I get you, low budget travel isn’t for me either. 16 months in one city whether it be Boston or Lisbon it’s too long. I retired young 4 years ago and I didn’t lower my living standards and continued to travel until the pandemic hit and all went upside down. My moving to Portugal comes with the idea to continue my travels as usual. I spent four weeks in France this past June. I’m ready to travel again which is now pending on the result of the interview for the D7 in two weeks. If the answer is negative, we’ll just travel as planned anyway. Portugal and Switzerland. If the answer is positive we’ll stay in Portugal and travel throughout the country including Madeira and the Azores. We’ll see what happens next, on our second year… we’ll cross the bridge when we get there.

mexico you have sharks, drugs, cartels … Portugal you have sun, beaches, nice food, gangsters smelling like strawberry muffins smoking electric cigars …

Thank you so much for the update, Kirsten.

Hi Kirsten!!! I'm always so happy to get a new video from you as I really appreciate your deep insights and honesty. When I was there in Mar/Apr it was strictly as a tourist. But now due to certain factors I've been considering a move to Lisbon. I hope to be back some time soon to look at it from the perspective of living there. I look forward to meeting up with you and Mark if possible. Take care and thanks!!

Thanks for another great video, Kirsten. It’s always so helpful having your perspective and honest assessment of life in Lisbon!

I wonder if Madrid might be a better fit..love your perspective

I hope you can attend Exodus Summit. It well be about making money online whiile living abroad

Hi Kristen, I thought air fare between European countries was low cost.

I know that there are 4 levels of private insurance (pretty sure it is 4) but since you have mentioned you are happy with your private insurance, would you mind telling us which level you have? One being the cheapest 4 most expensive…..thanks so much. Also since you teased us a bit, if you were to EVER move from Portugal….where would you consider?

I’m glad you acknowledged the stress of Covid. Many people aren’t allowing themselves to recognize the healing that we all need.
Regarding travel, I loved the proximity to African countries. Have you looked into going to Tunisia? I’m hoping to go there when I go to Portugal on my 1st trip.

Thanks for the Video, just came back from Portugal, there are many places within Portugal and Spain to visit within driving distance from Lisbon. As far as variety, I have been at different shopping malls and stores while at Portugal and found so many variety and great pricing compared to US. I would strongly recommend you to start learning about all cultural and historic sites within Portugal as well as their rich cuisine and friendly people. Learning the language would help you to integrate into their culture.

Very insightful vlog. Working for 40 years? I thought you were around 40 years old…

How are your taxes, and are you thinking of getting Portuguese citizenship?

Thanks Kirsten! I enjoy your videos! Portugal is in my sights! I am retired and single. I am comfortable on a Pension and SSI. I am liking the idea of selling my house here and financing a home there. Mortgage rates in Portugal are much lower than the US. Love your vlog!

Look on the bright side: even though it seems tough, you probably do have more opportunities to travel to different countries now than you would have if you'd stayed in San Diego and lived on the same budget.

Night sleeper train to Madrid! Short cheap Ryanair flights to many many places.

Your train ride line of reasoning is weird. Why would you want to hop on a train? Hop on a plane instead. You can go to Madrid, Paris, London, etc on a pittance. You are at the very edge of Europe, trains here are only for internal travel. On the other hand, Morocco is just nearby… Also, have you thought of a short flight to Dakar in Senegal? Or to Sal in Cabo Verde?

Sounds like you don't want to fly and only want train travel. Everywhere in Europe is about an hour away from Lisbon so everything in Europe actually is close by.

Hello Kristen! Since you're been in Lisbon for awhile how is their water sewer trash pickup which for me would be something that would have to be good if not excellent Thank You for being straight forward about your experience!

This puts things in perspective. Thank you 😊

Thank you so much Kirsten for this video. As a family considering relocating to PT—videos like these are priceless. 🙏🏻 I’d rather hear about (for example) housing is not insulated very well vs here’s a castle you can visit for free on Wednesday mornings. We can always visit a great tourist spot but those “benefits” (while good to know) are not important IMHO when one needs to know if they can live someplace.
Also appreciate your reflection on your expectations, surprises, change of opinion in terms of living in PT or EU. Your experience also helps us put things into perspective.
Question regrading travel opportunities. I appreciate PT is kinda in the ‘far west’ of Europe (so to speak) and international train travel infrastructure and opportunities are far behind most of Europe. For travel budget, have you considered low-cost airfares (EasyJet, Wizz, Ryanair) or is the budget for food, hotels/airbnb, museums, etc still to high for leisure travel? Thanks again.

Who do you have your medical insurance with?

Can I say something, I think it will be a problem when you try to compare your own county with others, your society and the way of living is very diferent, so it is very dificult to compare, I think the focus must be, why I move to another place, the stress the safety …. try to focus in the good, because there isn't any place in the world who gone have everything that you have in the place where you born. For exemple for me it will be impossible to live in the USA, in any city or a small place, but I lived in Africa in a city who doesn't have nothing to do with Lisbon and I enjoy to live there, no safe no health care but I feel at home.
You like to travel I don't understand why you don't go by airplane if you booked the trips with some time you pay less money, you have London 2 hours Paris 2 and half Madrid 1.45 h and now is a good time to travel because the prices of hotels going to be less and use always the Low cost and book the tickes with time you could pay for person 56 Eur per person for London,
I think you didn't feel confortable yet, The Portuguese are reserved people but if you talk with them they will open for you.
If you don't feel happy here so I think it will be better to find another place in the world for you where you feel it is your home. But if you keep compare so I think you gone be at your own country as soon than later

Thank you so much for the insight.

Enjoyed the video and your candor. Would you all ever think about going back to the US?