Welcome to Letters from the Drifter
This welcome note was originally published at Letters from the Drifter.
If you’ve found your way here, you’re probably thinking about change, or at least questioning the pace, cost, or direction of the life you’re currently living.
I’m an American who now lives in Portugal. I had many of the same thoughts. It’s why I went looking for something simpler, calmer, and more sustainable. Simply put, I wanted a better life than the one I was living.
This Medium page is a record of that decision, and the experiences that followed.
Letters from the Drifter is where I write honestly about what it takes to start over somewhere else. Some posts are practical. Some are reflective. Some are humorous. All of them are grounded in real, lived experience, not the kind of stories you’ll find in a travel magazine or glossy website.
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You’ll find writing here about:
- What daily life in Portugal actually looks like and how it feels
- Food, culture, and the small routines that quietly shape your health for the better
- The bureaucracy everyone talks about, and what it’s really like to live with it
- The affordability of housing, living expenses, groceries, travel, and everyday life
- Portugal’s D7 visa, explained clearly without the typical confusion
- The slower, internal shifts that come naturally with choosing a different way to live
I’m not a relocation guru, a travel expert, or someone with all the answers. This is simply an ongoing account of what I’ve learned, what worked, what didn’t, and what surprised me along the way.
If you’re considering living in Portugal, thinking about retiring abroad, navigating through the D7 visa process, or just wondering whether life can be lived without the chaos, and everyday stress, you’re in the right place.
New letters will arrive here regularly. You’re welcome to read, comment, and subscribe if you like. I hope you enjoy these Wayward Drifts as much as I’ve enjoyed writing them.
Now let’s get Drifting…
~ Craig ~
The Wayward Drifter
