Episode 97: The Fearless Family Who Gave Up Everything For The Italian Life with Lisa & Sam Chiodo (Part 1)

What a fun episode!!! I got to chat with Lisa Chiodo and although totally unplanned and unexpected, her husband popped in and joined our conversation. That's what happens when you see people having fun - you want to join in!!!

Although Lisa had visited Italy in her younger years before marriage and had even had a little internal nudging that she wanted to live there, it wasn't until she and her husband were at a seminar, and the speaker asked the audience what they really wanted to do with their life, that the idea took shape.

When that question came, they both leaned forward at the same time looking at each other and said "ITALY!" Then they went home, had the Australian equivalent of what we call a garage sale in the U.S. and sold all of their belongings, packed their clothes and their 2 young children, ages 1 and 3, and moved to Italy - for the first time.

At age 41, Lisa, along with her husband Sam and their children, uprooted their life and moved to a brand new country, without a real plan, other than to buy a camper, once they got to Italy. After a couple of years, they moved back to Australia, but the longing for Italy was too great so about 5 years later they packed up everything once again, and at age 49, they moved their family to Italy for good.

Lisa and Sam have now created Renovating Italy where they share their life living in a medieval Borgata at the foot of the Alps in Northern Italy. Together, with their now teen-aged children, they love their simple life living way outside the box.

What they want others to know is that it IS possible to pick up and have a life change even with young children and limited funds. After losing everything in a recession, they googled the cheapest house in Piemonte and bought it for just 8 thousand euro. They quit the rat race TWICE, and now grow their own food, keep animals, and live very simply.

You can learn more about them and connect with them at the following sites:

Website: www.renovatingitaly.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/renovating.italy

Facebook: www.facebook.com/RenovatingItaly.com.au

If you'd like to connect or reach out to ME, you can find me at:
Website: www.notyouraveragegrandma.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LaurieColvinWright
Instagram: www.instagram.com/not_your_average_grandma
Youtube: www.youtube.com/c/NotYourAverageGrandma