Retiring in italy giorno di giorno: Seattle vs. Arezzo Round Two: Thanksgiving and Christmas 2015

Seattle skyline from West Seattle

For the second year we returned to Seattle for the holidays, this time early enough for Thanksgiving with family. Once again, the most common questions asked were what we missed about living in the US and whether we like Italy, and Arezzo in particular, more than Seattle.

Other than family and friends, there is nothing that we miss so much about the US that it would be a deal breaker for staying in Italy permanently, but we have pretty much decided to move back this June because we don't want to be 5000 miles from our daughter on a permanent basis, and if we spend less than 183 days in Italy this year, we will not be liable for the huge Italian income tax (50 to 60 percent last year, on capital gains and interest compared to a maximum of around 25% in the US). So I guess we 'miss' the lower US tax rates. Italians not only pay a high income tax, they pay a 22% VAT on everything (value added tax, basically sales tax) and property taxes. It would be less expensive to rent an apartment year round in Italy and spend only 182 days here, than to pay the higher tax.

Small things we miss while in Italy include electric dryers and clothes and linens that don't feel like tree bark from being dried outside, ethnic food (especially Mexican and Asian), and cheap, readily available OTC medicine for colds, headaches, allergies, etc. A tisane of vitamin C just doesn't knock out those cold symptoms like a dose of NyQuil, and 11 euro for 12 ibuprofen feels like highway robbery, plus these things can only be purchased at a pharmacy in Italy, On the other hand, healthcare and prescription drugs are almost free under the national healthcare system. We pay only 2 euro for a prescription drug, no matter what it is.

The only things we brought back with us this time were cold medicine, fish oil, vitamins D, and our favorite shampoo. Big, big savings over Italian prices. And gas is incredibly cheap in the US, in fact it should probably be higher to discourage over consumption of fossil fuel.

But we have also noticed a number of things we definitely prefer in Italy. The limits on political campaigning prevent the multi-year media blitz of the US presidential elections. There is very limited campaigning which is a refreshing change. Italians may elect a leader as clownish as Trump, but at least we don't have to hear and read about it for two years beforehand.

We have also become very accustomed to the late, leisurely mealtimes. We had numerous invitations to dinner out (and enjoyed them all) but were constantly surprised to be invited at 5:30 or 6 pm, and to have the meal over in a half hour. At the annual Christmas party for my old firm, I was surprised to look up and see that plates were being cleared before I had taken more than 3 bites! Usually I am not behind in the hunger games.

Dim sum with Karen (left)
Sushi (above)

we stayed in an apartment for weeks--above,

Tom & Kelly toast before an American meal of

meatloaf, brussels sprouts, and baked sweet potatoes

Post Christmas dinner at Ruth's house

We were also struck by the incredible frequency of gun violence in the US--not that we haven't seen it reported in the Italian press and in the Washington Post which we read online, but somehow it was more immediate seeing it on the news and in the daily papers. More than 32,000 people are killed by guns in the US every year. The number is imprecise because the CDC does not include all gun deaths in the total for a variety of reasons. This is 29.7 per 100,000 compared to .7 per 100,000 in England. And, these numbers are 2 years old, based on what has been happening, they are probably higher for the US in 2015. Many Americans ask whether it is safe to travel in Sicily or Naples. All I can say is that you are far more likely to be shot and killed at the movies or at school in the US than you are in the allegedly 'mafia infested' island of Sicily. We felt perfectly safe in Sicily and everywhere else we have traveled in Europe.

But on to cheerier subjects! In addition to catching up with friends and family, we had a chance to see our alma mater, University of Washington, beat our cross state rivals, Washington State University, in the annual Apple cup game, went to a couple of off beat Christmas shows, Ham for the Holidays, and Jinx Monsoon, as well as going to our first "cupping": like a wine tasting, but for coffee. If you are in Seattle, go to the Victrola Roastery near the convention center for their weekly, free, open to the public cupping. You will find there is way more to coffee than you ever realized and have the chance to taste several different and unusual coffees. They are serious about coffee at Victrola!

At the cupping

dragon in the international district (left)
seahawks color christmas lights (above)

At Wade & Carol's annual Christmas party
Who are those masked men?

Of course Thanksgiving and Christmas are the main events this time of year. We had great fun finding and decorating a tree with Kelly and Claire and we had the opportunity to attend many fine family and friend dinners, including Wade and Carol's annual family pre-Christmas get together with the world's best mashed potatoes (still waiting to find that recipe in my stocking), to Thanksgiving AND Christmas Eve dinner at Jeff & Kathleen's beautiful home with incredible food, to our own Christmas breakfast and Christmas day dinner.

Our gracious hosts, Jeff & Kathleen (rocking her special imported chef's hat from Italy)

It is much easier to decorate the tree with Claire's help--no ladders needed! All four 'girls' including Pepper, pose in front of the tree after the decorating is done (below).

Kelly shows off her big girl heels above, Kathleen, Kelly and Peyton at Christmas Eve dinner, left.

Opening presents Christmas Day was fun, especially seeing Kelly's excitement at getting a ticket to the last home game of the year for her beloved Seahawks. Of course, getting a new ipad from Kelly to replace the one I foolishly lost was also a highlight! We had a great Christmas brunch and a delicious dinner with friends.