Thank you for finding the words I've been searching for. We're in pretty much the same situation (minus the outdoor plants and filha). Life here is just life. And that's great!
Love this LaDonna. Maybe you're a "Settler." Even in your title (headline??) I had "stability" ringing through my head. It's a lovely thing, especially when there is younger one in the house. And what a settlement you're building, too. Not just the Quinta, but the family and those around you. I love the way you write the layers into your pieces, fleshing out the one idea and giving us such a clear view or your world; it helps me to reflect back on mind. And the first photo with the paint swatches (?) and the oddly - and odd - symmetrical and palindromic graffiti, plus the cable wires and the modern glass doorway. Even the three round utility plugs on the left, I'm in love with it!
3ish weeks until I “stick out” and I am not really excited for that part, I arrive May 2nd. As much as I will enjoy the excitement of all the new and different things in the getting to know you phase I like having a history, knowing the known. A day of the usual things sounds perfect and I will be happy when I reach that point! Thanks for the window into your world.
I so enjoyed your descriptions of the deep beauty of "ordinary life", LaDonna. I spent most of my adult life living and working internationally and learned that I also carry with me the importance and comfort of establishing my very ordinary life in a series of quite extraordinary environments (picture trying to set up a school bus system for my 8 year old in Kathmandu, madly driving across Accra in the dark in order to locate a chemist who can test my toddler's blood to see whether he has malaria or typhus...). With each move, the list was short but essential. Where can I find good coffee, some muffins and a source of English language books and cartoon videos for the kids? After that, we could turn our attention to getting some consistent power and safe water and other essentials. We knew what would offer us some sense of 'home' and divided up those tasks regularly. This was long before the internet world so our explorations were very labour intensive but also provided a quick orientation to our new location. Now that I'm retired - and still keen to be a nomad - I still pack with a few of these bits and pieces to ensure that I can set up my daily life. I don't travel to seek adventure, but I love learning some of a new language, meeting people and once again meeting my self in a new location - familiar but exhilarating :-) Thanks once again for your words, Harriet
I always love your writing, LaDonna. Here's to the joys of the Homebodies!
I have followed more than a few Stackers and bloggers about their Portugal experience since my wife & I first started thinking about our own Portugal immigration (we landed in Tavira in Jan., almost 3 months ago!). That 3-year point seems to be a pretty common marker of when people look around and say, "This is just where I live now". Some of them stop writing the blog or Stack at that point, or find a way to repurpose it.
Sposa & I are looking forward to seeing more of Europe once we have our resident cards in hand, but we were never big travelers, and our budget will have its limits. We have always been homebodies/nesters, and we chose our apartment and our city as a place we can happily nest in.
I always look forward to your next instalment, no matter the topic!
Hi LaDonna, This made me laugh. My journey went 2 miles, from Potrero Hill to Twin Peaks - but I feel the same way! I"m kinda good. I can stay home all weekend and be happy. Am I older now? Or just really content in this lovely new house?
I also keep forgetting to tell you how much I also enjoy your photos! Stunning!
I love reading your posts! While not in the working world at the moment, I have mostly similar feelings about putting down roots. Loving the travels we do, which is not very extensive, like many of my ex-pat friends, but also happy for some "normalcy". Thank you for your contribution to my day today!
We are somewhere in-between. Retirees - immigrants, please, not expats - but not wealthy, although very comfortable compared to most working Portuguese.
We have a big (for us) European holiday coming up to celebrate my 70th birthday. We have never been outside of Europe. Later in the year we're taking my mother-in-law to the Algarve. For the rest of the time we enjoy just being here. We're in good health and have a lovely home and garden. We have some acquaintances and a couple of good friends here. We thank our lucky stars every day.
Same has happened to me! When we first moved overseas (with 3 cats, loads of luggage), I imagined that we would travel all over Europe. But now, we enjoy staying home and hanging out with friends. I do travel, mostly when friends from the States come to visit and see Europe. Plus one huge month-long trip to the US to visit friends and my sister. After that trip, I need a long time back home (here, in Portugal) to just recover! Anyway, just really resonated with this post.
Exactly. Right down to the firecrackers (artillery) in (the East Bay of) San Francisco (plus bullets on the roof.) Minus the daughter. We're coming up on two years in PT, first in a very small city, then in a vague village 10 minutes outside. Donkey, yes. Plus roosters. Friends who travel a lot. Me, liking my routine, my almost daily hikes, improving ability to speak with folks that don't speak English but seem to like me anyway. Calma. Mais simples.
I really like this distinction. And I think it’s helpful going in to realize that no matter where you end up, you can’t escape that life is still just life, not a perpetual vacation.
A year and a half in Portugal finds me wondering the same thoughts. I thought we would travel more ( some things have been truncated due to the lovely bureaucracy of Portugal ) and slowed other processes which like a domino effect have made some things more important priorities than travel. So we are also "living" life and so it is more routine. I am coming to terms with that but the wannabe Nomad and frequent traveler in me is still restless. We didn't commit to Portugal yet so decisions about the future also add to the equation. For now we are being flexible, just moving forward and seeing what happens next. Knowing that someone like yourself with "roots" still experiences the same feelings about everyday life is validating to me.
As others have stated in their comments, thank you for putting into words the feelings that my husband and I have been exploring. We are 18 months into our relocation from the States to Portugal…and we are “living here”….not being tourists in the country in which we have settled. I’ve often wondered are we “doing Portugal” right? Of course we are! We get up, have our breakfast, do chores, maybe wander into town maybe not, do a small trip here and there…and always come back to our villa in Vestiaria and express our gratefulness to be home! So, this IS what retirement and living life on our terms is all about.
Thank you for finding the words I've been searching for. We're in pretty much the same situation (minus the outdoor plants and filha). Life here is just life. And that's great!
