Moving to Portugal: Lessons and Surprises After One Year

When we left the U.S. and relocated to Portugal’s Silver Coast, we weren’t retiring—we were reinventing. Like many people considering moving abroad after 50, we wanted more freedom, flexibility, and purpose—without waiting for the “perfect time.”

After our first full year abroad, we’ve had time to settle in, face real-life challenges, and embrace new rhythms. These are some of the biggest lessons and takeaways from this chapter of our journey—and we’re excited to share them with you in case they’ll help you navigate your own.

If you’re starting to plan your own move, don’t miss our FREE Moving to Portugal Mini-Guide—a 10-day email series that answers your most common questions about how to move to Portugal, including visas, healthcare, housing, language, and more. We’ll link it at the end, so keep reading!

You can also watch our full video on this topic here - 

What Surprised Us About Living Abroad

One of our biggest surprises was how quickly life began to feel normal. At first, every errand or outing felt like a small adventure—learning how to shop, get household items, or navigate unfamiliar systems. But before long, those unfamiliar things became part of our everyday routine, which has been nice. Some days, it is easy to forget we are even in Portugal!

We also learned that moving abroad doesn’t automatically shake up your habits or solve your problems. It’s surprisingly easy to fall into a rut—even in a new country. That’s why we’ve had to be intentional about building in more adventure and planning time to explore beyond our daily comfort zone.

Lastly, we’ve been amazed by just how much of Portugal remains under the radar. While Lisbon, Porto, and the Algarve get most of the attention, we’ve had some of our most breathtaking experiences in places we’d never even heard of. There’s so much natural beauty, history, and charm here—far beyond the typical guidebooks.

How Portugal Shifted Our Priorities

In the U.S., it often felt like your career defined who you were. Here? Not so much. People rarely ask what you do for work or what your career was—and it’s refreshing.

We also didn’t realize how much of our mental bandwidth back home was tied up in constant vigilance and stress—things like safety, traffic, crime, litigation, and the general feeling of always needing to be on guard. Here, life feels noticeably calmer. That quieter pace has created space for creativity, focus, and peace of mind we didn’t know we were missing. For many expats over 50, this kind of lifestyle shift is precisely what makes moving abroad so fulfilling.

What We Miss From the U.S. (And What We’ve Gained)

We’ll be honest—we miss things like drive-thru Starbucks. When we’d go out for a lovely weekend drive, stopping for coffee was part of our weekend routine. Here, coffee is a sit-down experience, and to-go cups are rare. It might seem silly, but it’s a part of American culture we genuinely miss.

That said, we’ve come to love the slower rhythm here. Taking the time to sit for a cup of coffee, enjoy a conversation, or linger in a meal has shifted our perspective on what “convenience” really means. Missing some familiar comforts is just part of the expat experience—and it doesn’t take away from all the things we appreciate here.

The Hardest Part About Moving Abroad

Living abroad is deeply rewarding, but it also comes with humbling challenges. From navigating bureaucracy in a different language to learning basic customs, you’re constantly reminded that you’re still new—but learning and adapting at this stage of life has been surprisingly rewarding.

The paperwork process, especially around residency, can be slow and unpredictable. It requires patience and a willingness to ask for help and learn as you go. That process has given us a whole new appreciation for the courage it takes to move to a new country, especially later in life.

If this part of the process feels overwhelming, you’re not alone. Our free Moving to Portugal Mini-Guide breaks down the basics—from visas and healthcare to housing and language—so you can move forward with more clarity and confidence.

How Our Relationships Have Changed

Before moving, our community had already shifted due to the pandemic. Our family lived across the country, so even in the States, we didn’t visit often.

Living abroad has actually forced us to be more intentional about staying connected. Dawn’s father is in his 90s, and while it was hard to leave, we now make deliberate trips back and talk on the phone often. In many ways, we see family more now than we did before.

We have to be aware of time zone differences, but distance hasn’t weakened our relationships—it’s strengthened them through intentionality.

What We Love Most About Europe

There’s nothing quite like standing in a 1,300-year-old building. The history here is humbling and awe-inspiring. We’ve seen places we never would’ve reached on a two-week trip, and the slower pace has made travel feel more meaningful, not rushed.

Our Goals for Year Two

As we continue to settle in, we’re working on building deeper social and cultural connections. That means creating more community and becoming more fluent in Portuguese.

We’ve started working with a tutor and have already seen progress, but we know there’s more to do. Learning the language is key to feeling truly connected to the place we now call home.

Learn more

Living abroad isn’t a perfect life—but it’s a rich, growth-filled, and deeply rewarding one. And we’re just getting started.  After our first year, we are definitely excited, inspired, and glad we took this leap.

Thinking about moving to Portugal?

Get answers to your biggest questions with our free Moving to Portugal Mini-Guide—a 10-day email course covering how to move to Portugal, healthcare, visas, renting vs. buying, language, and more.

👉 Download the free guide here

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Photo by Thibault Mokuenko on Unsplash