Meet Barbara Boyle, a former Creative Director and writer who has worked with global brands and lived in major cities worldwide. Now retired in a 300-year-old farmhouse in Piemonte, Italy, Barbara shares her journey from the fast-paced world of advertising to a serene life amidst vineyards and orchards, and discusses her latest writings on her life in Italy.
Could you please introduce yourself and tell us about your background?
My name is Barbara Boyle. For all of my life, I have been a writer. For years, I was a Creative Director for several major advertising agencies, creating ad campaigns for global brands such as Pampers, M&M Mars, Tide, and others. I have been lucky enough to live in San Francisco, New York, Paris, and Frankfurt and to travel extensively for work. Wine and food are also a passion. I took the Regional French Cooking course at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and later completed the professional cooking course at the Institute of Culinary Education in New York. I now reside in a 300-year-old stone farmhouse in Piemonte, Italy, with my husband, surrounded by orchards, vineyards, and barking deer.
What made you want to settle in Italy after traveling Europe?
We first came upon our little hilltown in Northern Italy when we were on our honeymoon. I was enchanted by everything, from the castles perched atop the hills, the orchards and vineyards, the views stretching out to the Alps, to the world-class cuisine in both the Michelin-starred restaurants as well as the local trattorias, and I was astounded by the culture of kindness. Everyone, young and old, seemed beautiful, kind and charming. We were smitten. We returned 18 months later and decided to look for a house, perhaps a fixer-upper, as a project and as a home. We found an ancient barn for a very modest sum, and set about restoring it. After a year or two of this work, we left the US to live there full-time, and it was the best decision I ever made, apart from marrying my husband.
Do you feel at home in Italy? How easy was it for you to adapt to your new life there?
I feel utterly at home in Northern Italy. It called me from the first day, and it still calls me when I am away from it. We adapted easily, as we were rebuilding the house and making it ours. The people were warm and welcoming, and the lifestyle was a little slower, but that suits me now just fine.
You have recently retired after a rich career as an advertising director. What made you want to relocate overseas permanently?
The town made me want to live there permanently. I was not necessarily looking to relocate; I just fell in love with the town, the people, and the way of life. The food is better, the wine is better, and it is all cheaper. The weather is lovely, and it is easy to hop over to London, Amsterdam, Paris, or Venice on a whim. Day to day, the stress is lower, and I am happier than I have ever been at any other chapter of my life. I don't miss my work since I have spent time writing my Substack, "Letters from a 300-year-old Italian Farmhouse," and now my book, "Pinch Me ~ Waking Up in a 300-year-old Italian Farmhouse". The title says it all!
Retiring overseas is a growing trend among American expats. What, in your opinion, makes them want to leave?
I keep reading that a lot of Americans are tired of the divisiveness of our country or its politics now. The cost of living is also very high. Some, maybe, just want a new adventure. I would fall into the camp of having wanted a new adventure, but the rewards go way beyond that. It is simply a wonderful way of life.
Besides retirees, what makes people want to leave the USA in general?
I can't speak for everyone, but I lived in France and Germany at different times in my career for work, and I found that living in Europe was wonderful. I loved learning to speak French and German, which is much easier when you live there, and I loved seeing the world through a different window. The world is big and interesting and has much to offer us. I feel the same, but even more deeply, about Northern Italy. It is wonderful.
Do you think the recent US elections will impact immigration and emigration?
Everything I read now says there has been a big surge in interest in living abroad since the election. I think it has happened after other elections as well, but it seems to me that there has been a cosmic shift since this last one. Lots of our friends half-joke that they are coming to stay with us---forever!
Your memoir, Pinch Me ~ Waking Up in a 300-year-old Italian Farmhouse, is described as "a tale filled with discoveries, disappointments, pleasures, frustrations, and triumphs". Can you tell us more about these emotions?
Discoveries happen every day, big and little ones. It is a joy and a great way to grow. I was disappointed in one person we got to know who took advantage of our "foreignness" and cheated us. But that was rare. I was very shocked when I received a diagnosis of "Triple Negative Breast Cancer" a rare and particularly lethal type of cancer. We immediately had to uproot for a year to come back to San Francisco for the kind of world-class medical care that it offers and that my diagnosis required. And I have triumphed, now 7 years later, having been pronounced "cured."
If you had to start all over again, would you have made the move earlier? Is there anything you would have done differently?
No. And no. The timing was perfect for us. Everyone is different, but for us, the timing and the whole situation were right.
What would you advise fellow Americans who are contemplating a move overseas and anyone looking to retire in a foreign country?
I would say start now. Study the native language if it is not English. Read a lot about the area and study real estate offerings. We followed "Piemonte Houses" to get a sense of what the homes were like. Go there on vacation, and keep going there until your heart tells you you are in love. You will know when it is right. Give yourself a plan "B" if it doesn't work out. Take it a step at a time. Be open. Be kind. And be humble.
What is your favorite thing about Italy, and what do you like the least? Is it a country you would recommend to your fellow expats?
Even with the amazing food and wine, the ideal weather, the beautiful views, and the proximity of other places to visit, what I love best, hands down, is the people. They are kind, humble yet elegant, hard-working yet relaxed when they are not working, and they go out of their way to make us feel welcome in their country. I would recommend it 100% to anyone who loves the area, is respectful of its culture, and is curious, open, and gracious as they are.
