Retirement

No place to go; no where else to be. I am really enjoying the freedom of my days. To structure them as I please -- at least between the hours of 9am and 3:30pm. Should I study a bit of Italian? Do some yoga? Go to the outdoor covered market? Read in bed? All good options, I'd say. It's just after the holidays, we are settled in, and it's the the perfect time of year for relaxation. Or, is it just that I have finally learned how to relax?

Today was a beautiful day: sunny and 60 degrees outside. Josh went on a bike ride this morning and I had the house to myself. When he returned, he was surprised I was still at home -- but I had enjoyed every minute of my morning...especially reading in the bath!

After a brief stop at the market, Josh and I made our first visit of the year to our neighborhood restaurant, Rose, for their fabulous lunch buffet. Josh was so happy to be eating Italian, again. Lunch is a perfect way for Josh and I to spend some time together without the expense of getting a babysitter and going out in the evenings.

Then we took a walk to our local travel agent. We are so programmed in the States to do all our own travel bookings on-line. After all, it is straightforward and simple to do so. But here in Italy, the travel agent is a wealth of knowledge and efficiency (as we had discovered when we needed train tickets to Venice). Today, we were there to research our options for getting to Chamonix. She was immediately able to tell us about the issues with train travel to the Alps as well as give us schedules and prices that would have taken us hours to figure out on-line.

Before we came to Italy, it had always been our intention to do a ski week in the Alps during the kids' February break. In fact, the break is dedicated to skiing --it's called settimana bianca or white week. But, more recently, we've been thinking that the kids have done a lot of travel already, and the reality is that travel for the kids is work for the parents. Plus, it just seems...well... over-indulgent. But, as a friend of ours once said, perhaps, "that ship has already sailed." While Josh and I love to travel, we're just not sure that the kids really appreciate it. In any case, we're trying to decide the best approach so we can make some plans for February.

What we did learn, is that there is no easy way to get to the ski destinations in the Alps from points in Italy. Essentially, you need to get to Geneva (switching trains in Milan), and then go from there. At the same, we are also making arrangements to pick up another car in February. The maximum lease period for foreigners is 165 days so our Peugeot 3008 will need replacing. A car pick up in Geneva costs less than a pick up in Rome. So, there are few things we need to consider with regard to scheduling our ski trip.

Charlotte asked to go home with a friend after school, so I only brought Olivia and Avery home. Josh was at the ophthalmologist as his eye had been bothering him ever since our stay in Cairo. Turns out, after an extremely thorough ($400) exam, he did have conjunctivitis and will have to go on an anti-biotic. Who says healthcare is cheaper in Europe? I guess it depends because and earlier trip to the podiatrist only cost $42. What's more, the fee ALWAYS need to be paid in cash. Or, in the case of the ophthalmologist, they will accept a wire transfer! That being said, Josh has found the practitioners to be extremely competent.