- Angie Smith felt trapped in her corporate tech job. Her stress levels and overall health suffered.
- In January 2023, she decided to leave her well-paid position in Texas and move to Italy that fall.
- The 52-year-old enjoys a quieter life, runs retreats for women, and has gone down two dress sizes.
This interview is based on a conversation with Angie Smith, 52, a real estate advisor and founder of a women's retreat in Tuscany. It has been edited for length and clarity.
Most of the time when I worked in tech sales in Fort Worth, Dallas, I was on the road, traveling across the Southern states. I'd stay in hotels, drink Margaritas, order food on DoorDash, and avoid exercising.
I was constantly sick with everything from digestive issues to migraine headaches. I eventually ended up in the hospital and went on anxiety medication.
I also put on weight and, at 5ft 7in tall, weighed 218 pounds at one point.
Although I was good at my job, which paid six figures annually, I'd get the "Sunday Scaries" when the thought of yet another focus meeting the following morning filled me with dread.
I'd always loved Italy
Things were so bad that my sister took me aside on several occasions and said, "Angie, if you don't change something, you're going to die." We lost our brother suddenly in 2021 at 68. For years, he'd told me, "Work isn't everything."
In January 2023, I finally took notice. I was 49, and woke up one day thinking, "I'm heading into the second half of my life. Do I really want to keep on doing this?"
I'd loved Italy ever since spending two weeks there with my daughter, Taylor, when she graduated high school in 2013. We went to Milan, Rome, and Venice.
On the flight home, I cried because I felt such a connection to the place and the people. After that, I visited on vacation as often as I could.
I'd had ideas about settling there before, which had come to nothing. But this time, after much thought, I was determined to make it happen.
I put in my notice in March 2023 and left my job the following month. Then I put my home in Fort Worth on the market for $465,000. Meanwhile, Taylor, now 31, who lives and works in London, caught budget flights to Italy to scout houses for me in Tuscany.
It was risky, but I bought a two-bedroom house, located in a hamlet 30 miles from Florence, pretty much "sight unseen," that June. Taylor had shown it to me on FaceTime, and I trusted her judgment.
I paid 120,000 euros (around $130,000 USD in 2023) in cash, and saw it for the first time just before closing in August. It was a beautiful, 19th-century stone house with two bedrooms and two acres of terraced olive groves.
I'm far from fluent in Italian
Two months later, I packed my belongings, boarded a plane, and moved into the small two-bedroom property. It was the best decision I ever made.
Most of the residents in my hamlet belong to one multi-generational family — from babies up to great grandparents — and they've welcomed me with open arms.
They taught me how to take care of my olive trees and even helped me with my first harvest in 2024. I speak a combination of English and Italian to them, but I'm far from fluent.
My life is much quieter now — and so much healthier. I don't have the migraines anymore.
I'm an outdoorsy person, and because I live in the mountains, where it's cooler, I hike a lot. Physical activity and good eating have helped me to lose a total of 42 pounds in two-and-a-half years. I'm down from an extra large to a medium.
The food tastes so much better than American food, mostly because it's mostly free of preservatives. So many things I ate in the US inflamed me.
When I visited my family in the US, my face got puffy, and my stomach got upset, just like before.
Women can dream bigger than they think
In fact, I gained 8 pounds in Texas between Christmas and the end of January, which I'm healthfully losing now.
I got my digital nomad visa in September 2025 after proving I met the requirement of earning more than 32,000 euros (about $38,000 USD) per year. My small businesses are a real estate advisory service for people thinking of moving to Italy and hosting women's retreats.
I want women — especially singletons, divorcees, and empty nesters — to realize they can dream bigger in their next step.
My story has inspired many others to change their location and lifestyle. I'm spreading the word that new adventures await after 50.
Have you moved abroad from the US in middle age? Please email Jane Ridley at [email protected]
