22 Comments
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Coffee&Ink's avatar

This is wonderfully thorough and encouraging. We are retiring to make the jump across the pond from Maine asap. We've visited Portugal a few times and love it.

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Kimberly Anne's avatar

Hi! I'm so happy to hear you've enjoyed the article, I have many more and hopefully they can help you!! Do you know where you're retiring to? Congratulations on your upcoming move!! :)

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Coffee&Ink's avatar

We are looking hard at Coimbra :)

thanks so much!

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Kimberly Anne's avatar

It's a gorgeous town!

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Asia Dawn's avatar

Yes! I’ve made so many lifetime friends while living and traveling abroad. It’s like we already have one core value in common. It definitely takes a certain type of personality and determination to pack up and go. I wonder if that’s part of what makes it stick? (At least when it comes to other nomads or expats.)

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Kimberly Anne's avatar

Hi Asia!!!! I remember a few years ago this topic came up in a Nomad forum and the person who wrote about it said that relationships (friendships and love relationships, as they were very young) happen much faster and are much more intense when you're traveling and I agree. They said it's because you don't have as much time and so everything happens on fast forward.

There's also something freeing and safe about the ability to be vulnerable with a stranger who then become lifelong friends.

And I agree with your hypothesis as well!! There must be many factors and I love exploring them!!!

Thank you so much for your comment!!!

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Asia Dawn's avatar

Ohhh thank you for sharing that as well!! It really is interesting to think about. Either way I’m so happy that the connections formed as fast, special, and stick.

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Kimberly Anne's avatar

Thank you as well Asia! I'm so happy we've met here :)

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Asia Dawn's avatar

Me too :)

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Catherine Ann's avatar

Super information for anyone considering a new life environment!

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Kimberly Anne's avatar

Thank you Catherine Ann!

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Patti Petersen's avatar

For some reason I never caught on that you lived in California, and where. Oh, if I have to stay in the US, Cali is my dream state. I loved this article and your sharing a bit about your journey out of the US. You inspire each time I read you... when I'm so far away Fromm being able to relocate out it gives me little nuggets of hope.

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Kimberly Anne's avatar

Thank you Patti!!! I value your readership and comments!!! California is beautiful yes but far too unaffordable :(

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Liza Debevec's avatar

Great resources. I think these days in urban Portugal it is extremely easy to meet new people, especially expats meeting expats. To meet and make friends with locals speaking the language does make a difference. But yes, Lisbon, for example offers a tone of opportunities to socialise.

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Kimberly Anne's avatar

Hi Liza, thank you and yes I agree! It's also getting easier worldwide, sadly, as people are forced to flee their home countries but I like to think of it... as our new family abroad :)

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Emanuela B's avatar

As an expat for almost half of my life, I find it fascinating to explore what drives people to move, return, or set off for a new destination. Thank you for sharing your reasons!

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Kimberly Anne's avatar

Hi Emanuela! Thank you so much for your comment, I love that you've been an expat for half your life!!!! That's wonderful, I subscribed to you :)

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Emanuela B's avatar

Wonderful! I'm glad you'll read my words, and I look forward to sharing experiences !

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Rich Shipley's avatar

Yes to all of the topics in this series, but especially this one.

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Kimberly Anne's avatar

Awwww thank you so much Rich!!! YAY!!!

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Carolyn Chaperon's avatar

Don’t blame you.

😭

Sad the world needs to put yellow tape around our homegrown Toddler.

Money is their drug of choice and they’re stealing from Americans. They’re coming for the

SOCIAL SECURITY PIGGY BANK 🏦 $$$$

Destroying their wallet will fix this.

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Kimberly Anne's avatar

Hi Carolyn! As always thank you so much for your supportive comments!!!

And I agree! Another friend said she looks at it as if they're hoarders but instead of "stuff" though it's probably stuff too, it's money. They feel so inadequate and so unworthy, they will steal everything from the American people and let countless people die so they can feed their fragile egos. It's disgusting!

:( I hope something happens to stop them. I'm appalled that they can do so many completely illegal things without even a hand slap. Something much change!

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