It was hard to contain my nerves in November 2023 after I closed on a property in a tiny village in Tuscany, escaping my hectic tech job in Fort Worth. I wanted a fresh start because I felt burned out, unhappy, and unhealthy. It felt exciting to start a new life in Italy — the place I'd loved since my first vacation there in 2013 — once I'd quit my company and sold my house that Spring.
Still, I wondered if I'd be treated like an outsider by the 70 or so people who lived in the close-knit community, 30 miles from Florence. I decided to host a housewarming party on a whim. I placed a sign on the door of the one little bar, inviting neighbors to come by between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on a Saturday evening.
