Nancy never imagined she would spend her retirement years thinking about escape plans.
A 66-year-old retired lawyer and a Get Golden Visa client through the Portugal Golden Visa fund route, Nancy says she and her partner initially viewed Portugal as a backup option, something they hoped they would never actually need.
But after years of growing political anxiety in the United States, and especially after the events surrounding January 6, 2021, that “Plan B” started to feel increasingly necessary.
Not because they wanted a luxury lifestyle abroad.
Because they wanted somewhere to go if things deteriorated further.
When Politics Becomes a Retirement Risk
Nancy first started considering Portugal in late 2021.
Although Donald Trump was no longer president at the time, she felt something deeper had shifted in America.
“The ultra conservative movement had quietly gained a lot of power,” she says. “We realized this wasn’t going to go away quietly.”
For Nancy, the concern was never just about one election cycle. It was about the long-term direction of the country.
Today, she describes daily life in America as emotionally exhausting.
“The daily drumbeat of bad news takes a psychic toll.”
Living in a politically progressive area helps, she says, but it does not eliminate the heaviness people around her increasingly feel.
Politics dominate conversations. Anxiety about the future lingers constantly in the background.
And economically, retirement no longer feels fully secure.
Nancy admits she chose to begin receiving Social Security payments earlier than planned, at a lower monthly amount, because she feared future instability in the system itself.
“I worry Republicans will undo part of that safety net.”
Portugal Became More Than a Lifestyle Destination
Initially, Portugal entered the conversation through friends who had already moved there.
The couple explored other possibilities, including Canada and Ireland, but Portugal stood out for one important reason: accessibility.
Compared to many Western countries, residency pathways felt more realistic and achievable.
But over time, Portugal evolved into something psychologically much bigger than a relocation option.
It became a reassurance.
“It’s very reassuring to know there’s a place we can go if things here get really bad.”
Nancy says visiting Portugal changed the emotional reality of the decision. The country no longer felt abstract. It became tangible, a real alternative life.
The beauty, slower pace, culture, food, and lower cost of living all reinforced that feeling.
And increasingly, people around her started asking questions.
“Several times a week, friends jokingly ask if they can come with us to Portugal.”
What once sounded extreme now feels increasingly normalized within her social circle.
A Plan B Is Emotional Insurance
For Nancy, the Portugal Golden Visa was never simply about investment returns. The deeper value was optionality and peace of mind.
“Investing in this Plan B has definitely lowered our stress.”
Rather than purchasing property abroad, Nancy and her partner chose the Portugal Golden Visa fund route because it offered a more flexible and professionally managed approach aligned with their long-term plans.
For Nancy, Portugal represents what she calls an “escape hatch” , protection against uncertainty she no longer believes can be solved internally within the US system.
And there is one scenario where she says she would move immediately.
“If people begin getting targeted for political beliefs or protesting government policies, I would leave right away.”
Nancy is politically active, participates in protests, and supports communities she believes are increasingly vulnerable.
If the political climate intensifies further, she already knows her decision.
Portugal is ready.
The Rise of America’s Quiet Exit Plans
Nancy’s story reflects a broader behavioral shift explored in Get Golden Visa’s 2025–2026 white paper, The Great American Retirement Exodus, which examines how growing numbers of Americans are using global mobility, second residency options, and international investment structures as forms of political, emotional, and financial resilience.
Increasingly, affluent Americans are not simply planning retirement.
They are building contingency plans.
Not necessarily because they want to leave America today, but because they want the freedom to leave tomorrow.
And for Nancy, that freedom alone has already changed how she experiences everyday life.
“Knowing we can escape if we have to makes all of this easier to live with.”
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Read the Great American Retirement ExodusCase stories are shared for informational and illustrative purposes only and may include client experiences, public examples, or personal global mobility journeys. Each case is unique and should not be relied upon as legal, financial, tax, immigration, or investment advice. Any names, photographs, or identifiable personal details featured in these case stories are used with the prior consent of the individuals concerned. Any third party referencing, quoting, reproducing, or using these case stories should provide proper attribution to Global Mobility Insights by Get Golden Visa.