This is a little off-topic from my usual letters, but – not really – as you’ll see. I invite you to just keep reading.
The week after the presidential election, Ron and I got a lot of comments (along with assorted emoticons!) in emails from friends. I guess you could say it was, ahem, in a congratulatory vein. Here are a few:
“You should never be happier to be an expat. ☹️“
“… how I envy you two; you made the right move at the right time. 🥺“
“I hope you know how lucky you are to be out of here. We’re still stuck in this mess. 😞“
“I think about moving every day, but it feels so daunting. You give me hope. ❤️“
Our Move to Portugal
It was 2-and-a-half years ago Ron and I decided to goose our lives with a sharp left turn and move to Southern Portugal. We decamped from the states, crossed the “Pond” and landed in the lap of unspoiled natural beauty, year-round sun, safety, and inexpensive health care in this European country that’s slightly smaller than Indiana.
We haven’t been a rarity in doing this – increasing numbers of Americans have found their way over here attracted to the open arms reception from this country that makes it relatively easy and straightforward to move. In fact, according to government statistics, the number of North Americans living in Portugal jumped from 4,134 in 2019 to 14,126 last year (2023). That’s a 242% increase!
However, it looks like that increase may be dwarfed by the apparent surge in interest of Americans now considering leaving the States following that sh#t show of a presidential election. One analysis of Google Trends found that the term “Portugal Property” and “Portugal Visas” are registering a record number of searches in the United States.
Yet people can “escape” to a lot of places. I’d suggest we don’t want to just “escape” – we want a place where we can thrive. Personally, as a fairly new resident, I can say that Portugal offers the ideal “starter materials” for creating a new life infrastructure.
If that resonates for you, I have two items that may be of interest:
- Learn about Portugal Visas. An American who moved here with her partner in 2020 has a popular “expat” blog and lately has been focusing on giving guidance to Americans considering a possible move to Portugal. Here is her latest, which focuses on the various visas available.
- Come over for a “check out the country” visit! Sometimes all it takes is a little push – and this might be just the thing to get you over here! Plan to come over in May for a tour and spend 3 days of it with me in a psilocybin mushroom retreat at our luxury villa in Southern Portugal.
You have the choice of two 3-day retreats in May. Read all about it here. You can join me at the beginning of your Portugal discovery tour or put a cherry on the top at the end with 3-days with me.
Under my careful, safe, and supportive guidance, you’ll have the opportunity to explore psilocybin’s potential in a safe and nurturing environment. I bring years of experience in facilitating plant medicine journeys and creating transformative spaces. So together, we’ll work to heal emotional blocks, unlock creativity, and connect with deeper parts of yourself. You’ll feel fully supported every step of the way, with personalized attention and insights from myself and my team – to help you navigate and integrate your experiences.
My intention is for you to immerse yourself in the beauty of Portugal while also taking a deep dive into self-discovery – an experience that will help you gain clarity and figure out what you truly want to do.
With Love,
Becca
P.S. Canna Elevation Ceremony scheduled! At the risk of too many links in this post, register here and mark your calendar for our next Elevation gathering! Saturday, December 21st (times on registration page). It’s my gift to our awakening community to release whatever is knocking loudest on your head! xob