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I have felt more uncomfortable in rural Cornwall walking into a pub than I have ever felt in rural Marche. I guess people might have stared at the start, but  a smile and a hello break down barriers, and many older people have worked away from the village for a number of years to return for their retirement, so horizons are broadened. I have even been invited to join the village "facebook" group...the most ancient member!.As for tolerance, we have a number of friends who are same sex couples, and there really does not seem to be any problem, less so than the UK, as Sebastiano points out, overt affection in public might be frowned on , but as the ½ûÂþÌìÌÃs are much more tactile and affectionate in public than us cooler types this is probably unnoticed as well.A

One of the books I borrowed from the library, Devoted Ladies by Molly Keane, contained some photographs, seemingly of a ladies night out in England, I will keep them safe and return them to the library when I next visit,Shame about the kayaks Anne, I was so looking forward to it!!A

Have sent you an emailA

Ask a local electrician, our ceiling lighting in the apartment was all done with corded fabric covered wire, dont  think its that rare or that unusual.A

Its a good read Alan and Cathy writes it well from her view point. But I think as she says she is essentially a city person and a media person, and at that point in her life she just wasnt ready to settle in rural Italy, there was so much else she needed/wanted to do, but still she and Jason with all their energy created a great and succesful buisness with their oil. And remember she loved her job in England.For others who are perhaps older more jaded, worn out with the rat race, the peace tranquility and pace of rural life is a balm, and  around Loro Piceno, not evey neighbour is a rural farmer, and it would be insulting to assume so, the ½ûÂþÌìÌÃs are sophisticated, Macerata is a large university city with the world famous opera, there is no need to sink into isolation and be bored, but it doesnt suit all.As Cathy discovered,.A

Oh dont go Serge I am sure we all value your comments, I know I do, I totally misunderstood Marcellas post, but that is all fine now, sometimes the written word can be misinterpreted and misunderstood in the context of the thread, and other peoples options can vie with your own strong held views, hang around a little longer!.A

Agree with you Pilchard, there are places I no longer eat at as they seem to marinade the meat in brine before they cook it, as you say, way too salty, I hardly ever use salt in cooking, use herbs for flavour instead and never add salt to food at the table. One good habit amid all the bad ones!.A

Thats OK Marcella, no probs.A

Thank you Marcella, I was in no way being defensive, I have really no need to be, merely voicing another view point in the debate, I do realise it was prices and cost of living that was being compared in this thread, but was perhaps trying to widen the debate, no matter.A

This is all very interesting, but perhaps rather than measure like for like on monetry terms, the biggest consideration when making choices for me regarding staying in the UK or living in italy has been quality of lfe. And if that means living on a much reduced budget, and it does, then thats fine. I think what would be difficult would to be alot younger and have a young family, without the safety net of pensions kicking in. For that group of people it would be very hard indeed .And for me the thought of living in London has me hiding under the duvet!, the noise the traffic the pollution, the lack of personal space, but for others the buzz, the entertainment...we go to the local bar for ours!. I digress a little but was watching an interview with Stephen Fry yesterday and he was asked what he disliked about England now, he said the greyness of the people the negativity, the lack of positive feeling. In the end with the resources you have its is some sort of choice as to where you live, poorer in a material way in Italy but richer in that hard to define quality.A