Englishman living in Portugal

[glenze]

Hi, I'm an Englishman living in Portugal with my partner, José. We will have been together for 15 years on 26th July, and last year in England we made it official by entering into a civil union! I'm not religious (I don't belong to any religion) but I am a spiritual person, and I'd like to correspond with anyone who's interested
:)
Love, Glen

[paul]

Hi Glen,

Welcome :wave:,

We are an eclectic bunch here (I'm not "religious" either), so you are quite welcome. Wander around some of the threads and you'll find topics run the gamit. I have never been to Portugal, but hear it's a wonderful place with narrow streets and warm people :).

Do jump in and speak your mind and heart, give us the opportunity to know you. I think you will find us a loving community where you can make some great friends.
:love:
paul

[glenze]

Thanks Paul for your kind words. Sometimes it's not so easy being a "permanent foreigner" - but I do love the place (I must do - I've been here since 1980!)

Glen

[paul]

Glen,

I imagine it would be tough. It is a testament to your love for Jose'. What you have must be very special indeed. I look forward to getting to know you.
paul

[Vanessa White]

My partner and I have been together for close to thirteen years, and actually, your anniversary is my partner's birthday!!! I am so glad that you found us here. So glad that you can find some sense of community with us. Enjoy your stay........ :love:

[antiochian]

Hello and welcome! I officially belong to a church, but I'm not especially zealous either. I'm just kind of in a "whatever" mode when it comes to faith. Congratulations on your union, and finding that special person!!! Many years to both of you!

[Gregory_de_Bois]

Welcome and Congratulations! Hope we can give you what you're looking for here.

[paul]

For in spite of all temptations
To belong to other nations
He remains an Englishman.

:D...sorry, couldn't resist.

paul

[andrewlittle]

Hi, I'm an Englishman living in Portugal with my partner, José. We will have been together for 15 years on 26th July, and last year in England we made it official by entering into a civil union! I'm not religious (I don't belong to any religion) but I am a spiritual person, and I'd like to correspond with anyone who's interested
:)
Love, Glen

For in spite of all temptations
To belong to other nations
He remains an Englishman.

:D...sorry, couldn't resist.

paul

Another ex-pat here. I left England at 5, lived in Australia 10 years and here in the U.S. for most of the last 38 years, but still a British citizen. I am glad you didn't resist, Paul, that fits.

In 2003/2004, I spent a year in England and my wife said it was kind of humorous watching me "find my people." Of course, she loved living there, too.

While I am a minister, I don't consider myself "religious" either - it has a rather nasty connotation in my mind.

[glenze]

the strange thing is that when I go back to England it's very different to the place I left in 1980. Portugal is now much more the place I consider home.

I know what you mean, Andrew, about the word "religious" having nasty connotations. I have always been interested in spritual matters, but I am afraid organised religion always seems so limited and narrow minded - whether Christian, Muslim, Jewish or whatever. For me there really is only one question - is this all an accident or is there a purpose behind existence? (Why does the universe exist? -rather than- how does it exist?) If you believe there is a purpose then all else flows from that. I'm not sure there IS a purpose but I would like to believe there is. I suppose that's partly why I'm here - to see what people say (I recently read "God is not Great" by Christopher Hitchens and it was disconcertingly well written with very convincing arguments!).

[andrewlittle]

the strange thing is that when I go back to England it's very different to the place I left in 1980. Portugal is now much more the place I consider home.
The advantage I had going back was that I went back 44 years after leaving, so I had only the sparsest of memories to fall back on. And, except for finding my childhood home while there, I spent time in places like Cambridge and the Lakes District where I had never been.

I have always been interested in spritual matters, but I am afraid organised religion always seems so limited and narrow minded - whether Christian, Muslim, Jewish or whatever.
Advantage there, too. I'm a Presbyterian minister and, while we like to delude ourselves that all things are in good order, we're just not very organized. Except for that minority contingent that wants to have everyone else live into the moral code they profess to have, of course.

For me there really is only one question - is this all an accident or is there a purpose behind existence? (Why does the universe exist? -rather than- how does it exist?) If you believe there is a purpose then all else flows from that. I'm not sure there IS a purpose but I would like to believe there is. I suppose that's partly why I'm here - to see what people say (I recently read "God is not Great" by Christopher Hitchens and it was disconcertingly well written with very convincing arguments!).
Thanks for the tip - always looking for another good book.
{Geek!}
Who said that?

[Gennee]

Thank you for sharing your story, Glen. This is a fine site and I hope you visit often.

Gennee

:love::wave: