I'm sure this subject has been answered many times. My wife and I relocated to a semi-rural city in a Southwestern American state and bought a large commercial building, stone and brick, built in 1906. We spent our life savings to purchase the property and bring it up to code. We currently operate two businesses, one retail and one professional.
We have been successful, but the toll has been years of stress, reinvestment and disappointing revenues. We work hard and long hours and are not super involved in the day-to-day lives of our neighbors. Because of this imposed introversion, the greatest disappointment in our business-challenged town in the US is the common perception by lifelong residents in our town that we are interlopers, deep-pocket property flippers, outsiders and suspicious characters, despite the friendship and patronage by many.
If we move to a semi-rural area in Italy, will we be perceived as just another rich American couple trying to take advantage of somebody? Or is there a chance of friendship and community? Depends?
We have been successful, but the toll has been years of stress, reinvestment and disappointing revenues. We work hard and long hours and are not super involved in the day-to-day lives of our neighbors. Because of this imposed introversion, the greatest disappointment in our business-challenged town in the US is the common perception by lifelong residents in our town that we are interlopers, deep-pocket property flippers, outsiders and suspicious characters, despite the friendship and patronage by many.
If we move to a semi-rural area in Italy, will we be perceived as just another rich American couple trying to take advantage of somebody? Or is there a chance of friendship and community? Depends?
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