Looking back on our journey to travel as nomads and eventually expatriate to Europe, I found this journal entry turned into blog post about my dream to expatriate to Europe. I chuckled reading it remembering how rosy eyed I was, inspired by House Hunters International. They actually called us by the way. This was from 2013. I was not too far off by my estimate of a 5 year launch date. So much happened after this to change our trajectory and timing. After a couple huge health crisis and 4 years of nomadic travel, a few left turns, like covid, and some changes in plans, we have landed as expats in Portugal. Following were my thoughts…
INSPIRED BY REALITY TV
My favorite TV show is House Hunters International. You see naïve Americans buying ruins in places like France and Italian villages for cheap, and turning them into the most glorious stone homes in the most idyllic venues. Why can’t we do that? Wouldn’t that be so surreal, so fulfilling, so romantic? Of course they never tell you how much those renovations cost in the end. And my husband is no construction guru. We would have to hire all the work. But it is still a dream. We would learn Italian. And meet local residents that would accept us as neighbors. Eat dinner in the village with local wine. Travel Europe on the weekends. We love to travel, and we love Europe. But I hate the flight all the way from California. So this is the plan: Get a place in Europe, become residents, learn the language, and travel on the weekends. Mark agrees. When we retire we will look into living abroad. He thinks 10 years until retirement, maybe. I am sure he is only indulging me. I bet he thinks my ardor will cool in ten years. Well my plan is more like five years and I bet it will not cool.
I really am not enjoying my job: it is not fulfilling and I am not making much money. It is easy, and within walking distance. And it keeps me occupied during the day, so I keep it. On the side I do freelance landscape design. I am not making any money doing that either. But it gives me a creative outlet. It is a hobby that least does not cost anything, much anyway. It’s a hobby job.
We vow not to purchase anything with a plug (because the plug in Europe will be different). We remind each other every time one of us wants some new toy, that we will be moving abroad soon, and do we really need that (insert: sofa, bicycle, gadget, wide screen television, Amazon echo, kitchen appliance, keurig machine, etc.). We usually decide we do not, so we do not get it. Now I know why Mark is going along with my dream: It is saving us lots of money.
I can still buy clothes. Especially clothes that will travel well. And smart compact gadgets that will be good for traveling. And suitcases. Plus creams and lotions that I use every day. Bath and Body shop is my Achilles’ heel. I don’t need six big bottles of lotion. But it is buy three, get three free. There is no way I am paying the sticker price; I will get six. I tell myself I will give some of them away as gifts. So I try a little of each fragrance to see which ones I can part with. But I cannot decide, I like them all. Next time there is a sale, I repeat. I have a whole closet shelf full of body cream, shower gel, lotions and potions. Hair shampoo and special conditioners. Same with candles. And the costco membership is another conflict. Cleaning supplies in two-packs of giant size.
Shoes. We have a four bedroom house, there is only two of us. One bedroom is converted into a dressing room and display shelves for my shoes and boots. I know I will not be taking most of these with us, but there is no rush to shed any of these pairs. And shoes are one of those things you need new, quite often.
MEETING THE FINANCIAL PLANNER
Every time we meet with Michael our financial planner, my first questions is “Can we retire yet”. Michael laughs awkwardly and says we are on track, but not yet. The joke is getting old, and I may have forgotten to ask. So when Michaels mentions: “You know guys, if you want to, you can retire anytime.” The confusion, the silence… and then stuttering. Mark fidgets uncontrollably, starts running his hands over his pate and rubbing his eyes, like he is in pain. For me, there may have been a spontaneous hot flash. Hard to say, since those are so common these days. Michael sits back and watches as the shock subsides. He says it is always the same. People get so uncomfortable about the good news.
I am ready to pull the retirement trigger immediately. As in tomorrow. I am not fulfilled in my work, as I mentioned. Of course I wish I was. I wish more than anything I loved my job enough to never want to stop. But to be honest, even in my twenties, when I was asked what my career goal was, it was always to retire early. And I have always socked money away toward that goal, and Mark is the same. Now we are like lottery winners, who say they plan to keep working. It is really hard when you don’t have to. It is time to make this obscure dream something concrete. Stay tuned.