Love this LaDonna. Maybe you're a "Settler." Even in your title (headline??) I had "stability" ringing through my head. It's a lovely thing, especially when there is younger one in the house. And what a settlement you're building, too. Not just the Quinta, but the family and those around you. I love the way you write the layers into your pieces, fleshing out the one idea and giving us such a clear view or your world; it helps me to reflect back on mind. And the first photo with the paint swatches (?) and the oddly - and odd - symmetrical and palindromic graffiti, plus the cable wires and the modern glass doorway. Even the three round utility plugs on the left, I'm in love with it!
3ish weeks until I “stick out” and I am not really excited for that part, I arrive May 2nd. As much as I will enjoy the excitement of all the new and different things in the getting to know you phase I like having a history, knowing the known. A day of the usual things sounds perfect and I will be happy when I reach that point! Thanks for the window into your world.
I so enjoyed your descriptions of the deep beauty of "ordinary life", LaDonna. I spent most of my adult life living and working internationally and learned that I also carry with me the importance and comfort of establishing my very ordinary life in a series of quite extraordinary environments (picture trying to set up a school bus system for my 8 year old in Kathmandu, madly driving across Accra in the dark in order to locate a chemist who can test my toddler's blood to see whether he has malaria or typhus...). With each move, the list was short but essential. Where can I find good coffee, some muffins and a source of English language books and cartoon videos for the kids? After that, we could turn our attention to getting some consistent power and safe water and other essentials. We knew what would offer us some sense of 'home' and divided up those tasks regularly. This was long before the internet world so our explorations were very labour intensive but also provided a quick orientation to our new location. Now that I'm retired - and still keen to be a nomad - I still pack with a few of these bits and pieces to ensure that I can set up my daily life. I don't travel to seek adventure, but I love learning some of a new language, meeting people and once again meeting my self in a new location - familiar but exhilarating :-) Thanks once again for your words, Harriet
I always love your writing, LaDonna. Here's to the joys of the Homebodies!
I have followed more than a few Stackers and bloggers about their Portugal experience since my wife & I first started thinking about our own Portugal immigration (we landed in Tavira in Jan., almost 3 months ago!). That 3-year point seems to be a pretty common marker of when people look around and say, "This is just where I live now". Some of them stop writing the blog or Stack at that point, or find a way to repurpose it.
Sposa & I are looking forward to seeing more of Europe once we have our resident cards in hand, but we were never big travelers, and our budget will have its limits. We have always been homebodies/nesters, and we chose our apartment and our city as a place we can happily nest in.
I always look forward to your next instalment, no matter the topic!
Hi LaDonna, This made me laugh. My journey went 2 miles, from Potrero Hill to Twin Peaks - but I feel the same way! I"m kinda good. I can stay home all weekend and be happy. Am I older now? Or just really content in this lovely new house?
I also keep forgetting to tell you how much I also enjoy your photos! Stunning!
You are such a wonderful writer! You read my mind and speak to my heart. Thank you!
I love reading your posts! While not in the working world at the moment, I have mostly similar feelings about putting down roots. Loving the travels we do, which is not very extensive, like many of my ex-pat friends, but also happy for some "normalcy". Thank you for your contribution to my day today!
We are somewhere in-between. Retirees - immigrants, please, not expats - but not wealthy, although very comfortable compared to most working Portuguese.
We have a big (for us) European holiday coming up to celebrate my 70th birthday. We have never been outside of Europe. Later in the year we're taking my mother-in-law to the Algarve. For the rest of the time we enjoy just being here. We're in good health and have a lovely home and garden. We have some acquaintances and a couple of good friends here. We thank our lucky stars every day.
Same has happened to me! When we first moved overseas (with 3 cats, loads of luggage), I imagined that we would travel all over Europe. But now, we enjoy staying home and hanging out with friends. I do travel, mostly when friends from the States come to visit and see Europe. Plus one huge month-long trip to the US to visit friends and my sister. After that trip, I need a long time back home (here, in Portugal) to just recover! Anyway, just really resonated with this post.
Beautiful! Feeling you. The ordinariness of just this! Muito Obrigado.
Exactly. Right down to the firecrackers (artillery) in (the East Bay of) San Francisco (plus bullets on the roof.) Minus the daughter. We're coming up on two years in PT, first in a very small city, then in a vague village 10 minutes outside. Donkey, yes. Plus roosters. Friends who travel a lot. Me, liking my routine, my almost daily hikes, improving ability to speak with folks that don't speak English but seem to like me anyway. Calma. Mais simples.
I really like this distinction. And I think it’s helpful going in to realize that no matter where you end up, you can’t escape that life is still just life, not a perpetual vacation.
A year and a half in Portugal finds me wondering the same thoughts. I thought we would travel more ( some things have been truncated due to the lovely bureaucracy of Portugal ) and slowed other processes which like a domino effect have made some things more important priorities than travel. So we are also "living" life and so it is more routine. I am coming to terms with that but the wannabe Nomad and frequent traveler in me is still restless. We didn't commit to Portugal yet so decisions about the future also add to the equation. For now we are being flexible, just moving forward and seeing what happens next. Knowing that someone like yourself with "roots" still experiences the same feelings about everyday life is validating to me.
As others have stated in their comments, thank you for putting into words the feelings that my husband and I have been exploring. We are 18 months into our relocation from the States to Portugal…and we are “living here”….not being tourists in the country in which we have settled. I’ve often wondered are we “doing Portugal” right? Of course we are! We get up, have our breakfast, do chores, maybe wander into town maybe not, do a small trip here and there…and always come back to our villa in Vestiaria and express our gratefulness to be home! So, this IS what retirement and living life on our terms is all about.