In the year  2000, I had worked as a financial manager in a hospital for 15 years. I was discouraged by the lack of options for the uninsured, the sometimes absurd authorization required by insurance companies, and I was just ready for a change. I decided to move to Italy for about a year so I sold my house and car and left for Rome. I spent the first year settling in with my dogs, getting used to our new home and learning Italian. I wrote, travelled and took thousands of photos. Then I decided to stay long term. I got my teaching certificate for ESL and started on a new career path.

I immersed myself in my Italian life. I wasn't involved much with the American community here in Rome until the beginning of the Obama Campaign.  Then I joined a group called "Americans in Italy for Obama" and we did lots of work with expats here. We also became good friends.

Other highlights of the decade:

Joining CNN iReport

Doing an exhibition in Rome of some photos I'd done in the States of gospel concerts

Following the Iran protests online and in Rome and feeling more hopeful about the future of Iran

Teaching English and finding it to be a real passion, not just a job.

Now I am thinking about the next decade and wondering what the next adventure will be.  Best wishes for  2010 to iReport staff, my fellow-iReporters and all of you who follow iReport.