Pursuing the expatriate life in Italy—”The beat goes on”–thank you, Sonny & Cher

It can be a struggle to come up with things to write. It sometimes really is feast or famine. I guess that is what writing is about. However, even when it’s famine, one still has to pull musings or words of wisdom out of thin air. That’s the hardest part.

I must admit that I lapse sometimes. The blogosphere apparently requires constant submissions to prevent literary obsolescence. Will a week absent from my pearls of wisdom result in such? Will my adoring masses abandon me? I’m such a petite flower (with biceps). How will I cope?

There are times when I feel like I’m letting my readers down. I feel that every posting should say something earthshaking and profound. The truth is, no one can be constantly earthshaking and profound. And that includes me.

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Pursuing the expatriate life in Italy–“Money, well get back. I’m all right Jack keep your hands off of my stack”–thank you, Pink Floyd

So, this Kickstarter thing…

I checked it out tonight. I was intrigued when I heard about a man who attracted $50,000 in his efforts to make the best potato salad. I looked at that and thought, “Someone has finally created a website where unfathomable boobs can make money just by being unfathomable boobs”.

Pursuing the expatriate life in Italy–“very superstitious, writing’s on the wall”–thank you, Stevie Wonder

I watched Julie and Julia the other night. If men are reading this, I know what you’re thinking, “Turn in your man-card, Bob.” I know, I know.

Sorry, but whenever there’s an opportunity to watch Meryl Streep on the screen, I jump at it. She is a marvel to observe and, in my opinion, the greatest actress of our generation. I have to watch. If she were merely reading instructions for operating a chainsaw, I’d watch. Raptly.

Pursuing the expatriate life in Italy—“I got to have faith”–thank you, George Michael

Every so often I get really frustrated. When I don’t see anything happening in my efforts to get to Italy, I get bummed because I assume no progress is being made. No matter what the issue is, work, love life, personal life, if things are stalled, I get frustrated. And then I get down.

I need encouragement. I need to know that things are going well, that they are progressing and everything is going to be okay. But if I can’t see progress, how do I know it’s there?

Pursuing the expatriate life in Italy–“I’m so excited! And I just can’t hide it!”–thank you, Pointer Sisters

I’m jazzed. So jazzed. I don’t show my excitement the way I did when I was younger. Is it because I’m older? Because I’m more mature? Or is it my Lithium?

No matter. I’m jazzed, exited, relieved and thankful. I sent my brother (my biological brother for you new followers) a text asking him where I needed to send the rent check for the apartment of his that I’m renting in Alba Adriatica, Italy. I had to re-send the text a couple of times before I heard from him.

Pursuing the expatriate life in Italy—“Oh, what a night”—thank you, Four Seasons

I am such a freak. Really, I am. A Super Freak. Damn, I could have saved that song title for another blog post. Oh well.

No, I am a freak. Let me try to explain. First I have to ask you to suspend common sense. I mean, we’re talkin’ about me here. Logic need not apply. But the story has a happy ending.

Pursuing the expatriate life in Italy—“It’s going to take some time”–thank you, Carpenters

Frustration has reared its ugly head because this move to Italy is going to take some time. More time. I am now officially moving my departure date forward a few weeks.

After my second visit with the Honorary Consul General in Portland, I’ve jumped into the effort of applying for the Residency Visa. This visa will allow me to remain in Italy for one year. Initially I wasn’t aware that I was qualified. But the Consul General convinced me that, as long as I have sufficient assets to support myself or can provide proof of income, I could get the visa. Of course, I have to provide mountains of paperwork, including proof of said assets.

Pursuing the expatriate life in Italy–“well the Ukraine girls really knock me out”–thank you, Beatles

Ok, so this particular heading is not too accurate. I chose it for the Ukraine reference.

Let me explain.

Because I will only be able to remain in Italy for three months at a time (assuming I cannot secure the residence visa I’m pursuing), I will have to leave the EU for three months before I can return to Italy. In searching a map, my only real options are the UK, Israel, Northern Africa (Egypt, Morocco, Tunisa), the Balkans (Serbia, Bosnia-Hercegovina, Albania, Macedonia) or Ukraine.

Pursuing the expatriate life in Italy–“More, more, more”–thank you, Andrea True Connection

I’ve probably said this before, but I’m gonna say it again. Just when I think I’m getting caught up on my to do list, yet more items come up.

I met with the Honorary Consular General in Portland the other day. The gentleman was very helpful and told me that I could apply for a residency visa for up to one year. I clicked onto the website for the Italian Consulate in San Francisco and found the section for a residency visa. I had seen this before but didn’t think it applied to me.

Pursuing the expatriate life in Italy–“Reality, what a concept”–thank you, Robin Williams

Reality is a curious thing. I’ve always claimed that I want realism. I’m not interested in vagaries or irrelevancies. Yet, I sometimes whore myself for fantasy.

That latter sentence was brought home to me the other day in speaking with an especially special friend of mine. She grew up with my biological brother in B.C. and now lives in Oregon. We went for a two hour walk so we could talk and get caught up before I leave.