Did the Cleavers Move to Portugal?

Sometimes it feels that way...

Since moving to Portugal in December 2020, I have had a recurring feeling. It is almost as if we moved next door to June, Ward, Wally, and the Beave.

The Cleavers planning their trip to Portugal?

The Internet in 1960

It seems as if I live in a technically advanced country that has the social feel of 1960. We have high-speed internet, cellphones, and electric cars. At the same time, Portugal closed early on Good Friday and for the most part, did not open again until after Easter Sunday. It reminded me of my youth when Blue Laws closed nearly all commerce on Sunday. While I realize that Blue Laws still exist in some states (e.g. alcohol and car sales are banned in some states on Sunday) you must admit it is not as restrictive as when most of us were kids.

Blue Laws and Religion

While blue laws have their origin in Christian religions, the US Supreme Court has continued to assert their legality in secular terms:

McGowan v. Maryland (1961) … It approved the state's blue law restricting commercial activities on Sunday, noting that while such laws originated to encourage attendance at Christian churches, the contemporary Maryland laws were intended to serve "to provide a uniform day of rest for all citizens" on a secular basis and to promote the secular values of "health, safety, recreation, and general well-being" through a common day of rest.

While the Portuguese Constitution clearly protects freedom of religion, over 80% of the population continue to identify as Roman Catholic. And while regional differences can be seen in church attendance, most Portuguese still want to be married in the church, have their children baptized, etc. But I am convinced that it is more than religion that contributes to Portuguese “blue laws”.

Family, our most precious possession. Nurture and keep this love.

Family

One of my Portuguese readers recently commented on a post:

But of course I would not adapt living in another country. Family, friends, values count too much for me…But as you probably have already noticed here is different. Most of the people are born and live all their lives in the same city. If not the distances are so short that it easy to gather very often. And we are very much family oriented.

While I agree with her comment, it saddened me. When you speak with people about moving to Mexico, for example, they often comment that it is more family-oriented. And when we traveled to Mexico, we had that same sense. On Sundays, it seemed every family was on the beach. And not for an hour or two, but for the entire day. Mom and dad weren’t napping on the blanket or reading the latest trashy novel…they were playing with their children, eating with their children, laughing with their children.

What happened to America? I know some parents who seem to spend most of their “together” time driving their children to the next organized activity: soccer practice, dance lessons, etc. Do children just go out and play anymore?

Is it the hours we work? I think not, as many Portuguese have more than one job.

Is it that church attendance is declining? Is it that we no longer have just one day to rest and be with family?

Is it the size of the US, our mobility that makes us seem less family-oriented? I know that I lived more than 1000 miles from my family for most of my adult life. Of course, that is just me… perhaps there are parts of the country where families (and extended families) stay closer to home.

I guess it could be true that I am just projecting and the rest of America is as family-oriented as Portugal. I don’t know.

What I do know is I like living “next to the Cleavers”.