I am still catching up on your newsletters after having made the move to Portugal from the UK last month.
Great newsletter as always.
My dream..........to live a more uncomplicated and simpler life, to eventually give up the corporate job for something more rewarding, to focus more on the creative crafts that keep me sane amidst the craziness of the world and to live more authentic life in whichever way I choose is right for me.
Hope you have settled well into your new home and that Milo has approved of the move too.
I find it funny how americans make a big deal about living in the present and all that zen philosophy. I've read that in Africa people don't have that same angst about "what shall I do with the rest of my life to be happy?"
When you ask anyone there, of any generation from very young to very old, when were they most happy in their lives, they all say with belief & certainty: NOW!
I think I'm very african in my outlook.
"I find it easy to accept today because yesterday is gone and tomorrow has not come and I have only today" -- Mother Teresa
Just the most wonderful post that hits home. I look forward to the possibility of meeting when we are in your neighborhood oblate October/early November!
What a wonderful "dreamy" piece! Your blog makes me want to move to Portugal straight away! For now, I'll be visiting there late this year and looking to life:examined for guidance. <3
Thank you for this, Shanna - I needed these words: Most of us need to make this move—we need to live in the liminal away space to be whole and authentic.
Thank you, Shanna for this wonderful inspirational piece on living your dream life. So many of us that follow your stories are coming to this same realization. As we navigate bringing our plan to move overseas into reality, it's a post like this that I will read over and over again. Such a good reminder to process what is unfolding, and that dreams can become one's reality if you set your mind to it. We look forward to the day that we will find our own little town square with a café and discovering how to navigate the day to day of our new home town. Congratulations on the success at the hardware store.
It is interesting how much we have in common. Both from Ca., been here in Portugal about the same amount of time, I married at 30 too, after my old geezer of a neighbor in Burbank was calling me a spinster for months! We have hung in there, still married. (I was lucky to marry one of the last of the good guys, a prince most of the time and a mensch to boot! ;)
Come what may, I would not do it again (marriage). Said no to kids too, Graças a Deus! Although our aging fur child at 15 feels like we have a baby at times. :(
While I still have many things I would like to accomplish, we are living the dream here, A vida portuguesa. We also want for nothing and feel incredibly fortunate to be here.
We were featured in the Portuguese Time magazine, Visão about a year ago, and the title of the article was O Sonho Português Que Atrai os Americanos - The Portuguese dream that attracts Americans. We are thankful to have got here when we did! Because I am betting that it is harder than ever to get that coveted resident visa to live the dream in Portugal.
Bonnie from Burbank here. Married at 30. Widowed at 50 and now with 20 yr partner. (Together 20. He’s not 20 lol). No kids. 12 yo pupster. Coming to pt in sept for 2 month adventure reconnaissance.
If you go to the Visão site and look for it by title it comes up. «O sonho Portugues que atrai os Americanos.» I will forward my blog post about it to you where I translated it. :)
Ha! My wife and I are downsizing to Setúbal from Lisboa and are actively looking for solutions to keep the kittens from launching themselves off the veranda
We were looking for a place out of the hyper-touristic areas, but was still vibrant and had plenty to do and see. Setúbal seems to fit the bill. Besides, the housing prices in Lisbon have gone up so dramatically in the year we've been here, we can't afford what we thought we'd be able to when we first planned our move. We are making the big move in just a couple of days! (gulp)
Hey Shanna,
I am still catching up on your newsletters after having made the move to Portugal from the UK last month.
Great newsletter as always.
My dream..........to live a more uncomplicated and simpler life, to eventually give up the corporate job for something more rewarding, to focus more on the creative crafts that keep me sane amidst the craziness of the world and to live more authentic life in whichever way I choose is right for me.
Hope you have settled well into your new home and that Milo has approved of the move too.
I find it funny how americans make a big deal about living in the present and all that zen philosophy. I've read that in Africa people don't have that same angst about "what shall I do with the rest of my life to be happy?"
When you ask anyone there, of any generation from very young to very old, when were they most happy in their lives, they all say with belief & certainty: NOW!
I think I'm very african in my outlook.
"I find it easy to accept today because yesterday is gone and tomorrow has not come and I have only today" -- Mother Teresa
Just the most wonderful post that hits home. I look forward to the possibility of meeting when we are in your neighborhood oblate October/early November!
Shanna. reading that was a great way to start my week. (my word of the day is LIMINAL) looking forward to the next story!
What a wonderful "dreamy" piece! Your blog makes me want to move to Portugal straight away! For now, I'll be visiting there late this year and looking to life:examined for guidance. <3
Thank you for this, Shanna - I needed these words: Most of us need to make this move—we need to live in the liminal away space to be whole and authentic.
Thank you so much for your lovely piece. Awesome, inspirational and on point. So enjoy your writing and congratulations on living the dream😊
My pleasure; looking forward to your next newsletter!
Thank you, Shanna for this wonderful inspirational piece on living your dream life. So many of us that follow your stories are coming to this same realization. As we navigate bringing our plan to move overseas into reality, it's a post like this that I will read over and over again. Such a good reminder to process what is unfolding, and that dreams can become one's reality if you set your mind to it. We look forward to the day that we will find our own little town square with a café and discovering how to navigate the day to day of our new home town. Congratulations on the success at the hardware store.
Bravo Shanna, well said!
It is interesting how much we have in common. Both from Ca., been here in Portugal about the same amount of time, I married at 30 too, after my old geezer of a neighbor in Burbank was calling me a spinster for months! We have hung in there, still married. (I was lucky to marry one of the last of the good guys, a prince most of the time and a mensch to boot! ;)
Come what may, I would not do it again (marriage). Said no to kids too, Graças a Deus! Although our aging fur child at 15 feels like we have a baby at times. :(
While I still have many things I would like to accomplish, we are living the dream here, A vida portuguesa. We also want for nothing and feel incredibly fortunate to be here.
We were featured in the Portuguese Time magazine, Visão about a year ago, and the title of the article was O Sonho Português Que Atrai os Americanos - The Portuguese dream that attracts Americans. We are thankful to have got here when we did! Because I am betting that it is harder than ever to get that coveted resident visa to live the dream in Portugal.
Stay well and viva Portugal!
Bonnie from Burbank here. Married at 30. Widowed at 50 and now with 20 yr partner. (Together 20. He’s not 20 lol). No kids. 12 yo pupster. Coming to pt in sept for 2 month adventure reconnaissance.
I’ve had that dream of living in Europe forever.
Wow, great! And amazing the similarities. Living in Portugal is a dream. One of the best places in Europe to be.
I’ll stay in touch!
Here´s a link to my blog post about it and a translation I did of it.
https://theroadtoportugal.com/2021/03/22/we-made-the-portuguese-press/
If you go to the Visão site and look for it by title it comes up. «O sonho Portugues que atrai os Americanos.» I will forward my blog post about it to you where I translated it. :)
Ha! My wife and I are downsizing to Setúbal from Lisboa and are actively looking for solutions to keep the kittens from launching themselves off the veranda
We were looking for a place out of the hyper-touristic areas, but was still vibrant and had plenty to do and see. Setúbal seems to fit the bill. Besides, the housing prices in Lisbon have gone up so dramatically in the year we've been here, we can't afford what we thought we'd be able to when we first planned our move. We are making the big move in just a couple of days! (gulp)
I know exactly what you mean. You have found the secret. Which is, just be YOU. I am enjoying following your journey.
Truly beautiful and inspiring reflection!!