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🇦🇷 Argentina /Culture & Society

She left her U.S. job and moved to a village with her family: “My children have a freedom I never had”

From La Nación · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Debra Coltune moved from Las Vegas to Carloforte, Sardinia, with her two children in 2024, seeking greater safety and a calmer lifestyle.
  • She chose Sardinia because of its reputation as a “Blue Zone,” where many residents live to advanced ages.
  • Coltune said she now hopes to buy a home and build a permanent life on the island.

Debra Coltune left Las Vegas with her two children and moved to Carloforte, a small Italian town on Sardinia where residents start their mornings with walks and life moves at a slower pace.

The American-born food critic and content creator said she wanted to leave behind what she called “the city of vice.” She felt Las Vegas no longer provided the safety and essential services her children needed to grow up peacefully. Sardinia offered a different model, one associated with health, security and longevity.

My children have a freedom I never had.

· Debra ColtuneHeadline quote describing why she moved her family away from Las Vegas.

Coltune first visited San Pietro, on the Mediterranean island, in 2023. She quickly became attached to local customs and the residents’ way of life. In 2024, she returned with her children, Aiden and Kaiya, and the family’s two poodles. They rented an apartment in Carloforte and began adapting to Italian culture.

Las Vegas was all flashing lights, constant energy and a frantic pace. In contrast, Sardinia is serene. The island moves at its own slow rhythm, surrounded by natural beauty and a calm that permeates every part of daily life.

· Debra ColtuneShe contrasted her former life in Las Vegas with her new surroundings in Sardinia.

“Las Vegas was all flashing lights, constant energy and a frantic pace. In contrast, Sardinia is serene. The island moves at its own slow rhythm, surrounded by natural beauty and a calm that permeates every part of daily life,” Coltune told CNN.

She said the island’s everyday habits changed her understanding of healthy aging. Islanders’ morning walks appeared effortless, but showed her how deeply exercise and routine were woven into daily life. “One of the main reasons we decided to move here was to adopt a healthier lifestyle in an authentic Blue Zone, where longevity and well-being are part of everyday life,” she said.

One of the main reasons we decided to move here was to adopt a healthier lifestyle in an authentic Blue Zone, where longevity and well-being are part of everyday life.

· Debra ColtuneShe explained her family’s health and lifestyle reasons for moving.

Coltune now wants to take the next step. “I am ready to actively look for a house to buy, one where we can truly put down roots and make this small island our home forever,” she said in July. She added that Carloforte gave her a sense of stability and safety that Las Vegas never provided.

I am ready to actively look for a house to buy, one where we can truly put down roots and make this small island our home forever.

· Debra ColtuneShe described plans to settle permanently in Carloforte.
About this summary

Originally published by La Nación in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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