‘I have a lot more life here’: She couldn’t afford retirement in the US, so she relocated from California to Portugal
From California to Porto: A New Chapter in Portugal
A Leap of Faith Across the Atlantic
Earthguardiansonline.com – Looking back at her bold decision to relocate to Portugal alone five years ago, Paula Dreyfuss laughs about how many people doubted her sanity. After all, she had never set foot in this European nation before making such a life-changing move. Today, however, the single mother of two, who now calls the coastal city of Porto home, feels nothing but content. Porto, renowned for its famous Port wine and stunning bridges, has become more than just a new address—it has become a place where she truly thrives.
“I have a lot more life here,” Dreyfuss, a native of Texas, shared with CNN Travel. She spoke with evident joy about her regular excursions to local museums, cinema venues, and pop-up wineries scattered throughout the Douro Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage site located in northern Portugal. Her daughter once visited and posed a simple question: “Well, what do you guys do all day?” Dreyfuss recalled her friend’s witty response, holding up a glass of Champagne and saying, “You’re looking at it.”
The Financial Reality That Changed Everything
Food and dining represent one area where Dreyfuss has experienced remarkable improvement. She now enjoys eating out at least three times weekly—a luxury she simply could not have maintained while living in San Diego, California. There, she had worked as a teacher after spending years in corporate finance. When she first transitioned into education, Dreyfuss envisioned a retirement that would offer financial comfort and security.
However, as time passed and San Diego’s cost of living continued to climb, those dreams began to fade. She explored the possibility of relocating within the United States, even driving up to Seattle and “stopping at a bunch of places,” but nothing felt affordable enough to justify leaving her current life behind. She had always harbored ambitions of traveling extensively throughout Europe, yet she knew those plans would likely remain unfulfilled if she stayed put.
Navigating the Visa Process During a Pandemic
After researching various European destinations, Dreyfuss discovered that the Portugal D7 visa was her only viable option at the time. This visa permits non-EU citizens with a reliable passive income to establish residency in the country. “I’d never been to Portugal. So I had no way of doing a scouting trip or anything,” she explained. “I thought, ‘I’m going to go over there. And if I don’t like Portugal, then I’ll move to Spain or France.'”
Although she initially delayed her departure, the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021 ultimately pushed her to leave the United States permanently. “I was really ready to get away from the political situation in the United States,” she confessed. Dreyfuss connected with an online community specializing in assisting foreigners relocate to Portugal and began the visa application process. The procedure took somewhat longer than expected because the Portuguese embassy had closed temporarily due to the global health crisis.
Arriving in Porto with Four Suitcases
Once her D7 visa received approval in 2021, Dreyfuss had only a few months to consolidate her life in California and prepare for her journey. She sold her townhouse to her son and parted with many of her possessions. In May 2021, she arrived in Portugal carrying just four suitcases and accompanied by her dog, Charlie. After spending nearly a week in Lisbon, she realized the city felt too large and resembled American urban centers due to its heavy crowds and persistent traffic.
She had originally moved to Portugal with her husband to begin anew, but circumstances changed unexpectedly. Dreyfuss quickly rented a car and drove along the coastline, eventually visiting Porto. The city immediately captivated her with its beauty, diversity, and welcoming atmosphere. Though she had intended to continue exploring Europe, she fell deeply in love with Portugal’s second-largest city and chose to remain.
Fortune smiled upon her when she encountered a real estate agent within hours of arriving in Porto, allowing her to secure an unfurnished apartment within just a few days. Over time, Dreyfuss became completely enamored with the city. She particularly cherished the local residents, who were consistently “so warm and so nice,” along with the pleasant sunshine. She felt certain this was a place where she could find lasting happiness.
“Every time I’d be in a situation where I’d think, ‘I’m just going to sit here on the curb and cry,’ somebody would say, ‘Can I help you? Are you lost?'” she remembered. “So that was part of the trigger, and then I just started making friends here.” Her social calendar soon filled rapidly, and Dreyfuss discovered herself constantly gathering with new companions for games, dinners, wine tastings, and coffee meetings.
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