. They all see its potential but recognise the task in front of me.

Which brings me to realise that the motivation for taking on a project like this has to be real and honest. I could see the pressure of the travel and time away from family and partners could take its toll and I also recognise that the mess and living conditions are not for everyone. Luckily, or unluckily depending on how you view things, my situation suits this.

Taking my time to enjoy all that Italy has to offer as I work on the renovation of the small house excites me. Progress is rewarding and that feeling outweighs all of the challenges and emotions that delays bring. Delays in Italy are inevitable. Everyone jokes about the pace of life and that joke is real. However, once you adapt to that pace and recognise that things will get there in the end then it all makes it more fun and enjoyable.

The big question is - when to start a project like this. Have I started too early or too late in life?

Time will tell….