the hot goddess

300 Days in Portugal ~ More Midlife Expat Questions Answered

Today is my 300th day of being an immigrant. The expat life in Portugal as a solo midlife woman and retiree has been amazing every one of those 300 days. There is much to be thankful for, not the least of which is the support, encouragement, and interest I’ve received from so many of you.

I posted here about the surprising number of emails and direct messages I’ve received as a result of The Hot Goddess being featured in Condé Nast Traveler magazine, and I tried to answer the top questions I’m asked. I’ve now received more than 200 messages, which doesn’t sound like a lot, I know. But for this solo full-time retiree who’s not looking to start a side hustle consulting gig, 200 personal responses are more than I can handle. Many messages are requesting phone, in-person, FaceTime, Zoom, or Skype consulting sessions. Email subscribers outside of WordPress have increased 400 percent, and I am beyond honored that aspiring immigrants are interested in what I have to say. THANK YOU! But please understand I am not in a position to do, nor am I qualified for, expat consulting. DESCULPE!

What I have done is create a dedicated page on thehotgoddess.com just for Midlife Expat Learning articles. Other content related to expat life can be found using the “Expat” link on the Blog page in the drop-down menu.

Again, thank you to those of you who have messaged me. I pulled a representative sample of messages to publish here, minus any identifying information. I hope my responses are of some help.

I am very sorry for your loss. I think the article on my D7 visa process and timeline with expenses is the most detailed guidance I can offer for getting started. Best wishes to you on your journey.
Thank you! Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, Ericeira, Estoril are some coastal towns just north of Lisbon. São Martinho do Porto, Foz do Arelho, and Espinho are others I like that are farther north. Good luck with your scouting trips!
Thank you! Be sure to check out the articles on my D7 visa timeline and expenses, and my arrival in Portugal, for information. I did not hire a real estate agent, but used idealista.com. Agents here will only show you their listings and I didn’t want to be limited. I hired a lawyer recommended by another expat here, but now I’m looking for another one. I bought a lot of stuff when I got here. Just about everything is cheaper here than in the U.S. I brought no kitchen gadgets because I thought my furnished  townhouse included a “furnished” kitchen. It did not. A plate, cup, fork, knife, and, most importantly, a corkscrew would have been very helpful to have my first night here.
Thank you so much! I started THG website and blog as part of an online digital marketing course I began during the pandemic lockdowns in 2020. I used WordPress and its tutorials to build the site, but I didn’t make it public until 2021. Maintaining and enhancing it? Judging from all the web re-design proposals I recently found in my spam folder, I’m not doing a great job of that, other than these changes I’ve just made. You might also want to explore the many blog courses offered online…which I keep saying I’m going to take…
Thank you! I hope these changes make it easier to find helpful information.
Thank you! I had to include this because, yes, men are still a complex mess! (And so are women.)
Thank you! I am a total chicken shit about most things. Seriously. So if I can do this, then you definitely can! You’ve got this! 💜
Thank you! I hope I’ve made it easier to find the information you are looking for. Everyone’s experience and path are so different. Best wishes on your journey!
Thank you! Getting a lease is the hardest part of the process. Check out the articles on D7 housing requirements, finding a place to live, and my D7 timeline. I almost gave up trying to find a long-term rental on the ocean, but just lucked out at the last minute. I’m afraid it’s only getting harder now. Owners of beach properties make more money with short-term vacation (AL) rentals. The Portuguese Tax Authority taxes owners less on income from AL leases than on income from long-term rentals. The shortage of available long-term rentals — and affordable housing — is a big problem for Portuguese citizens, which the government is currently attempting to address with legislation. Best wishes on your search.
Thank you! I’ve already mentioned several coastal areas that I like, but as far as online expat groups, I found expat.com and blaxitglobal.com helpful when I was researching. I don’t do Facebook, but many folks swear by the Black in Portugal and Americans in Portugal groups on that platform.
Thank you! Congratulations on your investment! What a great way to begin your expat life. Enjoy your holidays here, and good luck with your D7.
Yes, it is possible to get a part-time job in Portugal. Be aware, though, that pay is very low here. Check out the articles on money, visa requirements, and my D7 visa timeline and expenses. Best wishes to you on your journey.
I hope I’ve made it a bit easier to find the information you want here on this blog now. As you may know, housing prices in Portugal are skyrocketing, unfortunately. I’ve seen as much as 300-percent jumps from the time I was first here in 2019.
I LOVE this! Thank you! It makes me so happy to see how traveling and moving to a new country resonate with so many other midlife women. ❤️
You may find it helpful to search for a Portugal immigration consultant.
Thank you for following! Portugal is a great destination for a girls trip. Enjoy!
Translation apps and living in tourist areas make it possible to get around speaking only English, but living here is much more fulfilling when one attempts to learn basic Portuguese.
Thank you for sharing your story (not published here). I appreciate you 💜
Wow. Thank you! Definitely a work in progress, but I decided in 2018 that I was going to retire at the end of that school year. Read more about that decision to change my life here. I retired in June 2019; traveled solo around the world for 70 days; survived the pandemic that killed friends and family members; started a blog; learned how to make bourbon whiskey as a distillery intern; sold my house in 2021; and moved to Portugal in 2022. The warts of change — of living — are the best, most instructive part. 💜

Be sure to check out the Midlife Expat Learning page for all the information I can offer about my experience moving to Portugal. Remember, things are changing rapidly, and everyone’s immigration experience can be different. Thank you for reading!

All images are my own.

The Hot Goddess

Instagram: retired_rewired_inspired

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22 comments

  5. You do not need to respond to my comment (whew, less pressure!)…But I wanted to say, what an incredible dedication you had in putting forth responses to those who reached out to you – and then in turn, it becomes a sort of ‘go-to’ link for future FYI on your blog…Genius!
    🙂

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  6. Wow! Well done!

    Maybe you need an AI assistant to respond to all these! (Then create a subscription package for you assistant to have virtual conversations with folks!!) LOL!

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