California teacher moved to Portugal with four suitcases, now owns 2 homes

Growing concerns about the cost of living and retirement security have led a number of Americans to look beyond their borders for a more sustainable way of life. An exclusive CNN feature, drawn from a conversation with the retired California teacher Paula Dreyfuss, follows the story of how she discovered a new path after moving to Portugal in 2021. What started as an effort to make her retirement funds go further has since grown into an entirely new phase of life, complete with property ownership, deep community connections and an ongoing application for Portuguese citizenship.Leaving California behindIn 2021, the retired teacher made a life-changing decision: she packed her belongings into four suitcases, brought her dog along, and left behind her familiar surroundings in search of a place where her retirement income could provide a more comfortable lifestyle.