At 67, Lonny McLoughlin moved to Porto alone, leaving behind a career and many of the things that had defined his life. What began as a year devoted to art and exploration became something far more unexpected. In this conversation, Lonny reflects on rediscovering creativity, finding love, reimagining aging, and letting go of the need to measure his worth through accomplishment. His story invites us to consider what it means to create a meaningful life—and why loving that life may be something we practice rather than achieve.

Nicoletta Arps never imagined leaving Germany. Then burnout led her to the Camino de Santiago, where walking 280 kilometers alone showed her just how capable she really was. Years later, that discovery helped give her the courage to move to Porto and create a very different life. In this conversation, Nicoletta reflects on anxiety, taking risks, finding meaningful work, building community, letting go of old ideas about security, and learning to trust herself when life doesn’t unfold according to plan.

When Annie Knecht and Bill Bangert moved to Porto, they arrived with a clear picture of the life they were beginning. Almost immediately, that picture changed. In this conversation, Annie and Bill reflect on navigating the unexpected, finding their footing, building community, making a home, and discovering what it means to create a new chapter together—one that looks different from the one they originally imagined.

When Matt Bays moved to Porto, he expected life to be different. What he didn’t anticipate was how living here might change him. In this conversation, Matt reflects on finding home, building community, making space for creativity and purpose, and how life in Portugal is opening him to the world—and to a growing sense that more is possible.

Know someone whose story belongs here? We’re looking for people creating interesting, meaningful lives in Portugal—people making choices, following curiosities, changing direction, building community, or simply finding their own way of living here. Tell us who we should meet.