I appreciated you sharing your thoughts with us. I, too, left the US this year and now live in Porto for many of the same reasons you discussed. I am grateful to be here, but you're right -- it's not easy starting over at 60 in a new country. I've marched in many a pride parade, participated in protests, and was at the Supreme Court steps when Obergefell was decided. I did not come out until my mid-thirties. Now I am scared for my (trans) daughter and her gf. I have been pushing them to consider moving here, but their lives and professions are there. They don't yet have passive income or freelance jobs that would allow them to obtain visas. I was afraid this would be the outcome, though I fervently hoped it would not be. Now I am just so sad for my country and for the futures of so many people. I am gutted to know that so many Americans freely voted to put that vile man back in the White House. Now, we figure out how to go on from here. Thanks again.
Thank you for sharing parts of your story. It is not easy to put things out to the public. I feel for your daughter and their struggles. It truly breaks my heart to know how much more difficult things will get.
You said it so well. I am glad we started investigating leaving a few months ago; we will be in Silver Coast area in December for scouting trip. We were teetering on the fence before; we are fully committed now. My husband has even cancelled several wine clubs so we can begin drinking down our wine (not difficult given the current climate). This is NOT my country any more. And I am sick of people saying that leaving is taking the easy way out. The easy way is staying; it's going to be very very stressful and expensive to leave. But I'm 62 and I am completely done.
I have heard great things about the Silver Coast. I hope your visit goes well. I agree that the US is not my country anymore. And leaving is not taking the easy way out. It is a choice to put self care first, and nothing to feel any guilt about.
It will be stressful and expensive to make the move, but for us at least, it has been worth it. We have zero regrets. We actually have a much busier social life here than we've had for years. ❤️
Your friend’s list is spot on. I’d like to add to it that young people voted against their own futures.
I think social media is a monster that will be the final nail in the American experiment coffin (as I use it to connect to you, a complete stranger on the other side of the world). It effectively isolated each of us, brainwashed us, then reorganized people into factions, some based on truth, but many based on lies. Social media and its bro power structure can’t exist without that (being unregulated is the icing that ensures it not only continues to exist, but thrives).
I am happy for you that you are finally taking time for yourselves. You’ve earned it.
Agreed about social media. It is truly a love hate relationship. FB has however proven invaluable to our move. We have connected with so many people and learned so very much about the process. I hope to pull back on it in the future, but I can't quite give it up completely. I think it boils down to what you use it for. I admittedly post meme's and pictures, but I am cautious about what I hover over and spend time looking at. ❤️
Thank you so much for posting this. We left 18 months ago and wish that our family (minus the many in our family who are happy with the results - devout Christians one and all) could not move forward with us. Our Portuguese neighbors and friends are surprised that we feel so bad about this and tell us, "Não havia nada que pudesse ter feito para o evitar." OR "There wasn't anything you could have done to prevent this." Sad sad sad. My Grandchildren, who grew up in Canada until 2 years ago, now live in the US and have to do active shooter drills.
It is very true that we are limited in what we can do. We are not after all billionaires who can throw money around to tilt the election in our favor. 😜
I was raised Christian, and while I do not belong to any religious organization any longer, I do still hold many of the tenants to heart and I still have an active daily prayer and meditation each morning. That is a big part of what keeps me sane. That said, it truly baffles me how many so called Christians have fallen into believing that he is telling the truth. 🙏🏼
Thank you; this post articulates everything I'm feeling right now, especially the disappointment that I feel for my fellow Americans who voted overwhelmingly for hate, division and dishonesty. I also feel so much anger toward those who sat out the election for whatever reason. I've been researching a move to Portugal for about four years and finally made a VFS appointment when the election results were clear. Not sure I'll make it - my partner can't move for another few years - but I'm going to keep reading and considering while getting my D7 ducks in a row.
You're doing the right thing by doing your research, even if you can't do anything about it now. It is undoubtedly a lot of work, but we have no regrets, and we also have no desire to live in the US again.
You guys made the right decision to leave this sh!tshow.
I feel disgusted, angry, a little scared (for all of us--not white, middle class me specifically, although I do have an expiring female reproductive system) and very embarrassed. I used to read a particular blog by a Mormon woman. I'm not religious, but you do you, as long as you're not harming me. She posted (with respect to the orange one) , "I am grateful for a prophet of God. I trust him above all else. With him, everything will be okay." A "prophet of God"? Brainwashed much?
