Post by @nataly.port

I found the retreat on GoPlaces.club. It’s basically a community for people at this stage of life — divorced, widowed, empty nesters, or simply travelling solo and wanting to meet new people. And what I loved is that you don’t just book a trip with strangers. You join the group first. You see everyone’s profiles, start chatting, get a feel for the people — and then decide if you actually want to go. And Portugal just got me. It’s only four days, so it feels like the perfect first adventure. This gorgeous hotel hidden in the forest near the coast. Yoga in the mornings. Painting. Portuguese wine. Long dinners. Evenings by the fire. A day exploring a beautiful UNESCO town. And everyone is coming solo. No couples to awkwardly tag along with. No arriving and wondering if you’ll fit in. By the time we get there, we’ll already know each other from the group. And I don’t know… at 52, after everything changing, the idea of doing something completely new with a group of new people feels incredibly exciting. So yes. I’m going to Portugal. And apparently there are still a few places left. If you’re at a similar stage of life and thinking maybe I need something like this too — have a look at GoPlaces.club.