I have decided to start writing on this blog again for a couple of reasons. My level of disgust with what is going on in this country is once again reaching a point where I need a venue to vent. In addition, I have decided to put my plans in place to explore the idea of becoming a full-time or, at least part time, ex-pat. I have been thinking about moving overseas for the past year or so but the COVID pandemic put a bit of a damper on my plans. I have lived overseas twice, once in Kuwait and once in France and just like the added dimension living in different places adds to one’s life. In addition, I believe the political situation will continue to deteriorate in this country and I would like to have somewhere else to go.
Just in the last couple of days there have been news stories about an ongoing ammunition shortage in this country and record gun sales. Trump has amassed a $100 million war chest and he and his acolytes continue to propagate the provably false assertions that the election was rigged and that he actually won. There are massive efforts underway in Republican-controlled states to restrict voting, limit LGBT rights, and ask the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade. China has built and is building more mag-lev high speed trains and our Congress cannot even agree on funding to help the crumbling infrastructure in this country. Everything in this country has become political, polarized and divisive. And conspiracy theories are sprouting and taking root in our country like dandelions in the spring.
It is time to look around. I certainly understand that no place is perfect and each country has its own issues. However, there are many countries in the world that are striving to move forward and make life better for their citizens (and the planet). The United States is clearly moving backward towards oligarchy, authoritarianism, racial division, and exacerbating wealth disparity.
I would certainly be more comfortable if the COVID situation was more under control but given the ongoing lunacy in this country with people refusing to get vaccinated I don’t expect things are going to change any time soon. So, I think it’s just time to move ahead with my plans. I am fully vaccinated and if the CDC ultimately recommends getting a booster shot, I will certainly do that as soon as I am able. That said, everything has some risk associated with it and I think it’s time to just move forward.
I have been looking at a number of countries as possible bases for an ex-pat life. Those countries are Portugal, France, Costa Rica, Panama and there might be a couple of others. I loved New Zealand and Australia and could easily park in either place for a long time but they are difficult countries to establish residency in and they are long way away from my daughter. (Not to mention they are currently closed to US ‘non-essential’ travelers.) So, while I still intend to do a little more exploring in Australia, it will have to wait and just be part of a future ‘adventure’.
Portugal will be the first exploration trip. I have not been to Portugal nor do I speak Portuguese but everything I’ve read tells me it’s a good place to start this exploration. Portugal is ranked 4th on the Global Safety Index (the Unites States is 122nd!), they have world class affordable and accessible health care, it is affordable and there is a fairly robust ex-pat community. It is highly likely that my daughter will be on the East Coast for a while. Given that and given that it’s about as easy to get to the East Coast from Lisbon as it is to get to the East Coast from Bozeman, the geography works well. As a bonus, the Portuguese government is predicting that by October, they may have 85% of the population fully vaccinated against COVID! (Contrast that with what is going on here). And finally, Portugal is part of the Schengen area so once residency is established in Portugal, you have almost unimpeded access to the other 25 European countries that are also included in the Schengen area.
Given the robust ex-pat community in parts of Portugal, there are areas where you can probably get by without speaking Portuguese. However, I always try to learn at least some of the local language no matter where I go. Consequently, I have been hard at work on my daily Portuguese lessons on Rosetta Stone. I have found that even attempting to speak a few words in a local language, however poorly, can buy you a lot of goodwill. I originally got Rosetta Stone to brush up on my French but I’ve kind of switched gears and am focusing on Portuguese.
My plan is to spend the majority of the month of October in Portugal. It is the off-season so most of the tourists should be gone and life should be back to ‘normal’ in most of the country. I intend to spend a week to 10 days up in the northern part of the country around Porto and the Silver Coast and then spend the next two weeks down in the Algarve in southern Portugal. I will probably spend three of four days in Lisbon on my way back home but have no intention of looking at Lisbon as a long-term place of residency. I have no doubt I will enjoy the culture and the restaurants in Lisbon but it’s a little too ‘dense’ for my liking.
So, this blog will continue to be a combination of my political rants, a chronicle of my adventures as I explore possible future homes and accounts of more local adventures as they happen. It is written primarily for me and as a way to document my thoughts and adventures but, as always, you’re welcome to tag along. Who knows where all this will end up? I may end up not moving anywhere and stay planted here in Bozeman, at least for a while. But, I’ve been thinking about this for some time and it’s time to do something.
As with so many things, the hardest part is often just starting. I have started and step one has been taken! I have booked a ticket for Portugal and expect to be landing in Portugal two months from today. Here we go. And for those who ask why, I would simply say why not? Life is too short. If you’re thinking about it – do it!