My first winter in the Algarve five years ago, everyone thought I must be Canadian. My head turned at the rare American accent. I was thrilled. I came to Portugal to escape the turmoil, negativity and uneasy feeling that something wasn’t right in the US.
Over the last couple of years, as the number of Americans moving here has exploded, I have worried that they would bring some of that ugliness along. A few months ago, at a CASA (social club) wine tasting, I met four new American couples. I couldn’t have been more wrong about the kind of Americans coming here to live.
Monte and Stacey Rowland
Monte and Stacey hail from Las Vegas, Nevada. They are renting in Praia da Rocha while they look to purchase a home in the Lagos area. Why did Monte and Stacey choose Portugal? They listed safety first, then medical care, cost of living, weather and easy access to all of Europe.
Why leave the US? “We needed a break from the political situation, and our medical system is embarrassing. The same prescription I had in the US is $1.20 here for a month versus $150 per month in the US. It is interesting to see the laws of a country favor ‘the little guy’ over ‘big corporations’.”
I hadn’t looked at it that way, as we are always hearing that the laws favor the wealthy expats here. Another reason I so like Stacey and Monte is their thoughtfulness on choosing Portugal. They looked at Costa Rica, Thailand, Malaysia and Spain before settling here for their first stop in retirement. They had both lived overseas growing up, and they both knew they wanted travel to be a big part of their retirement lives. Starting in Europe, they might home base in Asia in the future and explore more of that part of the world.
Family in the US is always the most wrenching part for Americans moving here permanently. Stacey and Monte have a big family, including three adult sons. Their advice? “Don’t overthink the distance. My family lives in Chicago and I can be on a nonstop flight there every day.”
I asked them about surprises living here, and they had to get used to the non-tipping culture. I agree with them that the US has become ridiculous on the tipping expectations.
When it comes to advice for other Americans moving here, Stacey and Monte suggest that doing research is critical (they know more about the rules here than I do). And, of course, they think Americans here need to be respectful. As they are, to everyone. They love the people here. And they love jumping on a plane to Paris for a long weekend for a $25 bargain flight!
Oran Smith-Osterman and Mark Osterman
Oran and Mark are a fun couple from Everett in Washington State. They live in Lagos and have been in Portugal for three years. They were able to take an early retirement and site the affordability, safety, peace, tranquility and very nice people as reasons for their choice of Portugal. Mark’s dream was to retire at 55 and “live in paradise”. They did a lot of research and Portugal, particularly the Algarve, “ticked all the boxes”.
They both have large families, scattered in Washington State and Texas. They go back once a year to see family and fundraise for their community non-profit (Did I mention they are wonderful people?).
A surprise once they moved here – the inexpensive, excellent local wines!
Their advice for Americans wanting to move here is to check out the different regions of Portugal, as there is so much variety in lifestyle choices here. Once you’re here, they suggest we all “embrace the difference”.
Steve and Marlene
Steve and Marlene come from Massachusetts (Americans can’t say it, either) and Florida. They live near Odiáxere and are celebrating their one-year anniversary as residents. They chose Portugal for the friendly people, the healthcare, public transportation and good roads. They chose the Algarve for the warm temps for Steve and beautiful cliff hikes for Marlene.
They originally thought they might end up in New Zealand, as they spent 15 months there during Covid, but the immigration requirements were daunting. They see Portugal as a springboard to the many places on the planet they plan to explore, like Europe, the UK, Morocco, Africa … the list is long and interesting, just like Steve and Marlene.
They don’t have kids, so they welcome the family that likes to visit here. They have no plans to return to the US, they are truly citizens of the world.
Surprising for them in Portugal is the number of good friends they have made here so quickly. Marlene says they have a lot in common with people here, like the love of wine and laughter.
They have a great tip for Americans moving here: ignore the Facebook “how to” chatter. Instead, subscribe on Facebook to American & Friends in PT, and use the “how to” files there. And here’s another tip: check out Marlene’s travel blog at www.travelbroadly.com. You’ll find it just as interesting as Steve and Marlene!
Scott and Kal Blackshear
You know how sometimes you meet people and you feel instantly at ease with them? When you first meet Scott and Kal, their warmth and interest in other people is evident right away.
Originating from Jacksonville, Florida, they have just moved into their lovely home in the quaint Espiche. Kal started thinking about retiring in Portugal 19 years before she actually retired. Friends had visited here and their stories and pictures set her down the path to the beautiful Algarve. Scott came fully on board after a visit in 2022 when he experienced the year-round golf and communicating in English.
They have a lot of family back in the States, including three adult children and two grandsons. They have been back a couple of times this year and their family has been coming out to stay with them often. And they’ve kind of adopted their elderly Portuguese neighbors. They speak not a word of English, but when Kal cooks a big meal, they often take some over to their new friends.
Their tips for Americans moving here: “Be prepared for the slower pace of life and try your best to learn simple European Portuguese beforehand … we did not! Definitely hire a reputable lawyer to review contracts. If buying a house, do not forgo the inspection, especially for resale homes.”
And, of course, being Scott and Kal: “Come with an open mind and heart. The Portuguese people are beautiful, welcoming and friendly.”
Meeting these four couples has been wonderfully reassuring for me and, I hope, for you. The Americans moving here are the kind of people I would be honored to call my friends. They are coming with their positive attitudes and a desire to become part of this beautiful community and way of life, not to turn it into a mini-America. Tudo é bom!
By Glenda Cole
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Glenda Cole is a retired American executive loving her story book life in Portugal. She and her boyfriend, Glenn Ellison, have a You Tube channel called The Glenn and Glenda Show. She has recently begun volunteering at the Madrugada home store in Lagos. Madrugada provides free hospice care at home, and they need volunteers. Check out their website at madrugada-portugal.com
