Living the Dream

Who hasn't dreamed of just letting go and throwing themselves out. Exchange the safe everyday warmth for something new, something completely different. We are a middle-aged Swedish couple from Gothenburg who met five years ago and it turned out quite quickly that we had a similar dream – to leave Sweden to start a business in a country with a warmer climate and a more relaxed lifestyle. We were really inspired when we read a report one evening about Swedes who had done just this. So daring and so lovely at the same time. And if they could, why couldn't we? Retirement is a few years away, but why wait until then. We both have grown children living their own lives.

At first we talked about settling in Spain or France, but when we planned our first holiday together and looked for nice hiking spots, the choice fell on the Dolomites - we had heard so much about it. It turned out to be an absolutely fantastic holiday experience and suddenly Italy felt so obvious. Fantastic food, an exciting culture, good wines and countless beautiful places to visit. Not to mention the Italians.

But where in Italy did we want to live? Of course each region has its charm and the following summers we spent many miles in the car. North, South, West and East, we got to experience a lot. During these years we came in contact with fantastic people and especially two Swedish couples with whom we became good friends. They gave us good tips and shared their experiences which of course was incredibly valuable.

For a long time it felt like we had to choose between high mountain ranges (which we really love) or close to beach life, but once we got to Abruzzo all the pieces fell into place. Here you can go skiing in the morning and swim in the sea in the afternoon. We also wanted to find a place that was not so exploited and where we could integrate into Italian society. Get to know the locals. Preferably a bit in the countryside but close to a village with grocery stores, cafes and restaurants.

After looking at several houses, we finally found a house that matched our criteria in the Chieti region right by the Majella National Park. A nice stone house with a pool and a lovely view of hills and mountains. When we got there, it just felt right. We could definitely imagine living here.

In January 2023, we moved down for good and certainly it has been a challenge in many ways. Things don't quite work the way they do in Sweden and when you don't know the language, even small tasks and problems quickly become big. We are now in our second season here and, despite all the challenges, it has gone far beyond expectations. In terms of bookings, we are largely fully booked and have had the pleasure of getting to know people from different parts of the world. Many of these guest relationships have developed into real friendships. We have also made many Italian friends.

To those of you who have the same kind of dream - don't let fear take over. We live once and most of the time what you regret is not what you do, but what you never did.

Sweet memories from our visits to Italy