The temptation to avoid unknowns is very human… very commonplace. My husband Jeff and I avoid doing new, untried things, too… like retiring overseas.
Did you know that Jeff and I were tempted to avoid embarking on living in Portugal? If you are dealing with this same temptation… to avoid retiring overseas… then read on. This story is for you.
By December 2019 we were well on our way to taking the leap to a new life in Portugal—a big unknown for us.
Our home in California was sold. I retired in May of that year. By September the many steps to move our lives to Portugal had begun. Jeff worked right up until December 6, three days before new owners took possession of our house.
Whew. 2019 was a blur… especially December, when Temptation suddenly lurked in the background.
What was ahead of us?
The appointment to apply for D7 Visas was set at VFS in San Francisco. We had until January to tie up loose ends, go to our appointment, and deliver our car to its new owner. We were about to live in a Las Vegas Airbnb until the end of March (to end California residency and establish Nevada tax residency). Our one-way flight to Portugal was booked for the 27th of March.
Whew!
All of our worldly possessions were stuffed into our Honda CRV and a U-Haul trailer on that December morning in Elk Grove, California. We departed on a road trip delivering “family stuff” to loved ones in Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Wisconsin, and Minnesota… ultimately returning to Las Vegas.
Everyone we saw received Christmas presents of Star Wars Lego sets from Jeff’s collection as we hugged our good-byes.
We catapulted toward the unknown of moving to Portugal. The temptation to avoid that move was about to confront us.
The keys to our home were on the kitchen counter, per our realtor’s instructions. We shut the front door and began our trip by following a snowstorm over the Sierra Mountains. How lucky was that? The roads were plowed to dry pavement; the scenery was stunning. This was our first opportunity to catch our breath after months of hectic decisions and deadlines.
But dear reader, Temptation was just down the road.
Six hours into the trip we were already between Reno and Salt Lake City. Jeff was at the wheel of the car. Out of the blue he pondered aloud, “Are you sure you want to do everything that we still need to do to move to Portugal? Why don’t we look for a place to retire in northern Minnesota when we get there?”
Temptation finally grabbed us by the shoulders and held on.
I need to explain that the dream to retire in Portugal always had been mine. I decided to retire to the country when I visited in 1979. I talked about it for the next 40 years.
Regarding moving to Portugal, I was like the pig who was committed to providing bacon for your breakfast—that pig gave up its life to give you bacon. Jeff was like the chicken who was involved with providing eggs for breakfast— the chicken continued to live on.
Quietly in my heart and head, I was worried that Jeff had doubts about our plans. But it didn’t feel right to begin a sales argument to convince him to move to PORTUGAL and NOT to MINNESOTA. My anxiety remained unspoken. I shook hands with the temptation to avoid unknowns, too.
My husband was raised in southern California. I grew up in northern Minnesota. Jeff had never visited my old stomping grounds during the winter. Every family trip was in the summer.
Following a few deep breaths, I agreed we could consider his alternative.
Secretly I hoped for a nice December snowstorm when we arrived in northern Minnesota—our final destination of the trip. A December storm would change the mind of my southern California dude… my way to fight Temptation… hope for a snowstorm.
As luck would have it, a snowstorm arrived before we reached Minnesota. We were in Wisconsin visiting my brother. Unfortunately for me, Jeff was like a little boy excitedly shoveling six inches of white stuff off the driveway. My heart sank; Temptation had scored points.
I checked the forecast for our next stop—Eveleth, Minnesota—where we would see life-long family friends. Hurrah! Snow was predicted with a low of -17º F. I kept my thoughts to myself as Jeff, my brother, and sister-in-law chattered away about the idea of retiring in a little cabin in the north woods instead of moving to Portugal.
We arrived in Eveleth as the gentle snow slowed down and stopped. No wind. The last few puffy flakes. The kind of storm you want for a perfect Christmas Eve, which was two weeks away.
We enjoyed a wonderful family dinner at our favorite Chinese restaurant in the neighboring town of Virginia. Viginia and Eveleth were archrivals when I was in high school. But Virginia has a great Chinese restaurant… I will visit the enemy for good Chinese. But when it comes to hockey teams, I know the Eveleth Golden Bears are much better than the Virginia Blue Devils.
Throughout dinner, the temperature outside dropped. I figured this would drive a nail into Jeff’s excitement about retiring in Minnesota. Much to my chagrin, Jeff smiled a big smile as we rushed from the restaurant to the car and exclaimed, “This is invigorating!” Temptation was strong!
When we got back to our friend’s house, I figured my Portugal dream was defeated… Jeff made snow angels in their yard and shook off the snow like a happy puppy as he returned to their living room.
The next morning, the temperature was -18º F… no wind… and a sparkle in the air. We prepared to depart Eveleth as a brilliant winter sun rose and greeted us. I put the key into the ignition of our car from California. Would it start? Yes, our car started despite the cold. Temptation was taking over and I feared it would win.
I drove the first leg that day. Fifteen minutes out of Eveleth Jeff looked up from his cell phone and exclaimed, “Did you know the Koke’s Motel in Eveleth is for sale? We can buy it for the same amount of money we budgeted for a home in Portugal. And there’s an owner’s suite in the basement!” Temptation was winning!
I rolled my eyes and bit my tongue. This winter trip to Eveleth had not worked out the way I thought it would.
A couple hours later, we were south of the Twin Cities. I stopped for gas. It was time to exchange drivers. I pulled up to the pumps and Jeff popped open the car door. Suddenly a stunned expression crossed his face. The wind was blowing—a bone chilling wind. Something we had not experienced in Eveleth.
After filling up the gas tank Jeff guided the car toward the Dakotas. He asked if this cold was unusual. Was it as cold in Eveleth?
“Wind in winter is not unusual,” I calmly explained. “We are driving through what Dad called Minnesota’s Banana Belt.”
I continued, “Yes, this wind is blowing in Eveleth, too… and yes, it feels colder than here.” Jeff received his first introduction to wind chill—he learned everything he needed to know about it at that Minnesota gas station.
By the time we crossed the border into South Dakota, Jeff abandoned the plan to buy the Koke’s Motel. Thanks to wind chill we conquered the temptation to avoid the unknown of moving to Portugal. Jeff was once again firmly dedicated to the original plan to retire in Portugal.
It is fortunate that we did not succumb to Temptation and buy the Koke’s Motel. Our little condo with the large, covered patio in Perafita, Portugal is much nicer than an owner’s suite in the basement of a 14-room motel. Take that, Temptation.
Please don’t get me wrong. I like northern Minnesota. But I love Portugal. I am glad I retired my snow shovel to live with Jeff just three blocks from a Portuguese beach on the Atlantic.
Remember this story if you find yourself coming up with reasons to avoid taking the leap to retire overseas. Fulfilling your dream is worth every worrisome step along the way.
“A vida é boa,” as Jeff and I say to each other nearly every day. “Life is good!”
Sincerely,
Joch Woodruff
Portugal Circle Liaison
