What does it really take to leave behind the life you’ve always known and build one that reflects who you are today?
In this episode of the Blaxit Global Podcast, I sit down with Gene and Andrea Hayden, an American couple from Texas who traded the fast pace of the U.S. for a slower, more intentional life in Coimbra, Portugal. Their journey is about far more than moving abroad. It’s a story of resilience, reinvention, and creating a life centered on health, peace, and purpose.
Andrea shares how losing her mother as an infant and living with multiple autoimmune diseases—including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and Graves’ disease—influenced every aspect of their decision to move overseas. Gene reflects on decades of military service, entrepreneurship, and the unexpected family connection that ultimately led them to Portugal.
Together, they offer an honest look at what it means to thoughtfully plan an international move, redefine success in midlife, and discover that sometimes the life you were meant to live looks nothing like the one you left behind.
If you’ve been dreaming about moving abroad, navigating a major life transition, or simply wondering whether it’s too late to create a more intentional life, this conversation will leave you inspired to imagine what’s possible.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why their journey to Portugal began decades well before they ever moved
- How chronic illness shaped their decision to live abroad
- The importance of planning an international move with health in mind
- What surprised them most about life in Coimbra
- How they redefined success, purpose, and retirement
- Why it’s never too late to build a life that feels authentic
