Dearest Hive Community and Living In Gift Friends,

Vincent and I have been discussing how to proceed in terms of buying our next piece of land - and in the process, have finally (re)realised that it makes more sense to get back to Guardia Sanframondi and prepare The Arthouse for selling (than to bumble on in limbo, up the glen in Portugal, paying rent for a not-so-functioning house!). So we plan to return earlier than expected to Italy, and to focus together on the sale.

With everything in the world being so volatile too, it has been a bit of a roller-coaster, thinking of how to actually sell an eccentric pile of rooms in a mystical medieval quarter... And whether or not we even want to sell it with fiat currency! Which, well, we don't!

My ideal transfer of The Arthouse would be in Bitcoin and/ or HIVE and/ or HBD, via private agreement - i.e. removing the house from the commercial law realm of being registered with a questura/ land registry council place. I would love to sell it whole or in parts - ideally it could serve more than one new owner, who might want a part-time apartment, and be willing to work collaboratively with another two or three buyers. I'd so love the house, all the details and historical magic of it, to go to the right person, who genuinely can love it and thrive in it, making art, writing, cooking, resting, healing, and looking out on this epic panorama...

I have a mailing list that I'm going to be sending info and listings out to this month, and a couple of people who I know have long-term been seeking a (smaller) apartment or house on this specific, beautiful wee street.

So do pass on this info to anyone who you think might be interested! The Immobiliare listing is here - (a popular Italian property listings website).

I can be contacted directly via clare.gs@pm.me - and via me website where I also have a page about The Arthouse

We continue to dream about the next place, and are trying to be more open-minded about where the Universe 'wants us to be': it is taking a bit of logistical unravelling to get our creative lives into the same container, which sits in right alignment with all things. We want to be autonomous, but connected. We need a lot of space inside and out, for our creative work. We crave peace and privacy on the most profound level, for our lifetime together. We want a landscape that has an abundance of plants, trees, water - and which will respond enthusiastically to our interactions; a place with enormous potential towards growth in every sense.

I love my beautiful Italian house, and how it served me all these years - and perhaps it'll serve me some more, at least in this interim period of @vincentnijman and I's coming together, and our co-creating a magical thriving ongoing shared lifework.

I really miss my cats too: though they love where they live, and are habituated to be there with all the familiar trees, birds, lizards and neighbours, they could benefit from having someone more permanently available for cuddles and playtime. I also miss all my clothing and fabrics, and my dress form/ tailor's mannequin, which I need to make new garments: it has been a bit of a tangle for me, leaving things and not knowing when I'll be back, though it was a super-necessary break!

It will be exciting to return, with my beloved, with much clearer perspective and new enthusiasm for the house - and to make some changes to let the house better welcome its new owner: clearing out any and all clutter, dust, damp and juju that it was harbouring; freshening up the rooms with paint and plaster, light and fresh air. Cheering up the cats. Having a midwinterfest pop-up event or two, even!

I love that I'll be able to spend some quality time before I leave the place for good: enjoying Guardia as someone visiting, rather than someone stuck there ;-) Seeing the fun and atmosphere in the old town, the quirky old buildings, the cosying in and merry-making of the cold months... Checking in with friends and neighbours who I love. Making sure that the lemon tree is flourishing still.

It'll be a blast to be in the midst of winter with Vincent there, as we left in scorching heat and bright long sunny days, back in early October. Though there are a few snowy pictures of the old town, it is a very rare occurrence to have snowfall, nevermind having it lay for more than a few minutes. I look forward to photographing Guardia whilst I'm there, which I'd lost interest in, after 15 years without vacationing much...

And the 50c stall should see me again immersed in sewing and remaking clothes: without my car OR my old Brother sewing machine, it'll be a bit of a strain to have to do it all by hand, but this is a joy, to adapt and develop according to what I have around me. This time, I'm much more empowered to make changes, create, and even sell the house for good, than before: Vincent is there like a steady reminder of everything being Right and Possible, and guided by Love.

Looking forward to this weekend looking at land around Lousa, central Portugal! One day at a time, building a new Life from the old one.

With Love and Hugs to you all,

www.claregaiasophia.com/