I made the choice to leave behind everything familiar.
I was born and raised in New York, and for most of my life I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.
But about two years ago, I pulled my kids out of public school after multiple safety incidents, opting to homeschool them instead.
I’m a single mom, and my concern for my kids’ safety, combined with the rising costs of rent and groceries, made me begin to imagine what I couldn’t before: moving away from NYC.
It wasn’t just New York, though; it felt as if the US, in general, was moving in a direction I didn’t want to follow, so I dived into research about relocating to another country.
My top priorities were safety, quality of life, and cost of living. After months of searching, I landed on Portugal, which is consistently ranked one of the safest countries in the world.
My two sons and I have been living here for a month, and while I doubted myself in the beginning, I know now it was the right choice.
I was surprised by how open my kids were to moving to another country
When I first decided on Portugal, I expected the hardest part to be telling my children, who were then 11 and 16. I knew it would be difficult for them to leave the only home they’d ever known.
We sat down as a family and had an honest talk. Indeed, they were hesitant to leave friends and family behind, but after weighing the pros and cons I was surprised by how open they were to exploring the idea.
So, to test the waters, about a year ago we took two scouting trips: The first was a two-week trip to Porto, a beautiful city in northern Portugal, and the second was a monthlong stay in the Algarve, the southern region known for its beaches and sunny weather.
We treated the trips seriously, as if we were living there, not like vacations. My homeschooled kids continued their schoolwork during our stay, and we explored the neighborhoods, rode public transportation, and shopped at local stores.
After the second trip, we were sure Portugal was the right move — we were ready for a slower pace of life.
It took us over half a year to move
Back in New York, we spent the next six months preparing. I hired an immigration lawyer and a real estate agent. I sold my car, told family and friends, and started packing and donating what we didn’t need.
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The visa process, with all the forms and financial statements I had to produce, was harder than I expected, but in March we were on a plane with six suitcases, headed toward our new home.
The morning of our flight, I questioned myself: Was I doing the right thing? After living here for a month, though, I know that I was.
Everything about our lives is different now
Instead of sirens and snow, we wake up to the sound of waves.
We’ve grown closer as a family. We walk along the beach regularly, cook and eat fresh meals together instead of scarfing down takeout in front of the TV, and take weekend trips to other countries.
My boys have also made new friends and spend more time outdoors than on video games.
My spending, so far, is about half of what it was in the US, partly because the cost of living is lower but also because I no longer feel the need to constantly overconsume, like wasting money on fast fashion and bulk shopping.
It’s been only about a month, but we feel at home here
The people of Portugal have been kind and welcoming.
Most people where we live speak English, but my kids and I are taking Portuguese lessons because we’ve found that locals appreciate it when people make an effort to learn the language and integrate into the culture.
We shop locally, and I’ve become friends with nearby shopkeepers who now greet me by name.
We feel at home here. I get to live across the street from the ocean, something I once only dreamed of. And I finally have the space, time, and peace to enjoy life. My stress has lifted. I can exhale.
My kids still talk to their friends back home and we stay in touch with family. I do not see myself moving back to the US to live, only to visit. We plan on staying in Portugal for the foreseeable future.
