Leaving Britain after 13 years and moving back to Italy. I thought it would be more traumatic than it has proved to be. I missed the sun, the Mediterranean foodstuffs and it is such a change of pace to have moved to a 50k city from the pandemonium that is London.
When I left 13 years ago I was younger, more excited at the prospect of career and UK felt like a step ahead. Now I grew up, grew to hate cities, corporate life and found Italy a healthier and happier country for the next chapter. Also, a very underrated thing not many expats talk about, I missed not feeling like a stranger, an immigrant, a fish out of water. That’s a background emotion that never goes away, however integrated and fluent in the local culture you are.
As someone who also abandoned London a few years ago, I think that any 'place' (town/city/village.. well city) over 2m population is unlivable. Unless someone lives in a super-green (mini forests, parks, etc.) area, has everything within 10-15mins driving (work, home, shopping mall, swimming pool, gym, etc.)
Anything from 50k to 2m will have all that you need (galleries, cinemas, etc.)
I know I can google this or ask an llm but I want to know your opinion.. can you give 5-10 examples of places you mean (5-10 so you don't have to give away your location)?
I went across France and Spain then crossed in Tarifa. It's a 1 hour ferry trip. There is no way to do it on land due to border issues. Algeria and Morocco have closed their land border a while ago, for example.
Best memory? Having a friend as a passenger for a week in the most interesting part of the route. I wouldn't count the endless stream of breathtaking landscapes as a single memory, but I saw a lot of beauty from the saddle.
Worst memory? Ruminating on personal drama back home, and possibly fracturing my sternum by slipping in the mud and falling.
I went rock climbing, took some hikes, lifted weights. I watched some YouTube and Netflix, read a newspaper, finished one book and started on another, worked on a side project. Went to a cafe and sat around drinking lattes and playing a mobile game (Pokemon Go). Did laundry, cooked dinners.
Lots of running (Set a new 10K PB last week, I'm slowly getting faster)
Lots of climbing
Musical Festival.
Cocktails with friends.
Some time working through a book on Elixir.
Watching F1 and NBA playoffs.
Playing through Dragon age Veilguard (despite feeling its a massive dissapointment), and not a proper Dragon Age game :(
Well the last month - went to DC on vacation, last week flew to Atlanta for a surprise birthday party and to see my adult (step)son and then flew to South GA and I’m currently spending a week with my parents.
Leaving Britain after 13 years and moving back to Italy. I thought it would be more traumatic than it has proved to be. I missed the sun, the Mediterranean foodstuffs and it is such a change of pace to have moved to a 50k city from the pandemonium that is London.
When I left 13 years ago I was younger, more excited at the prospect of career and UK felt like a step ahead. Now I grew up, grew to hate cities, corporate life and found Italy a healthier and happier country for the next chapter. Also, a very underrated thing not many expats talk about, I missed not feeling like a stranger, an immigrant, a fish out of water. That’s a background emotion that never goes away, however integrated and fluent in the local culture you are.
As someone who also abandoned London a few years ago, I think that any 'place' (town/city/village.. well city) over 2m population is unlivable. Unless someone lives in a super-green (mini forests, parks, etc.) area, has everything within 10-15mins driving (work, home, shopping mall, swimming pool, gym, etc.)
Anything from 50k to 2m will have all that you need (galleries, cinemas, etc.)
On the Q at hand, reading, fasting, writing.
I know I can google this or ask an llm but I want to know your opinion.. can you give 5-10 examples of places you mean (5-10 so you don't have to give away your location)?
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I've been watching the NHL playoffs quite a bit, also it was school holidays so spending lots of time playing with my son.
I rode a motorcycle from Berlin, Germany to Agadir, Morocco. I'm currently on my way back.
That sounds like a fun adventure. Did you cross the Mediterranean, or went across the Balkans/Turkey/Middle East?
Best and worst memories of the trip?
I went across France and Spain then crossed in Tarifa. It's a 1 hour ferry trip. There is no way to do it on land due to border issues. Algeria and Morocco have closed their land border a while ago, for example.
Best memory? Having a friend as a passenger for a week in the most interesting part of the route. I wouldn't count the endless stream of breathtaking landscapes as a single memory, but I saw a lot of beauty from the saddle.
Worst memory? Ruminating on personal drama back home, and possibly fracturing my sternum by slipping in the mud and falling.
Set a PB on 5K, learned some Nim and gamed a lot. Outer Wilds and The Witcher 3 mostly. Also, I did my first ring muscle up in months.
Playing Pickleball, it's my new addiction
I'm curious, why do you ask?
I went rock climbing, took some hikes, lifted weights. I watched some YouTube and Netflix, read a newspaper, finished one book and started on another, worked on a side project. Went to a cafe and sat around drinking lattes and playing a mobile game (Pokemon Go). Did laundry, cooked dinners.
Lots of running (Set a new 10K PB last week, I'm slowly getting faster) Lots of climbing Musical Festival. Cocktails with friends. Some time working through a book on Elixir. Watching F1 and NBA playoffs.
Playing through Dragon age Veilguard (despite feeling its a massive dissapointment), and not a proper Dragon Age game :(
Social media, YouTube, TV, visiting exhibitions, maintaining website, developing a C compiler for compiling TCC (https://github.com/FransFaase/MES-replacement), walking/biking.
The important stuff: kids, wife, chores, running/lifting, reading books.
Well the last month - went to DC on vacation, last week flew to Atlanta for a surprise birthday party and to see my adult (step)son and then flew to South GA and I’m currently spending a week with my parents.
Usual regimen of exercise.