I vote for what the person stands for, not the party. I've voted Republican when I thought that was the right person. No matter how staunch a Republican you consider yourself, the orange baby is a wholly reprehensible thing that can probably be fairly compared to Hitler. Have some pride people. Have some pride. I'm sorry, Devyn, if this was too much vitriol for your blog.
It is definitely heartbreaking to see the changes that have already transpired and to know things are going to get much worse for so many people. I'll never understand how so many "religious" (righteous?) people have allowed themselves to be fooled into believing he is a good man when he doesn't really give a sh*t about anybody but himself.
I spoke to a friend yesterday, a black man that moved from SF to Portugal 4 years ago. The level of racism did not surprise him. But he did not vote...his son (living in SF) didn’t vote. ..his sons friends did not vote. They all felt that Trump’s win was preordained and that there was nothing they could do to stop it. It saddened me that a new generation of voters felt so disempowered...they are our only hope.
Nancy - It is sad, but the votes don't count except in "battleground states" that decide the election via the electoral college. I always vote, but this last election may be my last, as it doesn't matter. I'm deeply grateful to be here in Portugal, but I feel deeply for those back in the US who voted for decency.
We also made up our minds to sell the house and move (to Mexico) after Roe v. Wade was overturned in the summer of 2022. Sold the house in February 2023....bought land in May and started construction in June. We crossed the border in November 2023 and have now been in Mexico for a year. It was a difficult year, but we have adjusted, and not once have we wished to go back. We also miss our friends, and feel some survivors' guilt, but it's like you said: we have to take care of ourselves first. Once we get stabilized we can look at how we can make a difference in our new community. I used to attend various protests as a street medic, but here that could get me deported so I will have to pivot to something else. We'll figure it out! Nice to read your stuff and hope to come across it again soon. -Julie
I appreciated you sharing your thoughts with us. I, too, left the US this year and now live in Porto for many of the same reasons you discussed. I am grateful to be here, but you're right -- it's not easy starting over at 60 in a new country. I've marched in many a pride parade, participated in protests, and was at the Supreme Court steps when Obergefell was decided. I did not come out until my mid-thirties. Now I am scared for my (trans) daughter and her gf. I have been pushing them to consider moving here, but their lives and professions are there. They don't yet have passive income or freelance jobs that would allow them to obtain visas. I was afraid this would be the outcome, though I fervently hoped it would not be. Now I am just so sad for my country and for the futures of so many people. I am gutted to know that so many Americans freely voted to put that vile man back in the White House. Now, we figure out how to go on from here. Thanks again.
Lori ❤️🥰
Thank you for sharing parts of your story. It is not easy to put things out to the public. I feel for your daughter and their struggles. It truly breaks my heart to know how much more difficult things will get.
Sending Hugs 🤗 and Bunnies 🐰 your way.
You said it so well. I am glad we started investigating leaving a few months ago; we will be in Silver Coast area in December for scouting trip. We were teetering on the fence before; we are fully committed now. My husband has even cancelled several wine clubs so we can begin drinking down our wine (not difficult given the current climate). This is NOT my country any more. And I am sick of people saying that leaving is taking the easy way out. The easy way is staying; it's going to be very very stressful and expensive to leave. But I'm 62 and I am completely done.
Thank you Deb 🥰
I have heard great things about the Silver Coast. I hope your visit goes well. I agree that the US is not my country anymore. And leaving is not taking the easy way out. It is a choice to put self care first, and nothing to feel any guilt about.
It will be stressful and expensive to make the move, but for us at least, it has been worth it. We have zero regrets. We actually have a much busier social life here than we've had for years. ❤️
Your friend’s list is spot on. I’d like to add to it that young people voted against their own futures.
I think social media is a monster that will be the final nail in the American experiment coffin (as I use it to connect to you, a complete stranger on the other side of the world). It effectively isolated each of us, brainwashed us, then reorganized people into factions, some based on truth, but many based on lies. Social media and its bro power structure can’t exist without that (being unregulated is the icing that ensures it not only continues to exist, but thrives).
I am happy for you that you are finally taking time for yourselves. You’ve earned it.
