I thought I’d never leave New York, but when my partner, who grew up in a small town in Normandy, suggested we look for a calmer life on the other side of the Atlantic, I considered it. I did.
A few months later, we were moving all our belongings across the Atlantic to a small town in Portugal that I had only seen in travel books.
It took me a while to realize that I wasn’t happy with the fast-paced city life.
When we started talking about moving, we had just returned from a month-long trip around France in a van built by my partner. When we returned to New York, the traffic, construction, and fast-paced commuters we were used to seeing now seemed like a nuisance.
I reflected on my last years in the city and how obsessed I was with my job and making enough money to pay rent. The stress of living there was taking a toll on my mental and physical health and ability to focus on other things I cared about, like writing.
I wanted to regain the peace I had experienced during my expedition. So one day I turned to my partner and said, “Okay, let’s move.”
Her eyes sparkled with disbelief. Those were the words she had always wanted to hear, and the words she never thought I’d say.
We finally chose our new town mainly based on a few beautiful photos
We considered various options, including Hawaii, Alaska, and France. But Hawaii was too far away, Alaska was too cold, and France was, well, too familiar.
My partner and I are both French-Brazilian, so we decided France and Brazil were out of the question. But we both speak Portuguese anyway, so we settled on Portugal.
It felt like a good fusion of European and South American culture. Plus, my partner can surf there and we can be close to family without getting too close.
A few months later, we packed up all our belongings and flew across the Atlantic to Portugal.
At first I was scared of the changes, but I really like the balance of life here.
We arrived in this town full of hope, but as we walked around Ericeira that first night, I burst into tears. The shortcomings gradually permeated. I was in a small, unfamiliar place, far from everyone I knew and loved.
But my partner reassured me that I would find friends, an apartment, and things to do. Everything will be fine.
She was right. A year later, we made friends we wanted to be lifelong friends with, found a beautiful apartment one minute from the beach, and had the work-life balance we were looking for.
I have time to do yoga, read, and write. And we regularly go on non-drinking excursions with friends, like sunset hikes or morning surf sessions.
Also, living here is more affordable than in New York, so I’m glad to finally be able to save money for the future.
If you told my 16-year-old self that 10 years from now I’d be living in a quaint Portuguese town, she wouldn’t believe me. That’s the magic of life. we change.
I still miss New York sometimes, but I can visit whenever I want. As soon as I land, I’m the same city girl again – just a little softer.
