From Montana to Portugal

Part of what creates some of this tension in our lives (and I experience this too) is this thought that, that we’re expected (and this is a total lie that we get told our whole lives) that we have to choose between these two things — that we can’t have adventure and home. — Chloe Cooper JonesOn Thursday, I drove our cat Mystery thirty miles to the veterinary clinic for her annual vaccinations. We don’t have a vet clinic in town, which is strange since so many people here ranch for a living.Instead,

An overview of a life in literature, plus book recommendations about Portugal. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit janelleholden.substack.com/subscribe

In this podcast episode, an essay about cultural norms, conversation topics, and the U.S. November elections and how it's changing my views on our move to Portugal. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit janelleholden.substack.com/subscribe

Listen in to an essay about death, life, and following your heart to new places. This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit janelleholden.substack.com/subscribe

Looking at rentals in Portugal is both fascinating and amusing. Some of the homes I am most drawn to look like something out of The Flintstones. One of my favorites has a giant boulder attached to its side, and I’m not sure whether the stone cottage in question was built with that in mind (as in, yeah, that boulder would make a good side of a house, let’s build there!) or it was just an added bonus (look ma, a rock!). Of course, there are no photos of the inside of this fortress? castle? manor? but

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit janelleholden.substack.com/subscribe