May 27, 2025 Our “forever condo” is for sale, our bags are packed, and our move to Lisbon is officially underway. Surprised? So are we! But we are excited for our next chapter.
Oh, along the way I decided that I am getting back into tech. I’m now an active Limited Partner (LP) in two European venture tech funds. And in a related move, I’m now on the advisory board of Dealflow.eu, a company at the heart of Europe’s vibrant startup ecosystem.
It’s been an unexpected chain of events – at least for us. Our daughter claims she isn’t surprised 🙂
“Home is where the heart is, but the world is where the adventure is.”
Why Lisbon?
Since my retirement in 2020, Jean and I have embraced slow travel, spending months exploring different continents. Europe especially captured our hearts, with its rich culture, deep history, welcoming people, and of course, wonderful food and wine.
One of the practical joys of travel in Europe is the Schengen Area, which allows seamless movement across most European countries without passport checks or border hassles. Driving from Germany to Portugal via France and Spain feels as straightforward as a U.S. road trip from Charlotte to Kansas City – except for the fascinating kaleidoscope of languages, traditions, and cuisines along the way.
The downside? As non-residents, we’re limited to 90 days in the Schengen Zone for every 180-day period. That’s fine for short vacations, but for slow travel – our style – it’s restrictive. We often find ourselves rushing when we’d rather linger.
But if we became residents, we wouldn’t face that limitation.
And so – on a long road trip through the Australian outback, of all places – we asked ourselves: Why not?
What Were We Thinking?
Good question! The chain of reasoning that leads us to Lisbon goes something like this:
- Residency: To enjoy more time in Europe, we need residency. We explored over a dozen options, and Portugal stands out as the best fit for us. Not only for its visa policy, but for its lifestyle, values, and affordability.
- Portugal’s Golden Visa (ARI) Program: Portugal offers a residency-by-investment path known as the Autorização de Residência para Investimento (ARI), more commonly called the Portuguese Golden Visa (PGV). This program provides a pathway for non-EU citizens to obtain a second passport, and the right to live, work, and study within the EU. But the process requires both a financial commitment and real planning.
- Finding the Right Partner: There are many companies that promise to “guide” you through the PGV process. Some are excellent, and some are suspect. After considerable research and interviews, we we opted to work directly with our own Portuguese lawyer, rather than a third-party firm, for a more personalized and secure approach.
- Making the Investment: I reviewed around 50 funds that qualify for the PGV. Through this process, I filtered out the “chaff” and identified about half a dozen golden kernels of real opportunity. We ultimately selected two funds that aligned well with our interests and overall investment portfolio.
- My Third Act: During my investment research, one company particularly resonated with me: Dealflow.eu. It’s uniquely positioned to identify and invest in promising startups early. I’m now an advisory board member, helping guide the next generation of innovation. It’s a rewarding way to merge my tech roots with this new chapter.
My “Third Act” (tip of the hat to you Liz) begins in June, when I will coach several start-ups as they prepare a corporate pitch. They will be presenting innovative new datacenter cooling approaches to a European Fortune 500 company.
This is going to be fun!
The Long Road to Lisbon
It will take about 18-24 months for our residency visa to come through. In the interim, we’ll continue our travels, starting with Croatia in June. The rest of our summer itinerary includes Italy, Portugal (naturally!), the UK, and Belgium. We’ll be back in Charlotte by October, and we can’t wait to catch up with our local friends then!
Oh, about the condo… it is our favorite home yet. But we are seldom there, and will be even less after we get a place in Lisbon. So after much discussion, we opted to sell and bank the money. Our new permanent address (and our worldly possessions) will be at our daughter’s home in north Charlotte.
More to Come
We’ll be sharing more about the process and our experience over the coming weeks. Stay tuned!
Bravo to you two! You will be missed in Charlotte, but what a way to embrace life. I look forward to reading your upcoming posts about the whole process of moving and settling in. Be well and best of luck!