Hey Laura!

I've been thinking about moving abroad for a couple of years, specifically to open a series of businesses stemming from a retreat center. It's a grand dream and I'm loving the planning.

Initially, I planned on Ireland because you can buy amazing properties for about what a fancy condo costs around here. But. Things are so, so tense there, both because of Brexit and on-going internal troubles that seem like another never-ending war.

Portugal has much of what I am looking for and the time seems right.

A Peace March Friend lives there now, though he is retired...in contrast to my plan to never retire.

Have you ever been?

Oh Sheryl, I hope the transfer works out in the best possible way.

No, I have not been, but now I will have a great reason to visit! Very exciting news.

bonny, that sounds like an amazing plan!

bee, that sounds amazing! I've never visited but always wanted to. A college friend and I had been talking about it, then... pandemic, etc.

Lunch with friends was lovely. I am tired now.

Did finally pin down a week for a beach "workcation" with a couple of friends, last week in October. I like the ocean; I do not like crowds.

There will be plenty of room for visitors! It really is going to be great and there is a very good chance I have investors ready to support the vision. But, rather than wait for all the dominos to fall into place, I am going to go, get settled and scout for the best locations.

Portugal is #17 in the world for wifi coverage, so I'll be able to keep my client base and fold them into the new businesses.

Plus? 3 international airports. [wink]

David & JZ-- Matilda is an awesome kid. I wish I had known someone like her back when I was in high school.

bee Portugal sounds like it will be an amazing adventure.

msbelle- I tried to rescue the stew but .. I finally added lots of hot sauce and cheese to my bowl and it made it edible. M enjoyed it.

played more minecraft with E. Even saw my brother when he came to tell E it was time for dinner. My brother asked me how I liked Minecraft and I was like..well....I do really well and knock people off a platform with a fish but that's about my only success (that's a minigame you can play, it suits my style of fighting which is race in and wail on things) and I told him I thought E would like Warframe once he was old enough, I think it's rated M but there's not a lot of real violence , it would mainly be him being in the general chat with adults that would be the bigger issue I think.

At work they announced the company is going to give bonuses this year, tied into attendance. If you are part or full time and work 35 + hours between Nov Week 1 and Dec Week 2 you earn an extra $50 a week , paid out on Christmas Eve (I guess direct deposit) so up to $350. And then for part time working 20-35 hours a week for that time frame it's $25. I guess they are trying to retain people and get the most hours out of them. Since I haven't been scheduled less than 39 hours in a long time I'm not worried about qualifying for the bonus money/

I have not been to Portugal, but I will note (a) that when my friends Gary and Phil went tramping around Europe for six months, their two favorite places were the bookends - Portugal and Turkey; and, also, I had friends who honeymooned in Lisbon and absolutely loved it.

Also, easy access to Spain, Morocco and the Mediterranean plus 2.5 hour flight to either London or Paris.

The Emmys are already weird.

David, that's what I hear! There are all sorts of lovely things about Portugal but it's super practical as well. The perfect combo.