Pack it Up & Leave the USA, from Asheville NC to Portugal | Madeira |

[@ItllBeFun]

Bom dia! We want to meet you! If you want to meet others on your journey to live abroad. Join us on Patreon. We have a 'It'll Be Fun Monthly Online Meet up Crew' level and every level currently has access to our new 'Itllbefun Discord server' to talk in real time with a private group of like minded people. Click the link www.patreon.com/itllbefun

[@mscatnipper2359]

A bit of irony: I was considering relocating to Ashville, NC about a year ago. Obviously, I'm contemplating Portugal mainland or Madeira Island now. Being a 74-yr.-old widow presents additional considerations, especially regarding health care. I appreciated learning what these two women had to say about their experiences during their scouting trip.

[@ItllBeFun]

Olá Ms Catnipper, Thanks for the continued support for our channel 🙌 They had an honest and accurate accessment of their lives, and their dreams. And were having a great time on their scouting trip. Enjoy your journey Obrigado Alan and Leslie

[@mscatnipper2359]

@@SallySparks I gave up on Asheville when I tracked the escalating house prices and crime rates. The Nov. 8, 2018 Camp Fire that devastated the neighboring town of Paradise , California forever changed the livability of our county. We still need several thousand more residential units, even after relocating over 20,000 of those who lost their homes. New homes are being built only for those whose incomes are five or more times that of current residents. I am 74 - older than you two - and have been contemplating for several years where I can live next. Madeira looks very appealing, and I hope you two will enjoy the next chapter of your lives, possibly on that beautiful isle.

[@gardeningwithleslieandalan1544]

Here we go.

[@ItllBeFun]

Olá Gardening, Thanks 😊

[@scottphillips6847]

What a great video! This was wonderful being able to listen to your conversation with these two women as they are in the early stage of their move. Thank you!

[@ItllBeFun]

Olá Scott, Thanks for watching and supporting our channel 😀. We love meeting people on their scouting trip. They are so excited about the opportunity to live here. Obrigado Alan and Leslie

[@leslieplantlady]

Bom dia! This one turned out nice! Great job wolf.

[@ItllBeFun]

Olá Leslie, Obrigado

[@markrodgers9527]

Ah, so Wolf is the camera man! 😉 another infotaining video!

[@mariahohalloran9423]

I love this series! Love the different people, perspectives, and thoughts! Excellent work.👍

[@ItllBeFun]

Olá Mariah, Thanks for the continued support for our channel. And they are fun making them, so we'll keep making them. Obrigado Alan and Leslie

[@ericbuckner8182]

Great interview good luck sally and Laura.

[@ItllBeFun]

Olá Eric, Thanks for watching and supporting our channel 😀 They are awesome 👌 Obrigado Alan and Leslie

[@libbyannstew8775]

Hi Alan & Leslie; great video. We’ve visiting Madeira in Jan/Feb 2023 - watching your videos makes me more and more excited about our trip. We’ll keep an eye out for you and your family!

[@ItllBeFun]

Olá Libyan, Thanks for watching and supporting our channel 😀 We'll be here. Obrigado Alan and Leslie

[@mikesmith1702]

Great to meet Sally and Lora. Would love a follow up video with their apartment/home search. Let's talk about it!

[@ItllBeFun]

Olá Mike, Thanks for the continued support for our channel. When it happens, you will know. We Will talk about it. Obrigado Alan and Leslie

[@manuelacosta5604]

Great video. Your new friends are lovely!!

[@ItllBeFun]

Olá Manuela, Thanks for the continued support for our channel. We think so, too. Obrigado Alan and Leslie

[@ItllBeFun]

😎Bom dia! Join our Patreon community! Help Us to Grow! Click the link www.patreon.com/itllbefun

[@robinhopkins4131]

These interviews with folks who are looking to make this jump are SO helpful. Thank you so much for doing these!

