Digging Deeper — Lessons from a Swimming Pond and Life in Southern Italy

Still in Petacciato — and still falling in love with this little corner of the world — but life here isn’t all olive trees and sunshine.

Over the past two months, we’ve taken on the job of building a natural swimming pond for our friends. What started as a hands-on, exciting project quickly turned into a full-on lesson in patience, adaptability, and letting go of control.

Coming from a background in construction and DIY, I (maybe naively) thought I had a pretty good idea of how things would unfold. In Switzerland, that might have been true — where you can plan every detail, order exact materials, and expect precise deliveries more or less on the dot. But here in southern Italy, things move at a very different rhythm.

Supplies arrive late, or not at all. The specific materials you need might not exist within a 200 km radius. Tools break, or aren’t quite the right ones, and replacements can take days — or weeks — to track down. There’s a language barrier that turns even simple tasks into games of charades. And then there’s me, standing knee-deep in half-dug earth, realizing just how much I don’t know about pond building.

It’s frustrating, yes. But it’s also deeply humbling.

This project has become less about the pond itself and more about learning to slow down, let go of the “Swiss way,” and meet challenges with curiosity instead of resistance. It’s about making peace with things not going as planned — and somehow still moving forward, one shovel-full at a time.

Connie & Angelo

Authenticity is key they say

None of this would be possible without the generosity and trust of Connie and Angelo — two incredibly kind people who welcomed us with open arms from the very beginning.

They’ve not only trusted us with building the pond on their land, but also with living alongside them and their dogs, sharing meals, stories, and everyday life. Even though there’s a 40-year age difference between us, our connection has grown into a genuine friendship — full of shared values, laughter, and mutual respect.

It’s been a reminder that meaningful bonds can form in the most unexpected ways, and that generosity and warmth really do transcend age or background. We’re so grateful to be sharing this time and space with them.

Mental Hills

As we navigate these physical challenges, there’s also a quieter, more emotional terrain we’re climbing.

We miss our people. The ones who knew us before all this — before the rooftop tent, before Ciro, before the coastal village and the dog shelter. We miss easy coffee catch-ups, spontaneous dinners, and being able to share a laugh without needing to explain the backstory first.

Some days, the weight of distance sits heavy. It’s not regret — far from it. We chose this life, and we love it. But even the most beautiful views can’t replace the feeling of hugging a friend you’ve known for ten years.

That said, we’re still exactly where we’re meant to be. Building something new — ponds, friendships, purpose — with dirt under our nails and our hearts wide open. And we know the people we love are cheering us on from afar.

What’s next?

Next up: turning the view into something you can walk out onto. The pond is nearly done, and we’re about to build a sun deck from some absolutely stunning wood we hunted down all the way in Imola (yep — 9 hours of driving for the good stuff). More on that, the build, and the blisters in the next entry.

The good stuff…

P.S. @assiria — I’m so proud of everything you’ve learned and built with your own hands. You amaze me every day. 💛

From Rolling Hills to Riverbanks — and Back Home Again

After settling into life in Petacciato, we hit the road once more — this time heading north toward Borgo Val di Taro. But first, a peaceful night at a municipal campsite near Lago di Montepulciano. Waking up to the golden light across the Tuscan hills felt like a dream. The landscapes here are something else — soft, timeless, and endlessly calming.

This leg of the journey was also our first real road trip with Ciro, the newest (and furriest) member of our little family. He’s only five months old, but he’s already proving to be an incredible travel buddy — relaxed, curious, and just happy to be with us. That said, once we park and set up somewhere, it’s like a switch flips. He needs attention, play, reassurance — basically like raising a toddler. We kind of expected it, but living it is a whole new experience. Still, we love him to pieces, and he’s doing so well.

Eventually, we made it to Borgo Val di Taro, tucked into the heart of the Ghirardi WWF National Park. No traffic, no buzz — just trees, birdsong, and the kind of quiet that lets your thoughts stretch out. We stayed in a beautiful little Airbnb and met up with our dear friend Moritz who drove in from Switzerland. Together, we spent four grounding days exploring the old town, fishing the crystal-clear (and freezing!) River Taro, and cooking slow, intentional meals — including homemade pizza in a wood-fired oven out front. Some of the best conversations of our journey so far happened there, talking about life, love, and where we’re all headed next.

From there, we crossed Italy once again, chasing the idea of a quiet few days fishing for carp on the River Po. But the river had other plans — fast currents, dropping water levels, and clouds of poplar pollen made fishing nearly impossible. The weather kept us on our toes, swinging from hot and humid to wet and windy in the blink of an eye.

Somewhere around day three, between tangled lines and muddy shoes, we both realized how much we missed Petacciato — and the wonderful people we’d met there. During that week away, Alessandro, Alessandra, and Angelo called us four times just to check in. That’s the kind of community you don’t walk away from.

So, we returned. And the welcome was overwhelming in the best way. Everyone was so happy to see us again — and honestly, it felt like coming home again. There’s work to do here — at “Rifugio delle Meraviglie” and on Connie and Angelo’s land — but it’s exactly the kind of work that fills your hands, your heart, and your days with purpose.

There are a few exciting projects on the horizon — we won’t spoil them here just yet. But stay tuned for updates, both on the blog and over on Instagram. We’re planting seeds — literally and figuratively — and we can’t wait to see what grows.

Petacciato, Italy

From Switzerland to Petacciato: A New Chapter Begins

Leaving Switzerland behind, we set off by car on what felt strangely like a holiday — except this time, we knew we wouldn’t be coming back for a long while. That feeling hung quietly between us: the freedom of travel mixed with the weight of change.

My wife Assiria and I made our first stop in Piacenza, where the skies opened up in dramatic fashion — a wild, rainy night that only made the next day's sunlight feel more welcoming as we continued south.

When we finally arrived in Petacciato, it was like stepping into a dream. This little coastal town, seemingly forgotten by time, greeted us with open arms. Olive tree gardens stretch across the hillsides, old buildings tell quiet stories, and every smile from a local feels like a warm embrace. There’s a sense of home here — not the kind made of familiar walls, but one built on human kindness.

The first few nights, we were lucky to stay at a friend’s house — the winds were too strong to sleep in our rooftop tent. But that just gave us time to ease into this new life, to meet people, and fall in love with all the dogs we came across.

One of the biggest inspirations so far has been visiting “Rifugio delle Meraviglie,” the local dog shelter run by the incredible Alessandra and Alessandro. The way they care for their animals — with patience, strength, and heart — is truly humbling. In fact, every person we’ve met here has left us in awe. There’s something about this town and its people that just feels… right.

It’s not just a change of place. It’s the start of something beautiful.

There are big things coming in the near future for “Rifugio delle Meraviglie”. We’re hoping we can be a part of that too. If you want to know more, feel free to check out their website: www.hilfsverein-wunderhund.ch