​Weathering the Storm with the WP#128

It has been a week since I arrived here in Rome, and it has had much to do with housekeeping. I am glad to be back and finally settled into our apartment here in Rome with Rosa, of course and the reason I am truly here. The apartment was not ready until the 15th, so the first 5 days were hotel bouncing, which for me, is nothing new. Rosa, of course, was able to come back to Momma’s house and we are simply getting back into a routine together. She does not want to simply be a boring couple, but I have come to truly love the simple things in life as I have more and more uncluttered my own. I know we will have exciting things together this summer beyond the usual day to day life, but it is truly appreciated. ​

The apartment we have this time around is not big by any stretch, but it is also not 2500 Euros per month as we paid last year, or should I say, I did, but I did not want her to feel obligated except what she could afford or wanted to contribute. We are definitely a couple, and we share things together. Of course, what I have brought are essentially the clothes I own and the other essentials and the “office”, but really that is just the new laptop and phone as really nothing else is needed except a few additional things. As you all know, I have totally downsized and unburdened myself of many things when I was in Minnesota, selling, giving and throwing things away. It was truly a feeling of relief to unburden myself of the things, but that job is still not done. ​

What is most important in life is not things and it was really easy to get rid of most things, but as I get down to the final cut later this year, I know it will be tougher. When I mentioned to Rosa that I was considering getting rid of my trumpet, yes, the one I have had since 4th grade and yes, the one where I played a small part in Rosa di Roma on the music video, I did in collaboration with a musician friend and my admin, she said no, and she was emphatic about that. If you have not yet seen it, then please do on my YouTube Channel, Youtube/wanderingpuffin and check out Rosa di Roma. She then told me, that while she does not play the guitar she has had for years, I must not get rid of my trumpet and so, in another way, we can have a duet, wherever that leads. So, I guess at some point, it will cross the pond with me. ​

There are still bumps in the road and there will always be. I am writing this blog from one of the three Starbucks in Roma since I knew that they had Wi-Fi, as the Wi-Fi is not yet set up in the apartment and roaming charges and the $10.00 per diem fee is something I would like to avoid where possible even though it is business, but the expectation was it would be up and running, but the best laid plans. That is why this blog is called weathering the storm as there is always going to be something that arises, and it is how we handle it. Sometimes I do very well, actually most of the time, but there are times when I don’t and since we moved into the apartment on Saturday, and things move very slowly here on weekends, and on Sundays, it is impossible to get any kind of assistance, I was without connection, unless I paid to roam, which I have. ​

I did not want to stress Rosa out about this, and I know she felt it, but I tried to realize it is the weekend and “things” could wait, but business does not stop for me. It is part of my DNA. The other part of this week is that it was her birthday on Saturday and while I would have liked to celebrate in some way, and we did and yesterday, went to one of her favorite restaurants for dinner to celebrate, it was not everything I wanted to do for her. Yes, I bought her a nice piece to add to her chain which she likes to collect, purchased in Jersey, a beautiful dolphin, which I found out was actually made here in Italy, and yes, we went out for a very nice evening last night and a nice walk afterwards, but it was not fully what I wanted to do for her, so it will be her birthday week and not just a day or two. ​

This past week and probably into this week, as well, we will be doing a lot of housekeeping and we will learn what needs to be done. I have lived in many apartments in my life and I know she has lived in other places, but she has not ever signed a lease, been billed for electricity, Wi-Fi garbage etc. I believe this has been done by momma, but now that some of the things are in my name and some in her name and at the end of the time here in October for me, she will have the place to herself until the early part of November. Yes, we are definitely a couple and the craziness of our lives together is by no means simple. While I uncluttered my life back in America, my life here, when I am here and even when I am not is much more complicated, but in a simpler way and one, much more desired, being with Rosa. 
Hopefully by this time next week, she and I will be more in a routine in our life and continuing to move forward. As always, stay safe, stay healthy and always look for the best in a situation and be patient as the best things in life are worth waiting for. Thank you as always for your support of my crazy little world and my small business. As always, I look forward to your comments, questions, concerns and continuing the discourse through whichever means you read my posts!!!