In December 2019, Joch and her husband Jeff packed up their California home and pointed their Honda CRV toward an uncertain future, retirement in Portugal. Their house was sold, the visas were in motion, and everything they owned fit into a car and a U-Haul. It felt like freedom wrapped in a thousand logistics.
But somewhere between Reno and Salt Lake City, Temptation hitched a ride. Jeff wondered aloud if Portugal was really worth all the effort. Maybe, he suggested, they should retire in northern Minnesota instead. Joch, who had dreamed of Portugal since 1979, bit her tongue and let the idea linger. Snow, she secretly hoped, would cure him of that thought.
Minnesota did not cooperate. Jeff shoveled snow in delight, made snow angels, and even discovered a motel for sale, complete with an owner’s suite. Temptation nearly won. Then came a gas stop south of the Twin Cities. The wind howled, the temperature plunged, and Jeff met the true meaning of “wind chill.” By the next state line, the motel dream was gone.
Today the couple lives in Perafita, Portugal, just three blocks from the Atlantic. The snow shovel is retired, the dream realized. Life, they agree, is good.
My Take…
Joch and Jeff made the right decision! I’ll take Portugal over freezing cold in the winter and sticking hot with mosquitos in the summer Minnesota any day 🙂
Click on the link below for the full article:
https://www.liveandinvestoverseas.com/countries/portugal/how-a-minnesota-motel-almost-killed-our-portugal-retiring-overseas-dream/
