Location, location, location is in some respects even more important in Italian mountain villages than in our birth-city, London’s suburbs. In the Great Wen the ubiquitous semi will generally ensure a measure of longed-for privacy and allow easy car access and even a garage. This is as it ideally should be since parking creates the most ennervating of disputes, often leading to the courts and even, as in that recent sad UK case, the annihilation of an entire family…

One might think that a remote appenine village enveloped in beautifully extensive natural surroundings would not be tainted by such harassing matters regarding parking and privacy. After all, these settlements have usually less inhabitants than are contained in a suburban London close and many dwellings are only occupied during the summer as they are holiday homes.

However, this is not always the case and disputes will arise especially as regards land since most Italians, in common with the rest of the human species, have a strongly territorial instinct. Court cases and even, in one instance, murder have occurred in our part of the world and, no doubt, will continue to occur.

Of course, peaceful interaction depends largely on agreements regarding social space and every individual holds their own conception of this space. I have come across people who have moved from a private, isolated house in the heart of the mountains to a village centre, hemmed in on all sides by other dwellings, merely because they needed more social interaction. Conversely, others have escaped from their close-knit village to somewhere quite separate from other settlements because they could not take being so close to other humans on a daily basis.

Alone but not lonely seems to be the mantra today, especially in the wake of the pandemic which tempts even high government officials to waive sanitary rules in favour of illicit activities. We remain part of society but are not able to enjoy its benefits as we could before this hopelessly unending era of social distancing, mask-wearing and, covid passports.

In our case, the fact that we are not exempt from growing any older and that, therefore, such considerations as car access become even more important in villages originally designed for donkeys and mules has prompted us to make a move from our present location where we’ve lived for over fifteen years. We remain, however, in the same beautiful chestnut forest mountains of the appenines for we have grown accustomed to these ethereal surroundings. But we are now happily isolated from any village inconveniences and problems. Not alone, nevertheless, for, apart from the rich fauna and flora that keeps us company, we are rather closer to facilities like shops and cafes than before.

We certainly do not intend to become hermits living chaste lives in a wild and lonely place for we enjoy company and socializing but now have the privilege of deciding who we want to have around us. (Wild boars might disoblige but, at least they will less ingratiating than bipedal ones).

Life is too short and everything has a price in life but at least we have learnt the value of something and added to that human peace which precedes the ultimate peace which must await us all.