Let’s talk about why Portugal’s D7 Visa  is quietly becoming one of the smartest residency options for Americans, and why timing matters more than most people realize. I recently read a CNN article about the global rush for second passports and how George Clooney and his wife acquired French citizenship. Politics aside, I’m not interested in the noise this article is likely to generate. What I read between the lines was something much simpler: having a backup plan is no longe

While I stood watching the fireworks explode into the night sky, something I had done so many times before on New Year’s Eve, one thing was different. Something very BIG was different. This year, I was standing in Portugal. Coimbra, Portugal, to be exact, alongside the Rio Mondego, at an establishment uniquely named after my favorite beverage: Beers . I was holding a pint of Guinness stout (I’m Irish, as you should know by now), and a moment of reflection washed over me, as i

My Recovery Story of Health, Fasting & Supplements. When I jumped on a big jet airplane with everything I owned, I didn’t do it lightly. My health was declining, healthcare costs were climbing, and the food in U.S. supermarkets was getting more expensive and less nourishing. No, I don’t have cancer or anything like that, but I did feel like I was slowly dying, both from my lifestyle and from the poor quality of nourishment I was getting from the U.S. food system. My Body was

What started as my AIMA Appointment turned into a spontaneous drift through Portugal’s capital, proof that old travel habits die hard. After being holed up in my flat for the last month taking care of paperwork for my AIMA meeting and writing and editing posts that were long overdue, I was feeling the need to go on a Drift  in a big way. Don’t get me wrong, I love writing and sharing crazy adventures, but the need for fresh air and new sights is what makes me feel whole and a

Breaking into a cold sweat in the checkout line was all the proof I needed. The one thing I’ve found critical in today’s world is the ability not only to speak another person’s language but to truly understand it. I’ve been in Portugal for a month now, and I still haven’t had a lengthy conversation with one Portuguese person. Thank goodness for the translation App’s on my iPhone, they have gotten me out of some very sticky situations, but this doesn’t replace a good old-fashi

My first trip to Europe was a dream come true, and I can still remember the exact feeling when it finally happened. I had planned every step, getting a passport, storing my belongings, renting out my house, and clearing out the things I didn’t need in exchange for my freedom. The choice I made wasn’t normal for most people, and my friends and family made that clear. Comments like “you’re insane,” “what the hell are you thinking?” and the classic “what are you running from?” w

A calm, affordable path to retirement for those ready to trade chaos for cobblestones and a quiet café life. My desire to find a quality place to retire, and do something I enjoy without breaking the bank, began to take shape late in 2024. I only had my Social Security benefits as income but wasn’t done working yet, so money was going to be tight. I just wanted work to be fun and bring in a few extra bucks to fund some of my crazy hobbies. The Final Choices: Costa Rica, Italy

How to Easily Transfer Funds, Spend Less on Fees, and Access Your Cash Effortlessly When Traveling Abroad If you’ve ever been stranded with no way to pay for a meal, buy a drink for a charming stranger at the bar, or grab transportation home, you know firsthand how important it is to have a travel debit card that actually works. I can’t count how many times I’ve found myself in one of those situations, praying to the Money Gods that my card would deliver the funds I needed. R

I found a safer, simpler way to secure proof of accommodation in Portugal before your visa is approved. Once I decided on Portugal and its D7 Residency Visa option, one of the trickier requirements was providing proof of accommodation before my VFS appointment in San Francisco. With my appointment two months away and the approval process expected to take another two to three months, one question kept lurking in the back of my mind: Was I supposed to pay rent for all that time

I know many of you might be wondering why I chose Portugal as my retirement destination. First off, I’m not quite ready to retire yet, I still have too many places to see and things to do before I pull up a rocking chair on the porch and watch the birds chirp. (No offense to you bird watchers.) Here are a few reasons why Portugal made the most sense for me, and how I ended up drifting my way there. I looked at a lot of possible locations and made a long list of pros and cons

Moving to Portugal didn’t just change my address, it changed how I experience time. Adjusting to a new time zone, a quieter city, and a slower rhythm reshaped my daily life in ways I never expected. My travels have taken me to many places in life, but on this current journey, the destination feels a little more permanent. I’ve signed a one-year lease on my flat, submitted documents to the local authorities for a Portuguese D7 residency visa, and opened a local bank account in

Travel has a way of stripping away confidence when you least expect it. In less than 24 hours, Lisbon taught me humility through customs lines, lost luggage, fast escalators, cobblestone streets, and language barriers, and I wouldn’t trade the lesson for anything. My story begins... The flight from New York wasn’t as long as I thought it might be, I found the small video screen on the seat ahead of me quite entertaining and it helped the time fly by. I arrived in Lisbon, Port

Packing light sounds easy, until cobblestone streets, staircases, and transit transfers prove otherwise. I learned the hard way that what you don’t bring matters more than what you do. When I set out on my first journey across Europe, I was wide-eyed, excited, and ready for adventure. I thought I had everything figured out, flights booked, reservations made, itinerary planned, and bags packed. What I didn’t realize was just how much “baggage” I was actually bringing with me.

I assumed my U.S. phone plan would work just fine in Europe, well it didn’t. Getting lost in Lisbon taught me why a European SIM card is a traveler’s best friend. Hopefully, you won’t make the same mistake I did by not getting your phone set up with a European SIM card before you leave the airport or step off your ship. This little travel tip will help you begin your exciting new journey without stumbling. When I planned my trip abroad and made my list of important things to