[@ItllBeFun]

Olá Robin, Thanks for watching and supporting our channel. And for your words of encouragement. Obrigado Alan and Leslie

[@ArchangelMLM]

Hello Alan and Leslie, thank you for another great video, my Wife and I really look forward to each and every new video. Interviewing different couples about their journey is very educational and helpful in planning our retirement and journey to Portugal, there are so many benefits to retiring to Portugal and each of your videos reinforce that statement. Thank you again for putting out the great content that many of us need to make this transition to Portugal so much easier. Michael

[@ItllBeFun]

Olá Michael, Thanks for the continued support for our channel. And for your kind words. Obrigado Alan and Leslie

[@lifehealthcoaches5422]

😀Smile

[@ItllBeFun]

Olá Life Health Coaches Thanks 😊 Obrigado

[@cleaningtime8156]

Great Video as always thanks Alan for sharing your Journey on beautiful Island of Madeira.

[@ItllBeFun]

Olá Cleaning Time, Thanks for the continued support for our channel. Our pleasure 😊 Obrigado Alan and Leslie

[@thinkingmammal8517]

Bom dia, espero que sua vida seja ótima! Great job again.

[@ItllBeFun]

Olá thinking mammal, Thanks for the continued support for our channel 🙌 And for your kind words. Obrigado Alan and Leslie

[@e.a.7265]

Allen, thank you so much for your videos. I can’t stress enough how helpful your videos have become. I am a nurse and retirement has been on my mind even though I am in my late 40s. One should start planning and it is never too early. Thank you again.

[@ItllBeFun]

Olá Elie A, Thanks for watching and supporting our channel 😀 Never too soon. Obrigado Alan and Leslie

[@ruinunes8251]

Thanks for these videos. The info you provide regarding relocating from USA to Madeira is not relevante to me, however I appreciate the videos you make because you are showing the island I left many years ago. Keep up the good work making these videos.

[@ItllBeFun]

Olá Rui Nunes, Thanks for watching and supporting our channel. Obrigado Alan and Leslie

[@Winterbiker333]

Thanks, these help us understand what we may come up against.

[@ItllBeFun]

Olá Winter Biker, Thanks for the continued support for our channel. Obrigado Alan and Leslie

[@MirandaHorger]

I really appreciate your friends series. It's great to get perspective and process from different people. We've been looking at the mainland and have a scouting trip planned for spring 2023. Now I'm wondering if we need to add Madeira to our destinations list 🤔. Thanks for another great video!

[@ItllBeFun]

Olá Miranda, Thanks for watching and supporting our channel 😀 And for your kind words. Obrigado Alan and Leslie

[@SisterSunnyFreeSpirit]

Bon Dia Greer! :):)

[@ItllBeFun]

Olá Cyn, Thanks for watching and supporting our channel 😀 Greer says hi 👋 Obrigado Alan and Leslie

[@nativetexan6628]

Great show!

[@ItllBeFun]

Olá Native Texan, Thanks for watching and supporting our channel 😀 Obrigado Alan and Leslie

[@desertdweller8520]

Almost three weeks to submitting my D7 Visa application! I'm getting scared, impatient, and wildly excited. Retirement is only 4 months away. I am more convinced than even that Funchal will be the best place for me.

[@ItllBeFun]

Olá DesertDweller, Thanks for the continued support for our channel 🙌 Take a deep breath... You will laugh about this someday, but not tomorrow! Hang in there. Obrigado Alan and Leslie

[@desertdweller8520]

@@ItllBeFun Please send my best wishes for sally and lora's plans.

[@donnacarver4075]

We are in the planing mode, we know you shipped in a container.....who did you use. We plan to ship as we have some furniture, etc that we have collected in our 74 & 82 yrs...no car! Your "Bug" looks great!

[@ItllBeFun]

Olá Donna, Thanks for watching and supporting our channel 😀 We used Lazer International to move. Our trusted vendor list can be found in our Patreon at Patreon.com/itllbefun. Obrigado Alan and Leslie

[@luisvasconcelos1053]

Nice story

[@ItllBeFun]

Olá Luis, Thanks for the continued support for our channel. Obrigado, Alan and Leslie

[@kcsnew]

Beautiful interview. Could you let me know the tour companies you recommended to Sally and Lora ?