A cocktail to add to your political repertoire:
Amarguinha from the Algarve
Fresh lemon juice
Mineral water
Ice
😋
Hugs from NM.
Larissa,
Ohhh, I will have to try that! 🍸
Agreed about social media. It is truly a love hate relationship. FB has however proven invaluable to our move. We have connected with so many people and learned so very much about the process. I hope to pull back on it in the future, but I can't quite give it up completely. I think it boils down to what you use it for. I admittedly post meme's and pictures, but I am cautious about what I hover over and spend time looking at. ❤️
Thank you so much for posting this. We left 18 months ago and wish that our family (minus the many in our family who are happy with the results - devout Christians one and all) could not move forward with us. Our Portuguese neighbors and friends are surprised that we feel so bad about this and tell us, "Não havia nada que pudesse ter feito para o evitar." OR "There wasn't anything you could have done to prevent this." Sad sad sad. My Grandchildren, who grew up in Canada until 2 years ago, now live in the US and have to do active shooter drills.
Lori, thanks for your comment. 🤗
It is very true that we are limited in what we can do. We are not after all billionaires who can throw money around to tilt the election in our favor. 😜
I was raised Christian, and while I do not belong to any religious organization any longer, I do still hold many of the tenants to heart and I still have an active daily prayer and meditation each morning. That is a big part of what keeps me sane. That said, it truly baffles me how many so called Christians have fallen into believing that he is telling the truth. 🙏🏼
Thank you; this post articulates everything I'm feeling right now, especially the disappointment that I feel for my fellow Americans who voted overwhelmingly for hate, division and dishonesty. I also feel so much anger toward those who sat out the election for whatever reason. I've been researching a move to Portugal for about four years and finally made a VFS appointment when the election results were clear. Not sure I'll make it - my partner can't move for another few years - but I'm going to keep reading and considering while getting my D7 ducks in a row.
You're doing the right thing by doing your research, even if you can't do anything about it now. It is undoubtedly a lot of work, but we have no regrets, and we also have no desire to live in the US again.
You guys made the right decision to leave this sh!tshow.
I feel disgusted, angry, a little scared (for all of us--not white, middle class me specifically, although I do have an expiring female reproductive system) and very embarrassed. I used to read a particular blog by a Mormon woman. I'm not religious, but you do you, as long as you're not harming me. She posted (with respect to the orange one) , "I am grateful for a prophet of God. I trust him above all else. With him, everything will be okay." A "prophet of God"? Brainwashed much?
I vote for what the person stands for, not the party. I've voted Republican when I thought that was the right person. No matter how staunch a Republican you consider yourself, the orange baby is a wholly reprehensible thing that can probably be fairly compared to Hitler. Have some pride people. Have some pride. I'm sorry, Devyn, if this was too much vitriol for your blog.
So sorry, just seeing your response.
It is definitely heartbreaking to see the changes that have already transpired and to know things are going to get much worse for so many people. I'll never understand how so many "religious" (righteous?) people have allowed themselves to be fooled into believing he is a good man when he doesn't really give a sh*t about anybody but himself.
I spoke to a friend yesterday, a black man that moved from SF to Portugal 4 years ago. The level of racism did not surprise him. But he did not vote...his son (living in SF) didn’t vote. ..his sons friends did not vote. They all felt that Trump’s win was preordained and that there was nothing they could do to stop it. It saddened me that a new generation of voters felt so disempowered...they are our only hope.
Nancy - It is sad, but the votes don't count except in "battleground states" that decide the election via the electoral college. I always vote, but this last election may be my last, as it doesn't matter. I'm deeply grateful to be here in Portugal, but I feel deeply for those back in the US who voted for decency.
We also made up our minds to sell the house and move (to Mexico) after Roe v. Wade was overturned in the summer of 2022. Sold the house in February 2023....bought land in May and started construction in June. We crossed the border in November 2023 and have now been in Mexico for a year. It was a difficult year, but we have adjusted, and not once have we wished to go back. We also miss our friends, and feel some survivors' guilt, but it's like you said: we have to take care of ourselves first. Once we get stabilized we can look at how we can make a difference in our new community. I used to attend various protests as a street medic, but here that could get me deported so I will have to pivot to something else. We'll figure it out! Nice to read your stuff and hope to come across it again soon. -Julie