The ex-pat life. What makes someone pick up stakes and go live somewhere new, somewhere foreign?
Many people have a bucket list, whether it is written down or just wandering around in their heads. I’m a writer so my list has been in written form for decades. It changes as things get checked off or new ideas come my way.
One of the items that has been on that list for too long is to live in Europe for at least a year so I can experience it first hand, not on a two-week guided tour.
And… frankly, at a certain age, things on your bucket list become much less possible and (ahem) I might be getting perilously close to that certain age. If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that life doesn’t care how old you are when it slams the door.
It was time to move my ass off the couch.
A Little History:
Moving has been a constant in my life. My parents moved us to at least five different houses in the same town when I was growing up, each one better than the last. I think my oldest siblings got to live in seven different houses.
I moved from Massachusetts to Georgia to Florida to San Francisco to Hawaii back to Florida as an adult. I like warm weather. Any place I move has to have mild winters. I am a wuss.
I can work from anywhere. My clients are (mostly) business authors and we connect over the internet. I have met very few of my clients in person. Where I live is not important to them.
Why Be an Ex-Pat in Portugal?
There are tons of ex-pat and digital nomad strongholds around the world. My friend Kellie, who you most likely will hear more about over the next few months, lived in Chiang Mai, Thailand for a couple of years before settling in Merida, Mexico. My friend Dan goes back and forth between the US and his parent’s home country of Serbia. My friends Maryhelen and Steve have been planning their retirement in Costa Rica, which may be my Plan B. In fact, Costa Rica, Belize, and Mexico are retirement meccas for Americans because of the weather, lifestyle, and cost of living. I was also told to check out Panama and Ecuador. And Portugal.
My goal was to experience Europe first hand. So, while I may not end up in Europe forever, I knew it would be my starting point.
I initially looked at Italy because I’m about half Italian. I wanted someplace warm with beaches. I wanted a base of operations where I could travel throughout Europe fairly easily. The cost of living in Italy can be lower than the US, depending on where you choose to live. From my research, it was mostly comparable, but then, I live fairly cheaply to begin with. I don’t have kids, pets, a spouse, or a fancy car. I’m not a foodie (though I’m willing to expand my horizons) and if you’ve ever seen me dress, you know my money does NOT go into the latest fashion trends. (I’m hoping to improve on that, too.)
Then someone else said, “Check out Portugal. It has a thriving ex-pat community.” Probably four different people recommended it to me. So I took a look and I liked what I saw.
- The country is small, with about 10 million people, and it hosts around one million ex-pats. I figure that until I learn the language, I just need to put myself in a group of nine other people and the odds are good that one will speak English.
- Actually, because of tourism, many Portuguese speak English and frankly, while I can’t and won’t depend on that, it will be helpful.
- They like Americans. That’s really nice, because we have not been the best citizens of the world lately. I appreciate that and I will do my best to be a good guest.
- The cost of living IS low, especially compared to major American cities. This is good for me because it will allow me to have a relatively inexpensive base of operations while I explore Portugal and the rest of Europe.
- It’s developed. By that I mean access to wifi, which is important for my work. But it also has one of the best healthcare systems in the world, which becomes more important with each passing year.
- Portugal has a mild climate and gorgeous beaches. It has a rich culture and history which makes it a perfect place to start my European experience.
- Why not Portugal?
Flying Blind into the Ex-Pat Life
I had planned to visit Portugal over the summer of 2020 to check out some of the regions, perhaps decide on an area to settle, and figure out if I would actually like it. But Covid.
So, I’m going in blind. I’ve never been there. I don’t know anyone there. I’m on Lesson Six of my Portuguese language course. (And it ain’t pretty.)
Covid has made the move a bit trickier. There are more hoops to jump through; more precautions to take. But I have my visa, I have accommodations lined up for the next six months, and I just bought new luggage. I leave in two weeks. Yikes!
Coming posts will include the visa process, what I’m taking with me, what’s going into storage, and all the preliminary work I have had to do to make this come about. Stay tuned.
I’ve heard from our mutual friend, Rebekah Chalkey, how inspiring (and frank) your ex-pat series is Barbara. So, from my new-ish home on the beaches of North Carolina, hello!
It’s time for me to dive in!
The warm waters await,
Christy
Congrats on your new-ish home. There’s nothing like a warm coastal breeze. Enjoy!
