The2Mikes Go to Uruguay

After the 2025 campaign and eventual result, Mikey and I knew we had to start considering the possibility that we might need to move abroad. The only question was where. We looked at several countries and eventually narrowed the list to Spain, Portugal, Mexico, and Uruguay. Eventually, we landed on Uruguay—the second-smallest country in South America and part of the Southern Cone.

Knowing very little about the country, we began researching. Uruguay is one of the most politically and economically stable countries in the region. Its government generally focuses on practical solutions and policies that benefit its citizens. Recent presidents have come from the political center rather than the extremes. Uruguay was the first country in South America to legalize same-sex marriage and adoption, and it has codified protections for transgender individuals. The country maintains a strong separation between religion and government and places strict limits on political lobbying. It also enjoys a literacy rate of approximately 97 percent. Everything we learned made Uruguay increasingly attractive as a potential new home.

In June 2025, Mikey and I took a trip to Uruguay to see whether the country was right for us. Very few people knew about our trip, and only one person had our itinerary. Our visit was amazing. We had so much fun and learned even more about Uruguay. The best part of the trip was engaging with the people. Uruguayans were friendly, patient, and willing to help us navigate the language barrier. They went out of their way to make two strangers feel welcome. We met face-to-face with our immigration specialist, who spent nearly two hours with us. We got a taste of the country's healthcare system while receiving the vaccinations required for residency, and we spent an afternoon with our Spanish instructor, who taught us about the history of the country. It was a wonderful trip.

By the end of our visit, we had decided that Uruguay would become our new home, and we set a target move date for early October. The next step was creating a plan. That meant telling friends and family, preparing the house for sale, and getting rid of most of our possessions. It was going to be a full-time job.

We hit the ground running. We shared our plans with friends in Bristol and contacted the realtor who had helped us purchase our Connecticut home in 2019. Mikey focused on the interior, remodeling the primary bedroom and painting the remaining rooms. I concentrated on improving the curb appeal. He rebuilt a section of fence, and I burned the old one. We sold our two cars and began the long process of downsizing.

Early in the process, we discovered that the most complicated part of our move would be relocating our two greyhounds. There was no way we were going to leave them behind. To help us navigate the process, we hired a company that specialized in international pet transportation.

The dogs would have to travel as cargo, and the process became one nightmare after another. Moving a dog internationally requires a series of vaccinations, health certifications, and laboratory tests. Some of those tests must be completed within a very specific timeframe before departure. Fortunately, we had a great veterinarian who guided us through the requirements.

Everything seemed ready for our October departure. Then, just three days before we were scheduled to leave, we learned that the dogs could not travel directly from the United States to Uruguay. Instead, they had to leave the United States, spend 36 hours in Germany, and then continue to Uruguay. That change added $6,000 to our costs. All the tests and paperwork would have to be redone. 

When Tyson and Oaks arrived at the airport, we discovered that Tyson's crate was too small. He needed a much larger one. Another $2,000.

In total, we spent approximately $25,000 to relocate our two dogs.

YIKES!

In August, we made a grand tour of Texas to visit our families and share the news. Both sets of parents are very conservative, and we assumed they had enthusiastically voted for Trump all three times. Given that one of the reasons we were moving was our concern about the rise of the White Christian Nationalist movement, these conversations had the potential to be uncomfortable.

We traveled to Amarillo to tell Mikey's parents and then to Fort Worth and Dallas to tell my family. Their reactions were not nearly as negative as we expected. While they did not necessarily agree with our reasons for moving, they viewed it as an exciting opportunity. Our siblings were much more supportive, encouraging, and genuinely happy for us.

Parting with some of our possessions proved more difficult. For Michael, it was the books and Halloween decorations. For Mikey, it was his extensive collection of tools.

We could not have done it without our friends. When our neighbors saw that we were becoming overwhelmed, they came over and started packing. Friends found new homes for many of our larger items. By November 1, most of our belongings were gone. On November 3, the dogs were picked up to begin their journey, and on November 5, we boarded a plane and left the United States.

We all arrived in Montevideo on November 6, 2025, at 6:30 am. Later that same day, Oaks and Tyson arrived. We were all together again and ready to start a new chapter in our lives.

We stayed in three different Airbnbs in various parts of Montevideo—Tres Cruces, Pocitos, and Centro near the port—while searching for a permanent home. Our realtor worked tirelessly to help us find the right place.

We eventually settled into a small apartment in Carrasco Norte. We needed some type of yard for the dogs, and finding one within our budget meant moving farther from the city's center. It is quiet here, and everything we need for daily living is within walking distance. We do not own a car and rely on buses for longer trips, but we have a wonderful neighborhood mercado, a pet store, and a grocery store just around the corner. It works for us.

On January 6, Mikey stepped off a curb and fractured several bones around his pinky toe. Since we did not yet have health insurance, we went to a public hospital. It was certainly an interesting experience. We arrived around 6:30 p.m. and left around 1:30 a.m. Despite receiving treatment, we did not have to pay anything. Mikey wore a walking boot for 60 days. Bummer!

We received our temporary residency cards quickly, thanks to our immigration specialist, who had all of our paperwork organized and ready for submission. Mikey received his provisional cédula within 30 days. Michael's approval came at the end of April.

Getting our driver's licenses was surprisingly easy. Our biggest challenge has been opening a bank account. As of this writing, we are still waiting for approval. Having a local bank account will make day-to-day life much easier.

There are days when we ask ourselves whether we made the right decision. There are other days when we know without question that we did.

One thing that has helped us through the difficult moments is the friendships we have built. Some of our friends have lived here for years, while others arrived only days after we did. They have offered advice, encouragement, and reassurance that we are not alone. Although each of us has had a unique journey, many of our challenges have been similar.

Our expat community is incredibly important to us. As we spend more time here, our friendships have expanded to include native Uruguayans who have welcomed us with open arms and open hearts.

For us, moving to Uruguay was the right decision.

Mike and Michael June 2025 on their scouting trip.