A Couple's Journey to Relaxation in Tavira, Portugal

A Couple's Journey to Relaxation in Tavira, Portugal
Julie and Erik left the grind for Portugal’s Algarve, finding purpose and joy.|©iStock/MEDITERRANEAN

When Julie Chen and her husband Erik Fuson decided to leave behind their lives in Colorado and move to Portugal in 2021, it wasn't a decision they took lightly. For Julie, a senior manager with Ernst & Young, the high-powered corporate job that once defined her was beginning to feel hollow. Long hours, constant travel, and sleepless nights working with international clients were pulling her away from Erik and leaving little room for joy.

"Is this really all there is to life, and if so, what is the point?" Julie asked herself.

Julie was no stranger to adventure—having lived in China for three years and traveled extensively—but Erik, who worked in web design and marketing automation, had never left the US. When they tied the knot in 2019, Julie pushed Erik out of his comfort zone with a destination wedding in Mexico. Soon after, Julie set her sights on something even bigger: a move abroad.

Julie wanted to plan their dream honeymoon in either Spain, Morocco, or Portugal. But when the global pandemic put a hold on worldwide travel, they decided, "what the heck," and moved to Portugal sight unseen with their dog Cora.

Little did Erik know on their wedding day that when he said his "I dos" to the love of his life that he would soon be living in Europe.

Making the Decision to Move

"Everything was getting more expensive in Colorado," says Julie. "We started to crunch some numbers and had thought about moving to a less expensive state, but in the end opted to leave the US altogether."

With the help of International Living publications, Julie and Erik began searching for a country that they could someday call home.

"Since Erik had never traveled and speaks only English, we needed to find a country where English was widely spoken to make his transition easier," Julie says. "Our new country would need to be safe, have excellent healthcare, good internet for Erik to continue working, be dog friendly, and if we could someday apply for citizenship, that would be a great perk too."

Portugal has all of this and more.

New Lives in Portugal

Julie and Erik left corporate stress behind in Colorado for relaxation in Tavira.
Julie and Erik left corporate stress behind in Colorado for relaxation in Tavira.

"We pay just $780 a year for our private health insurance with Multicare, that's only $65 a month for the both of us," said Julie. "Such a bargain compared to the high price of healthcare in the US."

Julie and Erik chose the Algarve for its mild year-round weather with plenty of sunshine and English speakers. They first landed in Lagos where they rented a furnished apartment, but when summer arrived with tons of tourists the two decided to move somewhere else.

"We drove east toward the Spanish border and landed in Tavira, and it just felt like home," Julie says with a smile. "Finding a furnished apartment that would allow our dog was not easy so instead we purchased a two-bedroom, two-bath, new apartment that came fully furnished for just €293,500.

"Erik is an avid cyclist and it's so cool that we can bike to the border of Portugal from our home in Tavira and hop on a ferry to Spain for tapas. It's almost like biking from one country to another."

The couple love living close to Faro International airport where they can pick up a bargain flight to Paris or other destinations around Europe.

A New Life and a New Business

Tavira sits on the Gilão River near the coast of Portugal's Algarve.
Tavira sits on the Gilão River near the coast of Portugal's Algarve.|©iStock/Jacek_Sopotnicki

When the couple was planning their move, Julie had no idea that her mom would follow them... and end up living with them temporarily. Julie was determined to help her mom find a suitable long-term rental to call her own, and that experience sparked an idea: perhaps she could provide that same service to others.

One of the requirements in the process to apply for a resident visa in Portugal is proof of accommodation, typically a one-year rental contract. This can be a daunting task to do from North America and is often a stressor for applicants. How are you supposed to find a rental to live in for one full year—without seeing it?

What if, Julie mused, she could help find rentals and make detailed videos of the properties for a fee? And thus her very own company Tavira Long Lets was born.

"Real estate was always a hobby of mine," says Julie. "By helping future expats find rentals I feel like I'm making a positive difference in the world, plus making a little extra money to help supplement our income."

When they're not working or hanging out with friends Julie, Erik and her mom are studying Portuguese in the free government-offered classes held at local schools.

"We love our lives here," says Julie. "The air is clean, the tap water is drinkable, we are relaxed because we work less, socialize more and are healthier because we walk everywhere and eat better."

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