From Las Vegas to Florence, Italy: Why One Family Chose a New Rhythm of Life

Da Las Vegas a Firenze, Italia: perché una famiglia ha scelto un nuovo ritmo di vita.

Meet Justin and Renata, a beautiful couple who Al and I had the honour of meeting through the school gates, in that familiar way life in Florence tends to introduce people, gradually, then all at once. Justin is on the Board of Directors and Renata heads-up the Parents' Association there. Over time, they have become part of the loose rhythm of fun get togethers with friends, shared al fresco conversations under Tuscan sun, and the quiet recognition that comes from navigating life here.

Today's blog is a primarily a conversation with Justin about what it actually looks like to leave something that was already working and begin again somewhere new. He kindly reflects on his own experience and some of what he and Renata have navigated together, as she was busy when we spoke.

Florence has a way of turning everyday moments into something a little more beautiful.

Justin and Renata moved to Florence from Las Vegas three years ago, with two young children, leaving a life that by most measures was already working. Since then, they have rented, bought two properties, and taken on projects that suggest they are not just passing through. Their perspective on relocating is neither romantic nor cynical. It is practical, hard won, and still evolving.

Las Vegas dazzles with neon-lit casinos and 24/7 entertainment, while Florence captivates with Renaissance art, historic architecture, and timeless culture.

"Tell me where this story to Florence starts, geographically, but also personally."

"My Florence journey is tied together with a bit of history. I came to Italy a number of times during university, and after college a couple of buddies and I backpacked throughout Europe. I ended up spending about six weeks living in Tuscany, which felt like an extended stay at the time. So this region has been near and dear to me since my late teens.

Renata came into it later. When we were married, she had not travelled to Europe yet, but we came with my parents for their 40th wedding anniversary. We took a trip here, and I think she came once more after that. She got caught up pretty quickly and fell in love with the area."

"What was your life like before Italy entered the picture?"

"We were settled. We had a young child and a baby. When we left, our youngest had just turned three and our oldest had turned ten. We were a young family, very settled, with family close by, almost in the same neighbourhood. By most measures, we were happy. Life was good. Very comfortable."

Or should that be Aperol Spritz's and Chianti Classico?

"How did you navigate the visa process, and did it unfold the way you expected?"

"It was very unnerving. Up until 48 hours before our flight, we did not have our passports. We were based in Las Vegas, but everything went through Los Angeles, so every appointment meant travel. Even getting those appointments took forever. There were two main ones, and securing them was a process on its own.

At one point, I spent 45 straight days calling, sitting on hold for an hour every day, and never got through. I wrote an email every single day. Eventually, our realtor suggested I change the tone, be more apologetic, more humble. I sent that version, and 21 minutes later I got a call asking when I wanted an appointment that week.

Even then, it came down to the wire. We had people moving into our house the Monday after our flight. I went into the appointment saying I was not leaving without the passports. I met a guy named Daniele, and within 15 minutes we had everything. That moment came after months of stress. It was easily the most nerve wracking part of the process."

Achieving Visas involved (humbling) hard work. It came together perfectly at the eleventh hour.

"What were your lives orbiting around before the move?"

"The idea came up when we had one child. My brother and I were exiting a company. Everything worked out, but earlier than expected. The plan was simple. Go for a year, bring our five year old, explore, come back. But we got cold feet.

Renata asked what I was actually going to do out there, and I did not have a good answer. After years of constant work, slowing down was not something I knew how to do. So we paused. In hindsight, that mattered. We had our second child, and COVID hit shortly after. Being here during that time would have been very different.

When we came back to the idea, it was not about a year anymore. It became at least two. That shift changed things. And now, that horizon has stretched again."

Florence allows for lots of pauses. ☕ 🥂

"How would you have described yourselves, professionally and otherwise, in your “before” life?"

"Work defined a lot of it, in a good way. We loved what we did. I think of it like a sport. There was a routine, a discipline to it. I was up at 5:00am, training, working. Renata was performing every night, singing, dancing, acting. It was very much a rise and grind mentality. Full pace for years.

That changed after we exited the company. Things slowed down, and we started to notice it. We began looking at our life differently.

Before that, it was constant, work, social commitments, charity, school. Seven days a week. When that intensity dropped, we realised how much had been on repeat. It was a great life, but also a bit automatic. That is when we started thinking about change."

The rise and grind mentality is now replaced with relaxation and more time with their girls and friends, with family visiting from time to time.

"What did work mean to you before the move, structure, identity, necessity?"

"It was a big part of our identity. My brother and I were known locally through our restaurant business. We were involved in a lot, scholarships, sponsorships, speaking. Wherever we went, we knew people. Renata had the same kind of identity through performing. When that stopped, it raised questions about what was real and what was tied to what we were doing.

We also started questioning the environment around us. It was a great place, but there was a strong focus on material things. We wanted something different for our girls.

Letting go of that identity has been harder than expected. In some ways, it was easier in Vegas than it has been here."

"When did Florence stop feeling like a place you were visiting, and start feeling like home?"

"It is still evolving. There are neighbourhoods and moments that feel familiar now, but I have moved a lot in my life, and it usually takes years before somewhere truly feels like home.

We are coming up on three years, so maybe that shifts at four or five.

For me, home has always meant family. Not having family here means it still feels a bit foreign at times. Renata settled into it more quickly. I think we are somewhere between feeling comfortable and fully rooted."

On the Arno, where elegance comes naturally and the soul feels at home.

"What did you misunderstand about renting or buying here?"

"Property management. For the first 18 months, we rented, which is a more typical experience. Even that comes with challenges. A lot falls on you, and getting your deposit back can be difficult. I usually say, if you are in a 12 month lease, assume by month 10 your deposit is gone.

On the bureaucracy side, it is not always about hiring lawyers. There are people who can help with the process, handling paperwork and waiting in lines, without it becoming overly expensive. If you speak Italian, it is mostly persistence. If you do not, having the right help makes a difference."

"What is your relationship now with patience?"

"It is a daily practice. The language barrier plays a big role. The more Italian you learn, the more you want to engage, to argue your point, to explain yourself, but you are limited. That is frustrating. You also realise things do not get done the first time, or even the fifth. Eventually, you either adapt or figure out how to navigate it better.

It is a different definition of patience, across everything, bureaucracy, driving, social norms. It changes how you approach things."

A typical cobbled street, serving 'health and well-being', plus exquisite Italian food and beverage.

"What part of the dream turned out to be true, and what part needed editing?"

"We did not come with a romantic idea. The goal was to integrate and to create a different environment for our children. That part has been true. But life continues. We are raising two girls, one now 13, and entering a stage that is challenging anywhere.

We have also committed to a significant construction project, which ties us here in a more permanent way. There are real positives, sitting down together every night, having conversations, being present. But there is also a quieter side, and that can be mentally challenging at times.

The past year has been the most challenging, not due to any single event, but because of this stage of life: raising two young children while feeling the steady passage of time.

That said, I am glad we are going through it here. Long term, it is open. For some, five years is long term. For us, it could be until our youngest finishes school. We will take it as it comes."

Thank you Justin for talking about your relocation experience, and to Renata for kindly allowing it to be shared. ♥ An honest perspective on both the challenges and the beauty of moving to Florence, reflecting on the contrast between a familiar life in the US, when working seven days a week, and a slower pace that allows for a more balanced and fulfilling way of living. Justin's story highlights that making such a change takes patience, commitment, and a real appreciation for what Tuscany can offer to those willing to take that step and see where a different rhythm 'ritmo' might lead.