​Weathering the Storm with the WP#220

Oh, where oh where could worldly possessions be, oh where oh could they be? Nice old song, but not the possessions here yet. I know that they are not here in Rome or with me, but I do know where they are. They arrived at the port of Naples on the 24th of May, so ahoy, they are on Italian soil. Good you say, but not all is good yet. Customs, after approving a duty-free arrival and expected delivery, once again has put the breaks on. Now what you do you say? Well, apparently, all the paperwork, remember all the paperwork Rosa and I have provided to prove my status in this country? Well, it is still not enough, and more documentation had to be provided including proof of when I entered the country, not last year, but back in 2023. Why say you?

It turns out that summer, I had to apply for a fiscal code (codice fiscale), somewhat equivalent to the Social Security Number in the states, here to rent an apartment, and customs wanted to know why? Normally, this is done by a resident, in a more permanent status, but the rental agreement required I get one, so I did. In fact, the rental agency assisted me in getting it, so I had it. I was only here for technically 89 days, actually less, since I was in the UK for a few days in between, so well within the Schengen 90/180 rules to be here, but apparently, this messed with the bureaucracy. As Rosa would say “How’s possible?” I have given up trying to understand the Italian bureaucracy as nothing, even to Italians makes sense. ​

Am I staying, of course, I am staying, and I will take each bureaucratic nightmare in stride, since I am a permanent resident with a codice fiscale and more importantly, an amazing wife who I love and adore and the reason I am here. Will I see my worldly possessions in my lifetime? Well, that is to be seen, since things run on snail time, but having supplied the additional information and a declaration as such, signed by Rosa and me, yesterday and supposedly received by customs, and to this point, some 12 to 15 hours later, as this is written, well, no news is good news. By days end, we should know, hopefully or we will have to provide our first born. No, no children on the way, but it just seems that while I very much appreciate all the I’s dotted and the T’s crossed, this is truly a bureaucratic mess. ​

If, on the other hand, the release by customs is done today, my worldly possessions should be here by Friday, the one day I am home all day to receive the boxes of stuff, the artwork, the records etc., but I am not holding my breath. The biggest item, the car, well that is a different story for a different time as its destiny is not directly here, given it has to have a transformation into a “new” vehicle in order to be legally driven here, as the European standards are different, and while the how, when, where and how much, this will also cost, it will sit, once released in the warehouse of the shipping company. More on that at another time, but all the loose items, well, ready to be addressed if and when they arrive here in Rome. ​

On other fronts, normal is as normal does, but I sent a bon farewell the other day to clients leaving Italy and yesterday, welcomed clients to Rome, who arrived safely and so between teaching, stopped by to officially and personally to the Eternal City, at their hotel, delivered a welcome gift of a Lazio wine, where they will be in the very capable hands for the next 3 days, in part with my beautiful wife, as their official guide here. Then they are off to Florence and in the capable hands of my colleague Cinzia with whom I work on many Florentine and Tuscan projects in general. I always, if possible, enjoy doing some sort of meet and greet of my clients coming here to Rome, or if I happen to be in a place where I too, am traveling, but recently, it has been a meet, and greet here in Rome, be it an aperitivo, dinner, or simply meeting then at the train station, their hotel and such. Some, while I have had for many years, and some, I had never met in person except via a WhatsApp chat or Zoom Meeting. Good to be connected and why I am able to do what I do. ​

With the Jubilee here, business to Italy for me in general I think is slightly down, but business overall if up. As my clients come from all different walks of life and have different interests, and while my wife, being my secret weapon, has expanded my business to Italy overall, other places seem to have taken up the slack, but I suspect Italy will always be in the top 5 of destinations I sell, especially, since I am here on the ground, and my wife, is, well, Italian. Really nothing to be concerned about in terms of business and I am still rocking it in my 28th years of travel planning and arranging, and almost 18 years completed at the WP, even with the usual chaos that always seemed to put a damper on the industry, it is a resilient industry and one that those strong enough will power through to the next crises, ever on the horizon. 
This industry is not for the faint hearted, but those who look at the long term. I still have a few good years and as the reason for writing these posts from the very beginning back in 2020, to the 220th edition of Weathering the Storm, this too shall pass. What does not kill you makes you stronger, and I also have my teaching, which is a nice supplement and good reason to get out of the house. In any case, I will continue to do what I do best and truly enjoy even on the craziest days on both fronts, teaching and travel planning, and educate my clients to the best of my ability to make sure they understand the nuances of this ever-evolving situation and trying to balance that with my personal and always crazy private world with Rosa, she off doing her things and me, mine and truly appreciating the time we have together. As she said yesterday, the most important thing is you and me, us and I couldn’t agree more. 
As always, thank you, we so appreciate your support of our crazy little world, welcome you to this side of the pond for a visit, if and when you wish to be here, and, of course, remain healthy, safe, and happy, most importantly, in this craziness in which we find ourselves. There will always be bumps in the road and it is how you handle them. Focus on the things you can control and let go of the things that you can’t. Life is too short to stress and while we all can’t be happy, all the time, find something that truly does make you happy and make that a focus. Your outlook will change as you stay on that path.