CAN I WORK IN LISBON?

[BIZMANRACING]

hi my name is carlos and i live in new jersey.

i was born in lisbon many years ago. did i say many!!!!!!!!!! anyway, i have lived a life that is full, i'm married and retired from the us navy where i rode submarines for 20 years, so i have a penison that i get from the us government for my services. and i currently am a finance manager at a new car toyota dealership. where i practicve the profession of being a salesman.

my question is that i am tired of paying taxes for things that i can not benifit anymore, like school expenses. both of my children are grown and live away from the house. so i am intersted in moving back to the country of my birth. i speak the language but can not read or write it. i could probally improve on those skills, but never to the position that i have in english, and frankly my portuguese is probally the equal of a second grade or 10 year old child. but, i can get by.

so my question is, am a fool for even onsidering it. i'm 50 now. i make very good money in america as a car salesman, so i am used to makeing alot of money. if i am a fool whats a good second plan?????

thanks

carlos mendes

[Mario]

Well, I lived in the US for most of my life too and now I am living and working in Lisbon. I have been living here for about 5 years now. I have never regreted my decision, but I don't automatically recommend it to anyone. It's a very personal decision based on your priorities and what lifestyle you'd like.

Things to consider:
-Expect much, much, much lower salaries than what you'd get in the US.
-Expect much longer time off and vacation time (1 month). There's a much more relaxed lifestyle here.
-If you get the US pension added to a working salary, it should give you a comfortable life.
-Remember that although you were born here, you really have become more American than Portuguese, so you'll feel like an immigrant in your own homeland for quite some time, and it will take a while to adjust to a different, more laid-back lifestyle.
-Since I moved to Lisbon I have travelled around Europe and elsewhere, because flights are cheaper and everything is closer. If you're thinking about seeing more of the world as you get closer to retirement age, that's a plus.
-It will be a little difficult for you to find a job right away. There is a lot of ageism in Portugal when it comes to jobs, and be prepared to be asked in job interviews why did you leave a bigger American salary for a smaller Portuguese one. In other words, people will think you're crazy at first.

Well, i could write a Bible about this, but I'll leave you with that.
If you really want to try to make a change in your life, do come. But don't burn all your bridges so that if you decide to return to the US, you can always do that. Better yet, come for an extended vacation for a few months to "test the waters" and make a decision based on that experience. If you find you'll never adjust, at least you tried.

[BIZMANRACING]

hi mario

don't worry i've read the bible. i would have no problem reading it again.....lol.

yes i see what you mean. your responce brings up alot of more questions. for one what do you mean alot less????? in the car business here as you may know works on comission. thats kind of where i would like to find a job in. since afterall i am a salesman. if i could have your work and control the amount of money i want to make then i would be happy. here commiosn is 25% and yeilds a 6 figure income for me. some years more and some less. now that gas is 4 dollars a gallon here the business is hurting so this year i'll be under.

as for age, well even though i am 50 more people think i look alot younger. my guess is that my first carrer was a us navy submarine sailor. of my 20 years of service 8 years was spend day per day under the atlantic ocean. so that is alot of home made air and water that i concumed..... but, anyway, what problems would they have?

by the way are there alot of car dealers in portugal? i work for toyota now, we are open mon through saturday from 9 am to 9 pm. whats it like there. by the way i'm a manger here.

thanks

carlos

[Mario]

>for one what do you mean alot less?????

I mean count on a third of what you'd make there.


>in the car business here as you may know works on comission. thats kind of where i would like to find a job in

That's always possible, yes.

>here commiosn is 25% and yeilds a 6 figure income for me

I don't know what commission here is, but you'd definitely not be making a 6-figure income.

>as for age, well even though i am 50 more people think i look alot younger. my guess is that my first carrer was a us navy submarine sailor. of my 20 years of service 8 years was spend day per day under the atlantic ocean. so that is alot of home made air and water that i concumed..... but, anyway, what problems would they have?

It's not about looking younger, but really about the age in number. It's just more common for companies to hire younger people, just starting their careers.

>by the way are there alot of car dealers in portugal?

Yes.

>we are open mon through saturday from 9 am to 9 pm.

It varies, but they're never open for 12 hours.


So as you see, if your idea is a change in environment and lifestyle, you can always come for an extended vacation as I suggested, and test the work market in your field, see how you'd adjust socially, etc.
However, if you're thinking about saving up or making money until retirement age, don't come. If you're hoping to make as much or close to what you do in America, you should not consider the move. Portugal is a country for retirement, not work for those employed in America and making good money. It is a place where people work fewer hours, have more vacation time, make less money, and have more free time.
If that's what you want, try it. If money is still the main issue, forget it.