Three months in, and Naples is starting to feel less like a foreign country and more like our corner of the world. Not home yet - maybe never home - but something close enough. The boxes are unpacked, the kids know which park has the best swings, and we've found a church. Progress.
The Day the Boxes Arrived
Our household goods finally showed up after their Atlantic crossing. Watching the movers unload everything was surreal - seeing our American life spill out onto Italian soil. The kids' toys, our kitchen gadgets, the couch that's moved with us three times already. It's amazing how much more settled you feel when you're sleeping on your own mattress instead of loaner furniture.
Unpacking took days. Every box opened felt like finding pieces of ourselves we'd forgotten we packed. The house transformed from a temporary stop into something that resembles a home. The kids' rooms have personality now. We have more than two plates. Small victories.
Building Community on Base
Living on base has been a lifeline. Everything we need is right here - commissary, exchange, schools, parks, and most importantly, people who understand what it's like to be thousands of miles from the nearest Target. Military bases have a way of instant community. Everyone's in the same boat, dealing with the same challenges, missing the same conveniences from back home.
We found a church on base that's become our Sunday anchor. It's more than just worship - it's connection. We've met other families with kids the same ages, swapped recommendations for local spots, commiserated about the things we miss. The kids run around after service while we adults talk too long in the parking lot. It's the kind of ordinary that feels extraordinary when you're rebuilding your life from scratch.
The kids are thriving. They've made friends in our quad and down the street. On any given afternoon, you'll find them on one of the many playgrounds scattered across base, bikes parked in tangled piles while they chase each other around. They are having a blast!
Venturing Off Base
We're slowly getting braver about going into town. At first, the base felt like a safety bubble we were terrified to leave. Now? We're making progress. The local Italian town has become less intimidating and more interesting. We're learning which roads to avoid during rush hour, where to find decent parking, which shops are worth the visit.
But let's be honest - it's an adjustment. There's no Target run for last-minute school supplies. No Walmart at 10 PM when you realize you're out of diapers. Home Depot doesn't exist when you need that specific screw for the thing. AutoZone isn't around the corner when the check engine light comes on. Curbside pickup? Forget about it.
Living overseas means relearning how to plan ahead. The convenience culture of America spoiled us in ways we didn't fully appreciate until it was gone.
The Food, Though
Here's where Italy wins, hands down: the food. The grocery stores - both on base and in town - are incredible. Fresh produce that actually tastes like something. Cheese and bread that ruin you for the American versions. Olive oil that costs less than bottled water back home. It's absurdly easy to eat well here, and it's cheap.
We're eating healthier without even trying. The kids are trying foods they'd never touch stateside. Dinner feels less like a chore and more like an opportunity. Yes, we miss some American staples (ranch dressing, anyone?), but the trade-off is worth it. When the tomatoes taste this good, you stop missing Hidden Valley.
The Learning Curve
There's so much to learn. Italian phrases we butcher daily. How to navigate Italian bureaucracy. Which hand gestures are friendly and which ones will get you in trouble. When shops close for lunch (spoiler: basically all of them). Why trash day is more complicated than rocket science.
But that's the thing about military life overseas - everyone's learning together. Your neighbor doesn't know either. The family down the street is figuring it out too. We share tips, warn each other about mistakes we've made, celebrate the small wins. Found a good pizza place? Tell everyone. Discovered where to get your oil changed? Spread the word.
Home, For Now
Is Naples home? For now. It's the place we live, the place our kids will remember as part of their story. We're learning its rhythms, finding our spots, making it ours for however long we're here.
The boxes are unpacked. The kids have friends. We know where to get groceries and where to go on Sundays. We're learning, adapting, figuring it out one day at a time. And honestly? That's all you can ask for when you're building a life in a place that's not quite home but feels a little more like it every day.
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