35 Comments
User's avatar
Lynne Matthews's avatar

Thanks Vivian - thanks so much for following up - I'll sit this one out but will absolutely look out for the August meetup!

Expand full comment
Vivian's avatar

Bummer. And cool. 🤭

Expand full comment
Lynne Matthews's avatar

OMG I love a book club!

Expand full comment
Vivian's avatar

Me too! Are you reading the July book?

Expand full comment
Lynne Matthews's avatar

Hi Vivian - I’ve been looking for an ebook version - not too many English books here in Madrid! I have kobo but can’t find it there - any tips?

Expand full comment
Vivian's avatar

Hi Lynne. I purchased my kindle edition from Amazon. I tried to borrow it from Libby, but my library didn't have this one. I don't see it on Everand (formerly Scribd), but maybe that's because it's not available in Portugal and might be in Spain?

Anyone else have ideas?

Expand full comment
Maria Anderson's avatar

Thanks, I can’t walk on glass either! And I’ll check out that book.

Expand full comment
Vivian's avatar

How did you discover that you can't walk on glass? I had no idea until that day in Madeira.

Expand full comment
Maria Anderson's avatar

It wasn’t the glass, it’s that I’m terrified of heights in general. Getting over my fear of flying was an act of will.

Expand full comment
Vivian's avatar

Have you been terrified of heights your whole life? And how did you get over it?

Expand full comment
Maria Anderson's avatar

I have, but I have conquered the fear of flying and walked across the very high pedestrian bridge in Porto.

Expand full comment
Vivian's avatar

Next time I'm in Porto, we are NOT going to walk across the bridge, but we ARE going to have a glass of wine and hang out. At least, I hope we are. 😊

Expand full comment
Maria Anderson's avatar

Look forward to this!

Expand full comment
Nomi Bolt's avatar

Super excited to see all these new updates 🥰

Expand full comment
Vivian's avatar

Thanks Nomi. I'm also really looking forward to the new stuff. Can't wait to read the letters people write to their younger selves. And I also can't wait for the book club. Are you a reader? Have you read "One Thousand Days in Venice"?

Expand full comment
Nomi Bolt's avatar

I am a reader and I haven’t read that one yet! ☺️ I think I’m most excited to read the letters as well!

Expand full comment
Vivian's avatar

Me too. I suppose mine should go first and I've started thinking about what I'll say.

Expand full comment
Barbs Honeycutt's avatar

hahahaha the driver! couldn't have been worse than Prague taxi drivers, surelyyyy

Expand full comment
Vivian's avatar

I have never been in a taxi in Prague. Do I want you to tell me what it's like? Eeeps!!!!

Expand full comment
Barbs Honeycutt's avatar

Let's say even Gilmore Girls references how reckless they are

Expand full comment
Vivian's avatar

Who went to Prague and rode in a taxi? This has to be the blonde boy that Rory is in love with. No?

Expand full comment
Barbs Honeycutt's avatar

Logan? Haha I think it was Richard on a business trip... Regardless, I'm glad you survived the curve balls ;)

Expand full comment
Vivian's avatar

Oh yeah. It sounds like something Richard would do. And talk about the taxi drivers. haha. I can't believe I forgot Logan's name. 🫠

Expand full comment
Kaila Krayewski's avatar

Loved the opening, Vivian! I never understand why they take you and drop you off and leave you at closed places either, it's happened to me so many times! Just following procedure I guess? 😅🤣

Love that you're doing a book club with books about living abroad, I'm going to DM you about it now!

Expand full comment
Vivian's avatar

Kaila!!! I got your DM and love your idea.

Expand full comment
Sophie S.'s avatar

Oh looking forward to all the new things, always looking to add more books to my list 😁

Expand full comment
Vivian's avatar

Me too. This book club is a dangerous idea for my reading list. 🤣

Expand full comment
Lindsey Honari's avatar

Question - I’d love to hear from some Gen Xers who made the jump. I love reading about everyone and seem to be younger than those in our 50’s. Thinking about taking the leap but also want to hear perspectives from post-kids.

Expand full comment
Lindsey Honari's avatar

No idea yet - Spanish speaking country. Mexico or somewhere where I am not too far from aging parents and potential grandkids.

Expand full comment
Vivian's avatar

I think aging parents is a very big deal. One of the reasons I wasn't able to return to Italy when I first tried to move abroad in 2007 was because I had responsibilities to handle with aging family members. Do you already speak Spanish? Is that why you're leaning Spanish speaking country? If so...that's a great reason.

Expand full comment
Vivian's avatar

Hey Lindsey. I'm Gen X (but no kids). There are a few people I've interviewed (no idea what their Gen is) who have grown children that you might want to check out: Betina, Jacqueline, Celia + Jim. Where are you thinking of moving?

Expand full comment
Lani's avatar

Love the book club idea!!

Expand full comment
Vivian's avatar

It sounds really fun, right? Do you know "A Thousand Days in Venice" at all? I am so curious how I'm going to feel reading it again all these years (and lifetimes) later.

Expand full comment
Lani's avatar

I’m not familiar with it so I’ll see if I can get a copy from my Libby library!

Expand full comment
Vivian's avatar

I hope you can! It's been out for a long time, so you shouldn't have to put it on hold or anything like that. But, it's possible your library might not have it--mine didn't when I looked on my Libby, which made me sad (although it had her other memoir about Tuscany).

Expand full comment