The Best Longevity Investment May Be Where You Choose to Live

Growing up, I never thought much about longevity.

I simply thought I was lucky.

Lucky to spend weekends with my grandmothers. Lucky to hear family stories stretching back generations. Lucky to sit around long tables covered in homemade pasta, tomato sauce simmering on the stove, and relatives lingering long after dinner had ended.

Only later did I realize how extraordinary the women in my family truly were.

My great-grandmother lived to 98.

My grandmother lived to 97.

Her sister lived to 104.

And my other grandmother, whose family came from just outside Naples, is still with us today at over 100 years old.

For years, people have asked what their secret was.

Was it genetics?

The Mediterranean diet?

Olive oil?

Perhaps.

But I believe the answer is much bigger than any single ingredient.

It was a way of life.

The Italian Understanding of Health

Long before wellness became an industry, the women in my family understood something many of us are now rediscovering.

Health is not built in a doctor’s office.

It is built in daily life.

It is built in the rhythms that shape our days.

Faith.

Family.

Purpose.

Movement.

Connection.

Time outdoors.

Good food shared with people you love.

These women prayed daily. Their faith was not something reserved for Sundays. It was woven into how they approached life.

Church wasn’t an obligation.

It was community.

It was gratitude.

It was belonging.

And after church often came one of my favorite traditions: gathering around the table with family.

No one rushed.

No one ate alone.

Conversation was as important as the meal itself.

The Healing Power of the Coast

What fascinates me is that all of these women spent most of their adult lives in Newport Beach.

At first glance, Newport Beach and Italy seem worlds apart.

But when I think about it, the similarities are impossible to ignore.

Life revolves around the water.

People spend time outdoors year-round.

Meals are enjoyed slowly.

Families stay connected.

The climate encourages movement rather than isolation.

Morning walks become routine.

Sunsets become part of the day.

The sea is never far away.

Even now, researchers continue to explore the benefits of coastal living. Ocean environments have been associated with reduced stress, increased physical activity, and improved mental wellbeing.

Anyone who has spent time by the water understands this intuitively.

There is something restorative about watching sailboats move across the harbor.

About hearing seagulls overhead.

About walking barefoot in the sand.

About feeling the rhythm of the waves.

The ocean slows us down.

And slowing down may be one of the most underrated health practices of all.

La Dolce Vita and La Dolce Far Niente

The Italian phrases la dolce vita and la dolce far niente are often misunderstood.

People translate them as luxury.

I translate them as wisdom.

La dolce vita is the sweetness of life.

La dolce far niente is the sweetness of doing nothing.

Not laziness.

Presence.

The ability to sit by the water without reaching for your phone.

To enjoy a sunset without documenting it.

To linger over coffee.

To take a walk without a destination.

My grandmothers lived this way naturally.

They gardened.

They cooked.

They cared for their families.

They sat in the sunshine.

They spent time by the sea.

They never seemed to be in a hurry.

Why Place Matters More Than We Think

As a real estate professional, I spend a great deal of time thinking about homes.

But increasingly, I find myself thinking about something larger.

Environment.

The places we choose to live influence how we spend our days.

Do we walk more?

Do we spend time outdoors?

Do we feel connected to nature?

Do we know our neighbors?

Do we gather with family?

Do we have access to beauty?

These questions may matter as much as square footage or architectural style.

Because where we live ultimately shapes how we live.

And how we live shapes how we age.

A Different Definition of Wealth

Today, many people are redefining success.

They are looking beyond bigger homes and busier schedules.

They are searching for something more sustainable.

More meaningful.

More restorative.

Perhaps true wealth is waking up near the ocean.

Walking to the beach.

Sharing meals with family.

Feeling connected to faith, community, and nature.

Perhaps the greatest luxury is not having more.

It is needing less.

When I look back at the women in my family, I don’t see people chasing longevity.

I see people living well.

And maybe that’s the point.

The best longevity investment isn’t found in a supplement bottle or a wellness trend.

It’s found in the life you build every day.

The people you surround yourself with.

The faith that grounds you.

The food you share.

The sunshine on your face.

The ocean outside your window.

And the place you choose to call home.