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Another Connection in Portugal

By Joan Cox, Retired Broker/Owner

Industry Observer DRE# ER40011786

September 09, 2026 08:03 AM

Last night after I went to bed, I got a text from another girl from the Expat group, and she said- sorry it is last minute, but wondering if you want to meet up on Wednesday? OH MY, of course!

She was the first one to respond on the Expat group, but then said she would be back in the UK, and wouldn't be able to attend the coffee for the last two times.

SO, we met at the same coffee shop, as she lives in Vilamoura. We chatted for TWO hours. We talked about our VISA fun, and she hasn't been for her AIMA appointment yet, so she is hoping soon, but doesn't even have a date yet.

She was a CFO for a large financial company back in the UK, and knows about the investing stuff, so we talked about stocks and investing for quite a bit.

We will be meeting up again, and not just for coffee, as her and her boyfriend will want to go to Pepper's with me for those wonderful steak dinners!

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Dorie Dillard Austin TX

Coldwell Banker Apex Realtors, LLC ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX

Educating. Encouraging. Serving.

Good morning Joan,

Good for you for getting out and establishing some new relationships in Portugal! Dinner sounds like it will be fun!

Sep 09, 2026 09:10 AM

Joan Cox, Retired Broker/Owner

Denver, CO

Enjoying Every Day to Its Fullest!

Dorie, it is nice to meet new people, and to have things to do with people here.

Sep 09, 2026 09:13 AM

Dee Toohey

Longwood, FL

Dee Toohey

It is nice to meet new people especially when you have a common interest.

Dee Toohey

Central Florida Real Estate Broker

407.421.7915

Sep 09, 2026 09:52 AM

Dee Toohey

Innovative Realty Solutions Group - Longwood, FL

Broker, ABR, AHWD, CIPS, FMS, ePro

Hope your Visa issue is moving along and that you get it taken care of sooner rather than later. Hang in there.

Dee Toohey

Central Florida Real Estate Broker

407.421.7915

Sep 09, 2026 09:51 AM

GilbertRealtor BillSalvatore

Arizona Elite Properties - Chandler, AZ

Realtor - 602-999-0952 / em: golfArizona@cox.net

Thanks for sharing, make it a great " Hump Day" and enjoy your short work week. Bill

Bill Salvatore, Realtor- Arizona Elite Properties

#AZVHV / Arizona Veterans Helping Veterans

Sep 09, 2026 10:08 AM

Hannah Williams

HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA

Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Joan Cox, Retired Broker/Owner I am so glad you are making friends. That is wonderful!

Sep 09, 2026 10:14 AM

Joan Cox, Retired Broker/Owner

Denver, CO

Enjoying Every Day to Its Fullest!

Dee Toohey meeting new people is part of this process, and nice to say I have met a few now. The VISA process has been turned in, now just have to wait, and they SAY maybe SIX MONTHS.

Sep 09, 2026 11:39 AM

Joan Cox, Retired Broker/Owner

Denver, CO

Enjoying Every Day to Its Fullest!

Bill, short week for you, pretty normal week being retired for me. :-)

Sep 09, 2026 11:39 AM

Joan Cox, Retired Broker/Owner

Denver, CO

Enjoying Every Day to Its Fullest!

Hannah Williams it usually is pretty easy for me to meet friends, but being a foreigner that doesn't know the language has been tougher.

Sep 09, 2026 11:40 AM

Kathy Streib

Cypress, TX

Retired Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Joan- I knew you would not have any trouble meeting some new friends. So happy the lady from the UK contacted you!!!

Sep 09, 2026 11:40 AM

Carmen Brooks

Casper, WY

Joan Cox, Retired Broker/Owner

Denver, CO

Enjoying Every Day to Its Fullest!

Kathy Streib she was such a joy to talk to this afternoon, and looking forward to meeting up with her and her boyfriend in the future.

Sep 09, 2026 11:46 AM

Nina Hollander, Broker

Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC

Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

Joan Cox, Retired Broker/Owner hi Joan... so nice that you are getting to meet some people that you can relate to and have fun with.

Sep 09, 2026 11:49 AM

Carmen Brooks

PropTech AI - Casper, WY

Slashing outbound marketing overhead for wholesale

Two hours flies by when you find your people. So incredibly happy for you!💙

Sep 09, 2026 12:29 PM

Lise Howe

RLAH RE LLC - Washington, DC

Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

Two hours of coffee and conversation sounds like a pretty successful meetup! 😊 So nice that you’re already planning the next one.

Sep 09, 2026 02:24 PM

Joan Cox, Retired Broker/Owner

Denver, CO

Enjoying Every Day to Its Fullest!

Nina Hollander, Broker it is better, and less lonely.

Sep 09, 2026 10:44 PM

Nina Hollander, Broker

Charlotte, NC

Nina Hollander, Broker

Joan Cox, Retired Broker/Owner been there, done that with no one to talk to all day except my husband, who left for the office at 7am and returned at 7pm.

Sep 10, 2026 04:51 AM

Joan Cox, Retired Broker/Owner

Nina Hollander, Broker YEP, you would know all about that. Just got back, my neighbor and her husband went over the pastelaria downstairs and asked me to join them. Was fun!

Sep 10, 2026 05:58 AM

Joan Cox, Retired Broker/Owner

Denver, CO

Enjoying Every Day to Its Fullest!

Carmen Brooks it was a great meet-up, and excited for this Monday's coffee with the group.

Sep 09, 2026 10:45 PM

Carmen Brooks

Casper, WY

Joan Cox, Retired Broker/Owner

Denver, CO

Enjoying Every Day to Its Fullest!

Lise, so glad I joined that group and now meeting some of the members.

Sep 09, 2026 10:45 PM

Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty

Waves Realty - Melbourne, FL

Florida Space Coast Homes

Nice. This entire Visa thing is so crazy. It is unfortunate that many of these countries can't get together and come up with an easier plan.

Sep 10, 2026 06:17 AM

Joan Cox, Retired Broker/Owner

Denver, CO

Enjoying Every Day to Its Fullest!

Jeffrey DiMuria 321.223.6253 Waves Realty it is pretty crazy that is takes a YEAR to finally get your final appointment, and who knows how long before I get the residency card in the mail! When you retire, have you thought about moving out of the US?

Sep 10, 2026 06:44 AM