We went on a trip to Europe 3 years ago and never left. Our kid's life is way better here than it was in the US.

• My family and I went on an open-ended trip to Europe, and we ended up buying a house here. 
• We love living in Portugal — life is relaxed and our son gets lots of time outdoors.
• Although we will always have ties to the United States, we love living in Europe. 

In January 2019, my father died. For months, I was in a fog and, in an effort to lift our spirits, I asked my husband how he felt about an open-ended trip to Europe.

It was the perfect escape since our son is homeschooled, and we have flexible work schedules as writers and composers.