Hi Julie! Thank you for this article. I love gardens, and I came to love, and be mystified by, the American South when I stayed with my son in South Carolina for the last 6 weeks before my move to Portugal in October 2022. You talked about your sunrises there, and asked about surprises. My surprise here was the sunsets from my apartment window! They take my breath away. It's like having a new piece of artwork every evening!
Regarding culling: I gave away or donated almost everything I owned, and what was left went into an estate sale. The most difficult things for me to let go of were my art work (I only kept a few small pieces) and the cutting table in my sewing room. I had designed the table and my friend built it, and it really hurt to see it go. There have been moments of true grief when I think of those things I no longer have. The moments pass; I can acknowledge that I once had them in my life and will always love them. I no longer need them for my life to be whole.
I am thrilled beyond words that you and Debra will soon be living in Portugal!
Hey there, Sharon, I love the idea of a sunset being a new piece of artwork every evening. What a delight to be able to see those colors through your window in the evening.
We, also, will be giving things to friends, donating to a thrift shop, or selling just about everything we have. I am going to sit with the thought you shared about moving to Portugal with a minimal number of possessions: "I no longer need them for my life to be whole." I think saying this to myself will be helpful. :)
Hello, Julie - I am getting ready to go through that same process! I am currently in Vila Franca da Beira, Portugal (near Oliveira do Hospital in the Coimbra District). I have rented this adorable cottage for one year, though I fly back to the US for my V-7 appointment in late March. I will spend the time I have to wait for approval going through a lifetime of possessions, figuring out what I really cannot bear to part with and finding a new home for everything else, all part of getting the house ready to sell so that I can make the move to Portugal. Do you know where in Portugal you will want to settle down for a while? I will enjoy watching your journey. Best of luck!
Hi Lori, thanks for sharing you are on a similar journey! I'm so glad to hear you have found a cottage you love. We will be located on the Silver Coast, not too far from the ocean and near plenty of walking trails. Best wishes with your appointment in late March. :)
Thank you for this, Julie! Portugal is on my husband's retirement short list, but we're still a few years away, so I'm going to be living vicariously through your posts!
Beautiful images and observations.
Thank you so much, Maria.
Hi Julie! Thank you for this article. I love gardens, and I came to love, and be mystified by, the American South when I stayed with my son in South Carolina for the last 6 weeks before my move to Portugal in October 2022. You talked about your sunrises there, and asked about surprises. My surprise here was the sunsets from my apartment window! They take my breath away. It's like having a new piece of artwork every evening!
Regarding culling: I gave away or donated almost everything I owned, and what was left went into an estate sale. The most difficult things for me to let go of were my art work (I only kept a few small pieces) and the cutting table in my sewing room. I had designed the table and my friend built it, and it really hurt to see it go. There have been moments of true grief when I think of those things I no longer have. The moments pass; I can acknowledge that I once had them in my life and will always love them. I no longer need them for my life to be whole.
I am thrilled beyond words that you and Debra will soon be living in Portugal!
Hey there, Sharon, I love the idea of a sunset being a new piece of artwork every evening. What a delight to be able to see those colors through your window in the evening.
We, also, will be giving things to friends, donating to a thrift shop, or selling just about everything we have. I am going to sit with the thought you shared about moving to Portugal with a minimal number of possessions: "I no longer need them for my life to be whole." I think saying this to myself will be helpful. :)
Até breve!
Hello, Julie - I am getting ready to go through that same process! I am currently in Vila Franca da Beira, Portugal (near Oliveira do Hospital in the Coimbra District). I have rented this adorable cottage for one year, though I fly back to the US for my V-7 appointment in late March. I will spend the time I have to wait for approval going through a lifetime of possessions, figuring out what I really cannot bear to part with and finding a new home for everything else, all part of getting the house ready to sell so that I can make the move to Portugal. Do you know where in Portugal you will want to settle down for a while? I will enjoy watching your journey. Best of luck!
Hi Lori, thanks for sharing you are on a similar journey! I'm so glad to hear you have found a cottage you love. We will be located on the Silver Coast, not too far from the ocean and near plenty of walking trails. Best wishes with your appointment in late March. :)
Thank you for this, Julie! Portugal is on my husband's retirement short list, but we're still a few years away, so I'm going to be living vicariously through your posts!
It helps to have plenty of time to evaluate and to plan. :)
How far in advance did y’all start planning?
We started evaluating whether to move to Portugal about 1.5 years ago.