I have found a place to live in Portugal.

This is a big deal for me. I guess it would be a big deal for most people moving to a foreign country, even for a few months. However, I am practical, though. I like to plan things that will impact my life.

Looking for a place to live in Portugal

When I first started looking for a place to live, I wanted to see what was available. I had heard that Airbnb had jacked up the prices of rentals everywhere, and that housing was pricier in Portugal, as well, despite the overall cost of living being less than in the U.S.

My initial looking at various websites led me to decide to try and connect with someone actually living there, which led me to Facebook.

A friend suggested a group for women living internationally called Girl Gone International. I visited the website, and from there, I found the Facebook group for Lisbon. A few clicks later, I had asked to join the group. Shortly, I was welcomed in.

Fortunately, soon after I joined, the moderator posted a monthly update about housing, encouraging people to post rooms for rent or anyone seeking a place to live. Bunching up my courage, I posted that I was moving in March and looking for a place to stay. Several others added their interest in finding housing, too.

Finding a place to live in Portugal

Soon, a lovely woman had posted that she had a private room with a private bath – something rather rare in my brief experience of looking for housing online. I messaged her to find out more, and that started a lengthy conversation over the following weeks.

In the meantime, my work hours increased to the point I felt I could afford the private room with the private bath (and balcony!) in Alvalade, one of the nicer neighborhoods in Lisbon. I accepted her offer. Soon, I will be sharing a flat (how cool is that? I’ll be a flatmate!) with a professional woman, who is a post-doctorate student, and her two cats (who have their own Instagram page).

To say I’m excited is an understatement. When I think about it, I either grin or want to cry – usually both. I’m extremely pleased and thrilled that I get to go on this adventure to Portugal!

Off on an adventure

Of course, I’m still reminded of a time when I refused to use the word adventure. I’ll recount that story for you sometime. It’s funny now, but at the time …

I am not as adventurous as some people, though. In the course of my flat hunting I ran across a woman who had posted on a different Facebook page something to the effect of: “Hi! I’m flying in to Lisbon today, and I’m looking for a place to rent for a month or two. Send me a PM.”

Um, no. I could not just fly into a new city and then look for a place to live. Maybe she planned to stay at a hostel or hotel until she found something. Maybe she knows something I don’t know about how this works. Or maybe she’s just really brave – or really stupid – or really experienced.

When I told a friend about it, she said that would be me in a year – just flying by the seat of my pants on an adventure.

Part of me wants to be able to do that – to be that brave.

But I don’t think that’s me.

I’m far too practical.

Especially when it comes to having a place to live.

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Be a Better Writer Tip

This tip is courtesy of advice to a friend, who also is a writer. He was asking about writer’s block.

Writer’s block is usually when you don’t know what to write. But it also can be when you struggle to start something or get a sentence or paragraph right.

Try just writing around it. Skip the part you’re struggling with and write the rest. Then come back to it. If you just don’t like it, leave it and keep going. Then let it sit for a bit and come back to it. You might see something new.

If you’re still stumped, pick out something you’ve written that works — just one line in the piece, is all — and focus on that. Make it your lede (that’s “journalese” for your opening sentence), if that’s your struggle. Or make it your closing, if that’s your trouble. Or work the piece around it. Coming at it from a different angle can help.

I did this when I worked on a newspaper story and would be stuck for a good turn of phrase, a transition or even the perfect word, which I knew was there, but I couldn’t quite get. On deadline, I couldn’t just sit and fiddle with one spot. I had to keep moving or I might not get done in time. Hopefully, I’d have time to come back to fill it in with something good. Focusing on a part I liked and making that more important would help the story overall.

If you’re not on deadline, and you leave it for a time and come back to it, you might be surprised at how quickly it comes together – even better than perhaps you expected.