[@ItllBeFun]

Olá kcsnew, Thanks for the continued support for our channel. We recommend " Hit the road Madeira " for driving tours,and "Free walking tours by Lisa" for a nice walk. Remember, she works for tips. Obrigado Alan, Leslie and Wolf

[@kcsnew]

@@ItllBeFun Thank you Alan, Leslie and Wolf

[@mikesmith1702]

How about a video about the noise in Funchal I've seen two other YT who go in some depth about this issue.

[@ItllBeFun]

Olá Mike Smith, Thanks for watching and supporting our channel. This is a vibrant tourist destination. And if noise is a concern, perhaps choose a lovely, more rural town on the island. Obrigado Alan and Leslie

[@peterz53]

Thanks Alan. Good interview. At 68 projecting health care costs is a big issue me. Any idea what private insurance rates are for people aged 70 and older and if the rates go up significantly as one ages?

[@ItllBeFun]

Ola Peter, Thanks for being here. Contact MGEN.pt to request rates. They are the one we use. They cover you over 65. And while not cheap the coverage works for preexisting conditions and the prices are not know to go up wildly from year to year. We don't come around the first year until October, so we have to go on what we were told. Alan's cost is about $185 for the month and we use the mid level plan. Hope this helps. Happy Labor day Leslie and Alan

[@Fred-yd9md]

Great video. Please see if you can make an episode with couples who has school aged kids and how they adjust with schools etc!

[@ItllBeFun]

Olá Fred007, Thanks for watching and supporting our channel. If we meet people that match your description, we'll consider it. Obrigado Alan and Leslie

[@anamaria2053]

Alan, I enjoyed their observations. I found them to be helpful. I have a good friend who grew up on Madeira and returns at least every other year. He and his wife have talked about becoming snow birds in Madeira. Years ago they suggested I come along. I am an island girl at heart, having lived on an island in B.C. and being the daughter of Cubans (+ Spaniards). Madeira sounds like a very happy medium with no bad weather events! I wonder, however, about the cost of flights to the mainland. Are there ferries? Thank you!

[@ItllBeFun]

Olá Ana Marie, Thanks for the continued support for our channel. No ferry to the mainland. Flights are reasonable to mainland Portugal. Prices vary, so check with the airlines. Obrigado Alan and Leslie

[@anamaria2053]

@@ItllBeFun Obrigada 🌸🌸🌸

[@mariaantonieta2656]

Hi Alan, my husband and I enjoy your channel very much and have found it to be both “fun!”, insightful and not the least bit resembling torture ;) Question: RE - SSI planning: When ee looked @ the US Social Security Admin’s online benefits calculator, we found that hypothetically, if my husband and I were to begin claiming benefits jointly, on the same date, (as a couple) the estimated benefit amount for the spouse was cut almost below 1/2 what it would be, if the spouse was claiming individually. Did you find this as well & is there a different way to maximize this earned benefit? it seemed odd to us that appears a married couple is penalized for claiming benefits together, vs. if they were each claiming as a single person. Did you see an alternative workaround to this? Thanks for your time & keep at it with the great videos! Madeira is so beautiful. What a magical place to call home! ❤️🦋❤️

[@ItllBeFun]

Ola Maria, Thanks for watching and supporting our channel. Thank you for the kind words. Actually, we see the issue as a benefit. Let me try to explain. When one spouse is able to claim the spousal benefit instead of claiming the their full benefit it allows their own benefit to continue growing until they pull it. They would be required to pull it at age 70. But it will have grown by 7-8% a year during that time frame. Which is a hugh advantage. To have more money coming as you age and are less likely to be able to generate side incomes. But you will of course need to plan your journey on less income or add in a side income. Hope this helps. Enjoy your journey! Leslie and Alan

[@admindesk2760]