Barb! So proud of and happy for you! Can’t wait to read the book you’re going to write about this experience! Maybe create an anthology of women of a certain age who become expats! In the meanwhile, your dispatches will be read with great enthusiasm! When life allows me to return to Europe, I look forward to adding Portugal to my destinations! Which means I have to go deeper in researching anti-Nazi resistance in Portugal! Ironically, I will be doing my 2nd presentation for the Sousa Mendes Foundation in April–Aristides Sousa Mendes was the Portuguese Consul in Bordeaux France, and he risked his life and lost his career for saving far more Jews than Schindler. Will want to check out : “The Sousa Mendes visa recipients arrived in Portugal at Vilar Formoso. There, they received instructions from the authorities as to where they would be permitted to stay. They were assigned to “fixed residences” in towns and villages throughout the country and were required to relinquish their passports in exchange for ID cards issued by the PVDE (political police). The map shows the towns where we have been able to identify specific Sousa Mendes visa recipients as having resided. Some refugees stayed only a short time before finding ship passage and onward visas to the United States or other final destinations, while others waited in Portugal for a year or longer. As a group, the refugees were greeted with warmth and generosity by the Portuguese population.” Here’s another thought: a dear friend of mine, an expat in Paris, has created virtual walking tours with very reasonable ticket prices. Maybe once you’ve gotten settled, and in prep for all of us to come visit you, it might be cool to create your own walking tour of the highlights that await us! There’s probably at least one fascinating story behind each highlight–maybe there’s a magazine that would pay for your articles! Saluting your courage, your passion, your many talents, and your indomitable spirit! xo
Hi Barbara,
What a great idea! I have lived as an expat in seven different countries, including Costa Rica. Manuel Antonio beach is like bathwater. I haven’t been to Portugal though Alyson Sheldrake, a member of one of my author groups, lives in Algarve. She has written two memoirs on her life there. https://www.alysonsheldrake.com/ That might be something worth checking out. I’m excited for you! Will def follow your adventures, as I have a heart of a traveler! All the best, and even if we have never met, I feel I kind of know you from this group. So I feel as if I am wishing my friend bon voyage!
Thanks, Amy! Maybe it’s time to consider Portugal?? 🙂 I’ll be in the Algarve for the next four months, so maybe I’ll cross paths with Alyson. I prefer my oceans to be bathwater temperature–I lived in Hawaii, worked cruise ships in the Caribbean and Baja, and lived in Florida. I am spoiled when it comes to water temp.
Congratulations on taking the step into Expat life. My husband and I sold everything and hoped a flight from San Francisco to Mexico City almost three years ago then shuttled it up to San Miguel de Allende where we are healthier and definitely happier. San Miguel has a large number of expats and is a town of the arts. It is fabulous for a new writer like me. Should you eventually look at Mexico as a place to land, consider our lovely neck of the woods. http://www.ourprimeoflife.com
I used to work on eco-cruises in the Sea of Cortez, so I have a fondness for the Baja Peninsula. Of course, I also worked on boats that went to Cozumel, so… Mexico looks good from either side. 🙂
Great idea! Portugal also decriminalised lots of stuff which actually seems to have improved the results for the population. Where in Portugal will you be based? Weather can be different South to North. Driving off the highways can be an adventure in itself! Let us know when you get there. Lots to check out.
I’m starting out in the Algarve, near Faro. I am sticking to warm weather! I’ll travel a little farther north in the spring and summer. Cheers!
So proud of you. You’re going to have a grand adventure. I’ve visited Lisbon and Madeira and wished I could have spent more time.
Thanks, Denise. Now you have a friend to visit. 🙂
Very excited for you Barb! This is going to be an amazing journey.
Thanks, Chris. We’ll have to zoom for our chats now.
Good for you, Barbara! If not now, when, right?
We have a lot in common. I work with book authors too (mainly transformational books), I’m single with no kids, etc., and I have been thinking for several years about relocating somewhere outside the U.S. I’ve been eyeing Mexico, Canada, and France (I speak the language).
Forty plus years ago, I lived in Africa (Burundi and Kenya) for 5 years and Denmark (married to a Dane) for 5 years. So I’m familiar with the expat life and have missed it ever since I moved back to the States 30 plus years ago. A former client of mine and her husband are living the ex-pat life in Portugal, and they love it! Of course it helps that they are Brazilian and speak the language.
I’m looking forward to hearing all about your adventures. And I salute you for your adventurous spirit. I think you’re going to have a marvelous experience!
We have a business that allows us to work from anywhere with wifi. I hope your adventures aren’t too far behind mine!
How exciting! I will be looking for all the updates and hope you have a marvelous time. I’ll stop over some time :).
You damn well better.
Barbara, I applaud your courage and am so looking forward to each and everyone of your experiences. Good luck and be well!
Watching you doing Remote Year was definitely inspiring. So thank you!
This is great! I look forward to following your adventures. 🙂