Posted on 03/30/2023 1:05:19 PM PDT by Tench_Coxe
I never planned on living in it full time and I had no plans to move to Sicily.
I was between gigs for a few months and was there renovating a room one afternoon when the guy who handled my bills for me when I was away working called to tell me that my electric bill had arrived. Shaking off the plaster dust, I walked down to his office to pay my bill.
When I got to his office there was a handful of British folks there who'd just arrived in Sicily and were socializing with him; having a few drinks and some laughs. One of them was a fine, and I mean fine looking gal - 11 out of 10, at least. I caught "the vibe" from her and within minutes we were chatting it up - and then some.
From that day on we were an item and after my last overseas gig she moved to Sicily to be with me; the one and only, undisputed King Of All Things Thrillin' and Chillin'. Yes, I am humble. . .
Because she's a Brit, and I'm American, it made sense to sort of "meet in the middle" and settle in Sicily, so we did.
It's been 10 years since we met and we're still there, chillin' and thrillin'. The old, beat up house is now a gorgeous, palatial, restored gem from days gone by - seven years of me busting my ass restoring it brought it back to life.
Though there have been times when I've missed my country, the United States Of America, a visit there a few years ago that lasted for a few months changed my attitude about it - big time. I could not believe how busted out, broken down and decrepit (far worse than usual) my old Rhode Island stomping grounds had become. I was equally shocked by the massive numbers of seriously overweight, slovenly folks in a grocery store I'd go to who were whipping out EBT cards and food vouchers to pay for their overflowing shopping carts. And the general rudeness and aggression; be it on the roads or in the bars, was just nuts. The food prices? Absolutely crazy when compared to prices in Sicily. And let's not even talk about the retarded looking, disrespectful, foul-mouthed, pierced and tatted jackwads who seemed to be everywhere, dressed down like undignified, pathetic clowns.
I could not wait to GTFO and back to a civilized place where, generally speaking, folks are kind, respectful and generous. I exhaled mightily when my plane took off from Boston enroute to the gorgeous, sunny, peaceful island I now live on, and my neck - which is always swiveling when I'm in the US - relaxed as the plane gained altitude on the way out.
No trans mutilation of children here - you'd be smoked if you did such a thing here. No in your face "Pride" bullshit here either nor are there roving bands of ferals killing, raping, robbing, hijacking cars or shoplifting en masse. Virtuous folks who love their Catholic traditions; who take care of the old and who love and protect children are in the vast majority here. And yeah, the food - and the wine - is local, cheap and magnificent.
America used to be the greatest nation on earth; a place overwhelmingly filled with virtuous, industrious, God-loving folks. It was rightfully the envy of the world. I think now it is vile - child sacrifice, child mutilation and sexualization, and many other horrid things, has made it so.
I will never go back there to live.
Though I infrequently must visit there, the thought of doing that makes my stomach churn because I know I'll start seeing and hearing things which I loathe and find intolerable to deal with the minute I get on the plane from Rome to Boston.
I didn't abandon the US. It abandoned me. I was lucky to have escaped from it when I did. If I hadn't met that gorgeous gal who knows where I'd be now. . . ? Would I be wasting away in a hellish, DC prison with the Jan 6th political prisoners? Possibly so.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for having looked after me. . .
>>I will never go back there to live.<<
It has become unfit for human habitation.
The unfortunate thing is it usually takes 80 years or so to get things back on track.
The good part of that plan is that they don’t need to build walls, fences, guard towers, etc. Those are a pain to maintain.
But if you want to preserve the Republic, live and work and fight here.
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In principle I agree with you. But I’ll play Devil’s Advocate. The Republic that we used to have would never have been created if our ancestors would have remained in Britain, the rest of Europe, or from where ever they came. Just before the English civil war, Cromwell was within a hair of leaving England to come to the Americas. My point: even the most devout of patriots must weigh the chance of winning along with the cost in blood.
Yeah but we aren’t fighting, we are keeling over as the regime ruins our lives.
No cigarettes? I lived in Panama from 1987-1990 and there were cigarettes everywhere. I guess a lot changed in 35 years.
I don’t see any fighting. I don’t even see people getting jumped or houses burning.
Expect America to do the same under Biden who is owned by China.
You have already given it up without a fight or are you still clinging to your gun with your cold dead hands? Bwaha.
I am not as romantically inclined as you are. I am a simple chemical engineer jumping from job to job that I find trough other Americans that i meet at bars and embassies. Once you’re established abroad it is easier to find the next job by talking to other expatriates.
I dont mean hand to hand combat.
I have seen many political victories in my time. Most things dont go my way in California. But some do. I am fighting and there are many tangible ways to effectively fight - voting which yes it does matter, charity work, voter integrity work, voter registration, running for office, being a delegate, lobbying, supporting good groups or individuals, running a gun club, raising good american kids…
This is fighting and it is incredibly valuable and i wont have it devalued.
Its the trannies that shoot up the schools.
Practicing your Putin what? Shaking uncontrollably?
Have explained it before — it is a self deprecating joke. I am crippled by pain from neuropathy. I should be in a wheelchair.
America was a shining gem, and rich beyond compare. The world’s greatest con artists and criminals could not resist the challenge, and made a plan to steal it. They succeeded.
The criminal elite, awash in foreign concepts of control and coercion, have hobbled America so that it will do their bidding.
Yes it is - I was in the game for six years or so, most of that time in combat zones. Having known several folks who were killed or maimed, at some point I figured it was time to stop rolling the dice and get out. Then I met my lovely wife and that clinched it for me. I do miss it sometimes though.
Wow, what a coincidence. Sorry to bring politics into the talk but when Obama got elected I nearly went off the rails. I kinda know what I’m doing to I started doing research on where to live as an expat. And after a week or so decided that,,,, all things considered, it would be Panama. And in fact the site I picked already had a well known Canadian/American expat community. But then reality set in and I never followed thru. Wife and things.
My wife passed away six months ago and given the sewer that the democrats have flushed this country into I might have to consider it again. But I do have 2 issues. One is my cat which I can’t let go of. Wonder if they let pets come in????
Hi, Allen:
You may bring your cat but you’ll have to have the cat vet-checked to certify he is free from disease and to be up-to-date on all his shots.
Panama is very much dog-friendly. If the cat lives inside with you, he’ll be okay but outdoors in the heat and humidity of coastal Panama will be quite a challenge with all the unleashed roaming dogs. My landlord has a male cat but he was native to Panama and has had his scraps with local dogs.
Sorry to hear about your wife. Sometimes a change of scenery helps heal the wounds.
What was your second question?l
Where I live, there is a ton of outdoor seating but little smoking. I suspect the anti-smoking nazis took over. the day I first arrived was the day they enacted the plastic bag ban. I guess I've just adjusted to it.
So sorry about your wife.
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