Buongiorno! I returned from Cropani, Italy, just in time for our publisher, Sharon, to jet off to Catania, Italy, to sail with friends around the Aeolian Islands off the Sicilian coast. Neither of us planned it that way; it just happened.

It was bittersweet leaving Cropani after two months of being immersed in the Italian culture in a place where wild pink, red, and white oleander bushes line the roads; millions of olive trees defy gravity on steep mountainsides; cities perch on mountaintops accessible by narrow roads where matchbox-sized cars squeeze through hairpin turns to reach them; and the sun-drenched sandy beach of Cropani beckons locals and tourists to swim in the crystal-clear waters of the Ionian Sea.

Being able to walk only a few steps to small markets where the owners greeted me with smiles and rang up my purchases of fresh produce, cheeses, meats, eggs, and other necessities, or buying from the fresh produce truck that came by my gate once a week, was an introduction to the many benefits of a simpler lifestyle and the feeling that I belonged to a community.

The residents of Cropani know the art of living the good life and the value of a lifestyle that nearly replicates the elements of a Blue Zones location. In Cropani, there’s a significant intake of olive oil, the Mediterranean diet, fresh seafood from sea to table, only seasonal produce, daily ascending or descending steep stairs or city streets, gardening as a pastime, a strong faith base, and community ties with plenty of piazza gatherings and cafe socializing. These are emphasized in this month’s feature, "The Power of Community" (page 24), and in the articles, "In Search of the Healthiest Diet" (page 20) and "Gathering Around the Friendship Fire" (page 13). And I had the pleasure of experiencing all of them. When planning our editorial, Sharon and I didn’t intend it that way; it was serendipitous.

The children, on summer vacation in July and August, impressed me because, unsupervised by parents, they played games in the piazzas, along cobblestone city streets, and on the steps of the Cropani Duomo—without cell phones. For two months, I never saw one child of any age with a cell phone. The other things that amazed me were the number of multigenerational households and the 90-years-plus healthy men and women I met taking an evening stroll while I was on my way to the café for an Aperol spritz.

I want to return to Cropani, as my friend who hosted me has plans for the agritourism business she purchased there. With five guestrooms for rent, a restaurant that serves great Italian dishes, 75 acres of olive trees, a swimming pool, and walking paths, it’s the perfect place for me to make more summer memories. Next month, you can look forward to reading about Sharon’s sailing adventures and summer memories.

Sharon and I are hoping that you are making some summer memories of your own!

Linda Sechrist, Editor