It's Sunday afternoon, and I've just sat down to finish my Thursday newsletter to you.
Yep, it's been one of those weeks. But never mind that, we're here now for this moment of connection. So, I hope this issue of life: examined finds you well, and, if you're in the Northern Hemisphere, that signs of spring are making themselves known.
There aren't many things we can know for sure, but one thing we do know: winter's dreariness always gives way to the optimism of spring. And despite the dull grey skies and constant rain here in Portugal, the birds are going crazy! I love that.
Birdsong makes me feel it's all going to be okay…one day.
And since I wrote that line about the grey and the rain, the glorious sunshine has finally returned this weekend—what a difference light and warmth makes to one's mood.
Lately, readers and clients have been asking me about Portugal and the virus situation.
The most common questions are: What's going on over there? And Should I continue with my plans to move to Portugal?
Perhaps you've heard that Portugal, at least for the past few weeks, was number one in the world for COVID-19 cases and deaths per capita. This has prompted many emails from my Move to Portugal session clients wanting to know if they should still plan their moves or wait.
Because many of my readers are interested in Portugal—either to move here, because they live here already, or out of curiosity—I thought I'd share my un-scientific, decidedly biased thoughts on the topic of the virus and how it's impacting life in Portugal.
Q: What's going on over there?
A: Well, that's a broad question, but let me take my best stab at an answer.
Portugal went from poster child of pandemic handling last year, some say, to pandemic pariah in 2021. Why did this happen? If you read the news and various reports, the short answer is that the government relaxed restrictions on gatherings over the holidays.
The Portuguese are family-oriented, and they spend the holidays together, often traveling from all parts of the country to do so. There were travel bans from one municipality to the next, but they were in place during the days/times after people would have already traveled to their destinations. And there were lots of illegal parties over the holidays that turned into super-spreader events.
Also, Portugal has a shortage of medical staff and equipment, and the more virulent strain from the U.K. has contributed to the recent challenges.
So, now we have strict confinement orders in place, and whether coincidence or it's actually working, our rt number (rate of transmission) has dropped to an admirable .77 within a few weeks.
The government just renewed State of Emergency orders through to March 1st. Still, many officials say this will likely continue through the first week of April (!) to get us through Easter week—a significant holiday here—to tamp down indoor gatherings.
In a nutshell, here's what confinement looks like:
Curfew during the weekdays from 8pm to 5am
Curfew on the weekends starting at 1pm (yep, in the afternoon) each day
No travel between municipalities on the weekends
Only essential trips (groceries, pharmacy, work, medical) otherwise stay home
Brief periods of exercise in your zone, only with household members, or to walk dogs, etc.
The State of Emergency is countrywide, with some municipalities in worse shape (deaths and new cases) than others.
I’m Not an Epidemiologist
One of the reasons Portugal's deaths have been so high, in my armchair epidemiologist's estimation (and confirmed by many real scientists), is that we have such an aged population. Younger people have illegal gatherings, multi-generations live together, then party kids come home and infect grandparents who have a higher chance of mortality.
And to give you an idea of the age of the population, the first group for vaccines is the over-80 segment!
No, not the over 65, over 80. In 2015, one report cited nearly 21% of the Portuguese population is over sixty-five. This puts Portugal in 4th place for the most aged population behind Japan, Italy, and Germany.
The coronavirus has made the health of Portugal's older population even more precarious, and co-morbidities are common. The emergency wards are full, and the hospital is not a place to be unless you absolutely need to go. The vaccine roll-out is slow due to bungling on the EU's part, so this is where we find ourselves, and all we can do is ride it out—doing our best to adhere to the decree as if we cared about others.
And honestly, this confinement really sucks. Last week was a rough week for me, and I know I'm not alone in that.
It's disheartening to think we have another 6 weeks or so of this level of lockdown. Schools are closed, shops are closed, cafés are closed, the downtown area is a ghost town; many of those little shops will never re-open. It's a massive struggle, but even more so for the Portuguese who need to work, low wages and all.
I don’t need to leave the house for anything in particular, other than to keep myself and my dog fed and exercised, so I’m well aware of my privilege. But it still sucks.
Q: Do I think you should (still) plan to move to Portugal?
A: Well, that depends. If you understand the realities and know that timing is everything, and are willing to observe the confinement rules once you arrive, then maybe.
Recon Missions to Portugal
It will be many months before you can come check out Portugal.
The only way you can get into the country right now is with a visa or as a resident or citizen. There is no travel for travel's sake open right now (that's another industry that's tanked—hospitality).
There are no workarounds, no back doors, and I wish people would stop trying to find ways to get in without the proper documentation.
BUT, life will go on. Make your plans, follow the steps to obtain the visa, and do your research. We will be living with this virus for years and possibly forever. This is just how it is. And with that knowledge, ask yourself: "Where do I want to live, and why?" And "What do I hope to gain by moving abroad?" It’s not for everyone, despite what the glossy brochures would have you believe.
Let’s Chat
If you want someone to talk to about moving here, I have a few So, You Want to Move to Portugal sessions open for March. I'd be happy to help you make an informed decision and answer your questions as best as I can.
Once the virus is managed in a way that will allow us to live with more mobility and freedom, the considerations of better, affordable healthcare, kinder, gentler government, and higher quality of life will move to the fore once again.
So I say: don't wait—if moving abroad is something you want to do—to Portugal or elsewhere, don't wait for a better time because that time will never come.
If anything, the virus has taught us that time is of the essence. Live your life now as none of us knows how much life we have left to live.
Oh, and happy Valentine's day if you celebrate that sort of thing. 💜
GOOD LINKS
A fun, interactive lesson in Cubism & collage (my personal favorite art practice, and now I know why) An Art Revolution, Made With Scissors and Glue via NY Times
How Portugal keeps alive an iconic 500-year-old art form via National Geographic
‘Promising Young Woman,' Covid and the women giving up alcohol to fight the patriarchy After decades of thinking that alcohol liberated them, increasing numbers of women are wondering if it actually created new prisons. by Lynn Stuart Parramore
—> One of the many reasons I quit drinking is to give the finger to alcohol marketing aimed at women preying on their insecurities and need to fit in, and bro culture that perpetuates the mythology that the person who drinks is cool, likable, and normal.
I’m glad to see sobriety as a positive choice—instead of being viewed as lack—is gaining traction. This topic is hard for many in our alcohol-affirming culture. It’s so deeply embedded we can’t see its perniciousness. It’s worth a few minutes of your time.
—> If you enjoy this weekly newsletter I call life: examined, please comment, subscribe—and buy me a coffee if you feel inspired to do so. I appreciate your generosity!
Portugal Report: February 2021
Hi Shanna, I have my vaccination on Tuesday so I'm feeling much happier at the moment. Although it will take 3 weeks for the first dose to take effect, it's one step nearer to getting back to some sort of normality!! I suppose it seems strange that anyone would want to emigrate at this moment in time but if plans have been placed already, I suppose that's entirely different! Hopefully sometime this year, we shall all get a glimpse of what our previous lives were like?! Does anyone remember?! Anyway Shanna, take great care, give Milo a hug and try and stay as positive as you can xxx
So good sweet friend! Xoxo