Nine Reasons Why We are Moving to Portugal

A day doesn't go by without someone asking us "WHY" when we mention that we are moving to Portugal.  That's a very good question and one that we have searched out deepest thoughts to answer. So here are 9 very personal reasons.

1. CIVILITY Does it matter?  I read that a survey on Civility in America finds that 70 percent of respondents believe that incivility in the US has risen to "crisis" levels.  (ncsl.org) .  We are sick of the disrespect, lawless behavior and increased gun violence.  We want to live in a less violent country.  Portugal is rated as the 4th safest country in the world for criminality and political instability (USA is #122).

2.  TRAVEL OPPORTUNITIES We love to travel to immerse ourselves in new cultures and settings.  We are limited to 90 days in Europe on our US passport and becoming EU Residents (Portugal) puts us closer to countries we want to visit and eliminates the time restrictions.

3.  FINANCE Cost of living in Portugal is 30-40% less than in the US...more travel money!

4.  IMMERSION in other cultures, languages, lifestyles have always intrigued us and we find its the best kind of "travel" there is.

5.  HEALTH CARE Portugal has "World Class" health care offering much lower costs both in the private sector and the public services.

6.  FOOD & WINE Who can deny that Portugal is blessed with some of the best opportunities to indulge in fresh daily seafood, Port wine and European desserts.  

7.  ADVENTURE & CHALLENGE We are not naive to think that our move will be without its ups and downs.  What better way to "keep young" and "healthy".

 8.  SIMPLIFIED LIFE We are looking forward to life without a car, being able to walk to grocery stores, stroll along the seashore and simply absorb a slower lifestyle.  Portugal is reported to have some of the friendliest people who will always welcome you and try to make you feel at home.

9.  POLITICS Portugal transitioned from dictatorship to democracy in 1975 after the non-violent Carnation Revolution.  In that short time has become a stable, progressive, center-left government. How did Portugal manage to have the World's Highest COVID-19 Vaccination Rate?  Leaving politics out of it and generally having a positive attitude towards national vaccination programs, Portugal has reached 85% of vaccinated people.  

Living as expats we will not be local but also not tourists.  We will not be on vacation but carry on daily life.  We will learn how to navigate everyday life without a car, in a country we don't speak the language and leasing an apartment (which we haven't done for 50 years!).  

But we are up for the challenge-why not??