A change is never easy. Breaking bonds and habits, leaving behind some friends and a space you love has its emotional component.
But when the process aims for the pursuit of an ideal and staying true to the chosen way of life, adaptation is just a matter of time.
It's about thinking less, enjoying what lies ahead, and sharpening the senses.
The move to Alentejo was physically and emotionally challenging. The whole process of leaving a project that was part of a dream and rethinking an entirely new life project takes its emotional toll. The construction of the new house has been slower than expected (we're already at a year and a half of waiting), but living in Alentejo is also about learning to live slowly and do everything with patience.
We rented a house with a small backyard. Fitting all the furniture from a 250m² home into a 100m² one, plus various new pieces bought for the new house, was quite a challenge. Over three months, we made weekly trips to Alentejo to bring over the odds and ends. The moving company only handled the heavy, bulky furniture, yet we managed to fill a truck.
Alongside this logistical feat was the adjustment of our 5 dogs (4 golden retrievers and 1 mixed breed), used to having their own space outdoors, now sharing the same 100m² with us.
The once vast, grassy yard became a tiny plot with a flowerbed where we managed to plant some grass. Every day, we take the dogs for at least a one-hour walk, and every week, they enjoy trips to the lake to swim and burn off energy.
We even brought our chickens along (no one gets left behind), now settled in the small piece of land with three olive trees. Even the chickens love the peaceful life in Alentejo, providing us with eggs daily, which we didn't have before.
Our temporary home has a huge advantage—it's right in front of our future home, making the move simpler and overseeing the construction easier. Plus, we're already integrated into the village, not to mention the low rent cost.
Not everything is challenging.
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