Why Portugal?

[nelsonic]

Why are we focusing on Portugal...? (as opposed to another country...)

It's not out of "patriotism"... so what are the reasons...?

Water

Water quality in Portugal is really good (obviously not "the best" that would be [Switzerland, Sweeden or Norway ...](https://www.water-challenge.com/csv/water/water-challenge/posts/ten-countries-with-best-tap-water-worldwide but the quality is v. good considering other other factors...). The main thing to note is that it's been steadily improving over the last 20 years and since our plan is to live reasonably far from the city with a source of natural water #21 (preferably from an "artesian" spring) Portugal is perfect!

Note: this is the reason we were originally considering buying land in Monchique in the Algarve. but we took a trip down there with 3 distinct water testing kits/apparatus and concluded that the water that is being bottled by the Monchique Water Company (9.5 PH!) is not the same as the water in the village or surrounding area...

So my personal conclusion is that I'm better off focussing on building my software skills, building a Software Company that makes a really useful product that enough people are willing to pay for, and then using the income from that venture to buy the Water Company!!
(or just a 50 year future contract...) 😮 #simples

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_supply_and_sanitation_in_Portugal
• http://portugalexportersdirectory.com/food-beverage/mineral-water/100-monchique-mineral-water-9-5-ph.html

Sunshine

• http://www.holiday-weather.com/algarve/averages/

Fertile Land

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agriculture_in_Portugal
• http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Agricultural_census_in_Portugal

(Reasonably) Stable Political Economy

Our assets/enterprise will most likely be protected by "the system" for the foreseeable future.

• Portugal's political stability is Europe's rare pleasant surprise:
  http://www.reuters.com/article/us-portugal-politics-idUSKCN0Z81LH

We would love to set up our project in Mozambique, for example, but there is a lot of uncertainty there... 😞