Year in Italy

[NewYearsRevolution2020]

If you were mid 40's (OK, late) no children, no mortgage/house as rent, no partner, no significant private pension (just state contributions but have a 'nest' pension which I could contribute to for part of the year, no fixed career but some freelance work and were offered a year in Italy working in an art-based place (excellent international reputation, paid internship about 1200 euro a month) would you be unreasonable to go?

My head says knuckle down here and do the sensible thing. My heart which I have not listened to for a long time says go. Have one last fling with the world before you come back and settle down and do the mortgage/pension/9-5 job thing.

I would get Italian language classes, too. It is in the area of my career and would be very good experience.

I am feeling old, tired and jaded. AIBU to say yes to it?

What would make you say no in my situation?

@MilkTray22 because I have done lots of things but none for a consistently long period of time. I have about 8 years teaching in ( a mix of supply and permanent), several years in tempting admin, now doing some academic publishing, career got sidelined for family caring duties. Have achieved some personal goals (except financial), but everything seems very bitty and I am a more substantial person than that.

Forget the pasta. I'm thinking of the pastries.

I think you will regret turning this down.

Yes.

Absolutely go for it! I upped sticks and moved to Portugal 13 years ago. Still here and love it.

You can knuckle down next year. What difference will a year make? Stop making excuses because you are scared!!

Do it! I had a year in Tuscany. I adored it. I also had a year in Paris too, loved that as well.

but...I feel like there's a part of me that is so fed up of routine, drudgery and real-life that if I open the door to something else I might not be able to squeeze myself back into a small space. I feel like Geena Davis in Thelma and Louise - like once the wild side comes out I won't ever want to rein it back in.

Go, go, go! This is def the type of opportunity you'd regret turning down.

@Newnamewhodis1 yep, very scared. There was a time when you would have to surgically detach me from my backpack but now...

Oh, and I was 43 at the time. No partner, no kids, one dog.

Now, one partner, 7 dogs, 6 horses, 3 cats, 2 goats and (as of today) 10 hens and a junior rooster. Happy as a pig in shit!!!

@katy1213 at 20 I was in Europe on an Erasmus (RIP) and gallivanting all over the place. All my friends are settled, mortgages nearly paid, pensions paid in.

Go OP!

Oh my god, go for it. Sounds bloody brilliant!

Go. It'll open your horizons. You might not want to come back. Doors will open because you'll make it happen.

I'm in a similar position. A bit older but in a position to travel and work abroad as work for myself on a laptop so could be anywhere.

I just don't know where to go.

But it's not a choice between Italy v fully-paid mortgage and a great pension, is it? It's a wonderful year in Italy v drifting along in the same old rut. Have you read The Enchanted April? (Elizabeth von Arnim).

I say go too OP.
If you don't do it now you probably never will again and who knows what opportunities may arise because of it.
Post a pic of the view from your villa when you get there.
Good luck and enjoy.

So, I could use it as a kick start for the next phase of my life? That's what you are all saying? That it could just be a really lovely way to gearshift into something else?

See, I need to have a plan and I do vaguely have one.

Plan a) Civil service (as someone upthread said). I am on a reserve list for an entry level job that keeps getting pushed back (list expires in August but is likely to be extended). This has shown me that I can get in to CS (passed the tests/interviews/refs, etc) and see a career path opening up through them and contribute properly to a pension.

Have my dolce vita year and then come back (to Earth) and crack on with the business of real life.

Plan b) Do a Phd if get funding and keep up small freelance work. So could easily fit year in Italy in before this.

Plan C) Stop worrying about the future and ways to get on an invisible housing ladder in London and instead take an entry level job (admin, etc). which could also be postponed for a year whilst I went to Italy and face the cold, harsh reality of little pension, renting and not much money when I return.

Pluses of going

Come back with renewed vigour and enthusiam for life, love and
linguine

Have some relevant experience in field

Have some new language skills

Get stipend whilst there so costs might actually be OK

Meet and network

Learn to cook Italian food and eat good veg and fruit

As people say, could open other doors.

I'm not sure why you're hesitating.

Because teaching knocked the stuffing out of me and since then it has been an uphill struggle to get back up!

But perhaps that is exactly the time you need to go somewhere different. Somewhere you can reset yourself, on your terms.

If you don’t want to do it......I’ll go instead!

Seriously, go and have an amazing time!

I also took off to itsly in my forties - we still have a house there- and it was the most wonderful adventure- learning a language, a culture and eating fab food, exploring- go go!!

Do it!

Where abouts in Italy?
IMO €1200 per month in Italy will go a lot further quality of life wise than £1200 per month would in the UK (I'm Italian)

@katy1213 have just ordered a copy. Looks great.

I have wanted to visit Italy ever since reading A Room with a View (and watching it).

@Camomila Firenze. That's what I thought and as it is an internship you get free entry into lots of things