🌍 Why Moving Abroad in Midlife Feels Like Being 25 Again (But Smarter!)

"𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 8 𝒎𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒉𝒔, 𝑰 𝒔𝒊𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒅 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒄𝒖𝒑 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒛𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒚 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎—𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝑰'𝒎 𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝑷𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒈𝒂𝒍."

When you hit your 40s or 50s, society sometimes whispers that it’s time to settle down, slow down, or "be realistic." But what if I told you that midlife is actually the perfect time to shake things up, pack your bags, and rediscover the world—and yourself?

Moving abroad alone in midlife is like pressing a magical reset button. You’re not the same person you were in your 20s—you’re wiser, more confident, and have enough life experience to know what you don’t want. But here’s the twist: you also get to experience life with fresh eyes again. New streets to wander. New languages to learn. New people, new food, new daily routines. It’s all thrilling, invigorating, and yes—even a little scary (in the best way).

✨ Why Now? You may be retired and finally free to live anywhere in the world. Or maybe you're not quite ready to stop working, but you’ve realized that work no longer has to tie you down to one place. With remote work, flexible careers, or the option to teach, freelance, or even start a business abroad, the possibilities are endless.

Got a home back in the States? You might be surprised how renting it out—either long-term or as a vacation rental—can help fund your life in another country. That income could easily cover the cost of living in places where your dollar stretches further, like Portugal (hi, that’s where I am now!), Mexico, Costa Rica, or parts of Southeast Asia.

🔍 It Starts With Curiosity No matter your “why,” living abroad in midlife starts with a simple decision to explore the how. A bit of research goes a long way. Join expat Facebook groups. Look into digital nomad visas or long-stay residency options. Read blogs and watch YouTube videos (hey, I know a channel you might like 😉https://www.youtube.com/@DreamBeyondWithLorraine). You’ll find a whole community of people who’ve made the leap—and are cheering you on.

❤️ A Chance to Dream Beyond Maybe you’ve been through a divorce. Maybe your kids are grown. Maybe you just woke up one day and realized you’re ready for more. More color. More culture. More connection. Whatever brought you here, you’re not alone—and you’re not too late. You’re just getting started.

I’m living proof that it’s never too late to change your scenery and change your story. Moving abroad gave me not only a new address but a whole new outlook on life. And if you’re reading this, maybe it’s calling to you too.

So go ahead—dust off that passport. Make a vision board. Start dreaming again.

Your second act might just be your best one yet. 💫