Since we have been going through the process of moving to Portugal we have met so many people, friends and family who say "I am so envious, I want to do that, we have talked about moving there". The hard part is actually walking the talk and DOING IT and going through all the twists and turns and feelings and change process which many find so hard to do in any scenario of great CHANGE whatever it be. Human nature is to stay safe in the comfort zone and to what is familiar. My favorite saying and mantra is "You're a long time dead" and you have one shot at life and I have personally made many changes in my life. I moved to the USA from UK 25 years ago and a few weeks before I left the UK and started doubting it all, a friend of mine at our local pub said " What's the worst that can happen, you can always come back" and lo and behold I have been here in the USA for 25 years and am now with my beautiful husband who I met 10 years ago am going back across the herring pond to beautiful Portugal and living the dream.
Nancy, I embrace everything you mention about your reasons for leaving, well "bloody" said as the Brits would say! Bravo to you and Denise! Or in the words of my 95 year old mother in law who passed last year "It' ain't goin to be easy" but look what is on the other side!
You are both courageous women to do what you’re doing. I often dream of doing something like that. With Covid, we have all been travel deprived. Hope to be able to come visit you both some day.
Diana, though many have used the word "courage" related to our journey I fail to see it. We aren't going to a war-torn country...we have the resources to return to the states and buy another home...and we have each other. Courage, I think, would be doing this alone.
I get it. Just think it’s scary selling everything and moving to a foreign country where you don’t speak the language. Yes, doing it with a partner is obviously easier. I was scared to move to Arizona being born and raised in So Cal 😂.
Thank you for this very generous description of the arc of your life and the choices you’ve made along the way. Here’s to enjoying the journey you and Denise have taken yourselves on. I’m glad you are sharing that path with an audience of others, including me.
Avery, thank you for recognizing that sometimes sharing the choices one has made is not easy. I had Denise read the post before it went live...asking her, was it too dark or was I sharing too much. But perhaps we learn the most when we are willing to be most vulnerable.
I would not call your post dark, at all. I appreciate all that you shared and I do feel that we learn the most when we are open, and vulnerable. Plus we get to see more of who we are, which is always a gift. Thank you!
I decided to go right to your blog when I got your message. It certainly is a better way to let people know what made you make the journey. Knowing both of you I can understand all of your decisions, although I must admit you are more adventurous than me. It is great that you share your deepest thoughts with the world, a release for you, and a tale of how you can change your life in an instant(well not exactly) for others.
You may know that every fall my parents spent a month in Portugal, renting a villa in Carvoeiro in the Algarve (for about $250. a month-3BR 3BA & a pool) . They loved it and tried to live as the native population lived. My mother tried to always speak the language, although I am not sure she always did a great job with it), walk down to the markets each day for fresh food and travel to nearby towns to explore at every opportunity. When she returned to the US she would share her travel experiences complete with slides with all who would ask and many who probably didn't. Every Sunday we (I was there sometimes) would go up to the mountains the "the chicken place" for our Sunday meal and water at the springs as well as time with the locals. While there they met and became close friends with many expats, mostly from the UK, who chose the climate and cost of living as well as the leisurely, peaceful lifestyle to live out their retirement years. I never heard any regrets. I wish the two of you the best and will continue to check up on you via this and email. Live your dream! BTW there are some great golf courses in Portugal, Villamoura, Vale de Lobo, and others, although those are in the Algarve. I think I remember Cascais being closer to Lisbon.
Hey there! So glad you found us. Denise never told me about your family’s Algarve adventures. We are headed there next week and staying for two weeks to get a feel for the place. Yes, it is peaceful here. A welcome change from the noise, the rush, the need to constantly achieve something.
Thank you for sharing your experience. It’s hard to put yourself out there like that. Honestly, it doesn’t matter if it makes others uncomfortable. It’s your truth.
Since we have been going through the process of moving to Portugal we have met so many people, friends and family who say "I am so envious, I want to do that, we have talked about moving there". The hard part is actually walking the talk and DOING IT and going through all the twists and turns and feelings and change process which many find so hard to do in any scenario of great CHANGE whatever it be. Human nature is to stay safe in the comfort zone and to what is familiar. My favorite saying and mantra is "You're a long time dead" and you have one shot at life and I have personally made many changes in my life. I moved to the USA from UK 25 years ago and a few weeks before I left the UK and started doubting it all, a friend of mine at our local pub said " What's the worst that can happen, you can always come back" and lo and behold I have been here in the USA for 25 years and am now with my beautiful husband who I met 10 years ago am going back across the herring pond to beautiful Portugal and living the dream.
Nancy, I embrace everything you mention about your reasons for leaving, well "bloody" said as the Brits would say! Bravo to you and Denise! Or in the words of my 95 year old mother in law who passed last year "It' ain't goin to be easy" but look what is on the other side!
You are both courageous women to do what you’re doing. I often dream of doing something like that. With Covid, we have all been travel deprived. Hope to be able to come visit you both some day.
Diana, though many have used the word "courage" related to our journey I fail to see it. We aren't going to a war-torn country...we have the resources to return to the states and buy another home...and we have each other. Courage, I think, would be doing this alone.
I get it. Just think it’s scary selling everything and moving to a foreign country where you don’t speak the language. Yes, doing it with a partner is obviously easier. I was scared to move to Arizona being born and raised in So Cal 😂.
Thank you for this very generous description of the arc of your life and the choices you’ve made along the way. Here’s to enjoying the journey you and Denise have taken yourselves on. I’m glad you are sharing that path with an audience of others, including me.
Avery, thank you for recognizing that sometimes sharing the choices one has made is not easy. I had Denise read the post before it went live...asking her, was it too dark or was I sharing too much. But perhaps we learn the most when we are willing to be most vulnerable.
I would not call your post dark, at all. I appreciate all that you shared and I do feel that we learn the most when we are open, and vulnerable. Plus we get to see more of who we are, which is always a gift. Thank you!
Always try to do what you like and want....
Hi Nanc (and Denise),
I decided to go right to your blog when I got your message. It certainly is a better way to let people know what made you make the journey. Knowing both of you I can understand all of your decisions, although I must admit you are more adventurous than me. It is great that you share your deepest thoughts with the world, a release for you, and a tale of how you can change your life in an instant(well not exactly) for others.
You may know that every fall my parents spent a month in Portugal, renting a villa in Carvoeiro in the Algarve (for about $250. a month-3BR 3BA & a pool) . They loved it and tried to live as the native population lived. My mother tried to always speak the language, although I am not sure she always did a great job with it), walk down to the markets each day for fresh food and travel to nearby towns to explore at every opportunity. When she returned to the US she would share her travel experiences complete with slides with all who would ask and many who probably didn't. Every Sunday we (I was there sometimes) would go up to the mountains the "the chicken place" for our Sunday meal and water at the springs as well as time with the locals. While there they met and became close friends with many expats, mostly from the UK, who chose the climate and cost of living as well as the leisurely, peaceful lifestyle to live out their retirement years. I never heard any regrets. I wish the two of you the best and will continue to check up on you via this and email. Live your dream! BTW there are some great golf courses in Portugal, Villamoura, Vale de Lobo, and others, although those are in the Algarve. I think I remember Cascais being closer to Lisbon.
Hey there! So glad you found us. Denise never told me about your family’s Algarve adventures. We are headed there next week and staying for two weeks to get a feel for the place. Yes, it is peaceful here. A welcome change from the noise, the rush, the need to constantly achieve something.
Thank you for sharing your experience. It’s hard to put yourself out there like that. Honestly, it doesn’t matter if it makes others uncomfortable. It’s your truth.