Cancel the Labor Day Picnic! "It'll Be Fun!" has a new video! Well fortunately we were able to do both. We prefer to watch your videos in the parlor during Cocktail Hour on the Big Screen that's 80"+ so that we get to take in the "View" in all its majesty. (We aren't able to post a comment on the big screen so if we do comment, it's usually from the computer on the next day in the office.) So watching your cinematic handiwork on the small screen just doesn't do it justice. Your videos also show that good people attract other good people and I would love to have the likes of Sally and Lora as my neighbors. I hope they enjoy their new lives on the islands. Someone espoused quite a nugget of wisdom on this video by describing retirement as something that comes in stages; identifying that there may not be one way of life for ALL stages of retirement and how true that is! The hiking trails may lose some of their appeal when one is on a walker and an "adventure" is defined as getting into a bathtub without assistance. I can't tell you how many friends and family moved to Florida for their golden years, only to move "back" when their health declined. So I hope they both live life with "Gusto!" and enjoy the island thoroughly. Alan and Leslie, just think of all the difference you are making in the lives of others! God Bless you both! Wolf too!

[@ItllBeFun]

Ola Admin Desk, Don't cancel the Labor day picnic! Take us along. Put us on the big screen and get everyone at the party to subscribe! Push us over the 10k mark! Anyway we were over here crying because we had not heard from you. We thought you didn't want us anymore. We have a new mic! Thanks to you! We appreciate your generosity. Have a wonderful Labor day! Leslie and Alan

[@tomg1247]

Alan, I'm curious which bank is no longer taking non-EU customers. Millenium is the one we've been considering. Any thoughts? Another great video and so nice to hear from people in the exploratory stages as well as those already settled.

[@ItllBeFun]

Ola Tom G Thanks for watching and supporting our channel. From our understanding you can open a Millennium account if you work through a company like Bordr. (If you go this route we would love it if you would use our affiliate link. It is in the description of the video) If you are going to bring your NIF and paperwork to open your account on your scouting trip then you will want to use a different bank. We heard Novo Banco will work with you. Hope this helps. Leslie and Alan

[@tomg1247]

@@ItllBeFun Thanks! Certainly, we will use your link when the time comes.

[@tomg1247]

@@SallySparks Sally, thanks so much for the information and best wishes on your adventure!

[@jodiehebert8285]

I think surrendering Medicare and, for me, state group insurance after 25 years of employment is biggest concern. If I drop the state insurance I cannot get that back. Wondering is that also true for Medicare? In other words, if you are not using Medicare for years can you later pick it up again?

[@ItllBeFun]

Olá Jodie, Thanks for watching and supporting our channel. If you suspend Medicare, to restart it you will need to repay all missed payments. Sorry. Alan and Leslie

[@ArchangelMLM]

Hello Alan, I forgot to ask you earlier, what brand and model camera do you use for your KZbin videos? Thank you Michael

[@ItllBeFun]

Ola Michael Thanks for watching. We put affiliate links to our cameras in the description of the video. Hope this helps. Have a wonderful day Leslie and Alan

[@elizabetesousa174]

😘🌹❤️

[@ItllBeFun]

Olá Elisabete, Thanks for the continued support for our channel. Obrigado Alan and Leslie

[@the_g9456]

Do you have to know Portuguese or Spanish or do the locals speak english?

[@ItllBeFun]

Olá The_G Thanks for watching and supporting our channel. Portuguese is the official language, however in Funchal English is not uncommon. It's best to learn some Portuguese. Obrigado Alan and Leslie

[@the_g9456]

@@SallySparks Thank you Sally!

[@paisteplayer1040]

Cant blame you. America is ruined.

[@ItllBeFun]

Olá paisteplayer, Thanks for watching and supporting our channel 😀

[@DiogoF.]

Madeirans are very far from a progressive, tolerant society and are very attached to an old, very backwards, uneducated way of living but the island has great infrastructure, absurd natural beauty and much dignity. Couldn't be more the opposite from Portugal mainland.

[@ItllBeFun]

Thanks for watching

[@ildacoelho1473]

Ohh dear Diogo bloody hell what do you smoke it's potent stuff lol

[@jamesclark9992]

You made a good choice Asheville is awful now!

[@ItllBeFun]

Olá James, Thanks for watching and supporting our channel 😀 Asheville is such a beautiful place, too. Obrigado Alan and Leslie