Tyler Richardson
34 years old · Lisbon (Alfama/Graça area, rotating rentals)
Freelance software developer / startup consultant
Persona: Digital Nomad (Non-Voter Observer)
Tyler Richardson
Quick Profile
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Tyler Richardson |
| Age | 34 |
| Gender | Male |
| Location | Lisbon (Alfama/Graça area, rotating rentals) |
| Occupation | Freelance software developer / startup consultant |
| Education | Bachelor's in Computer Science (UC Berkeley) |
| Housing | Short-term rentals (€1,800-2,500/month depending on season) |
| Family | Single, parents in California, no children |
| Voter Status | American citizen - CANNOT vote in Portugal |
| Time in Portugal | 3 years intermittent (D7 visa since 2023) |
Background Narrative
Tyler discovered Lisbon in 2019 during a "workation" and never really left. The math was irresistible: California tech salary, Lisbon cost of living, perfect weather, great food, English widely spoken. He was part of the first wave of digital nomads who discovered Portugal's visa programs.
He knows he's part of a problem. The same apartments he bounces between were homes for Portuguese families. The same cafés that welcome his laptop pricing out elderly locals. He tips well, tries to learn Portuguese, supports local businesses—but the math of his existence pushes prices up for everyone else.
Tyler exists in a strange limbo. Not a tourist—he's lived here three years. Not an immigrant—he doesn't really integrate. Not a resident—despite the visa, he could leave tomorrow. He works American hours, socializes with other nomads, experiences a Lisbon that exists parallel to Portuguese Lisbon without quite touching it.
He watches Portuguese politics with the detachment of a spectator. The housing crisis directly involves him—as both symptom and cause. Chega's rise fascinates him sociologically. He has opinions about everything, influence over nothing, and the privilege to leave whenever it suits him.
Economic Situation
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Income level | High (€8,000-15,000/month depending on contracts) |
| Income source | Freelance tech work (US clients) |
| Financial stress | Very Low |
| Housing cost burden | 20-25% of income |
| Economic trajectory | Volatile but strong |
Values Profile (Schwartz Framework)
| Dimension | Rating | Expression |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Transcendence | 3 | Thinks about impact; but individual freedom trumps |
| Self-Enhancement | 4 | Values success, freedom, lifestyle optimization |
| Openness to Change | 5 | Entire life built on change and mobility |
| Conservation | 1 | Actively rejects traditional constraints |
Top 3 values: Self-Direction, Hedonism, Stimulation
Moral Politics Frame (Lakoff)
Primary frame: Libertarian-leaning
Expression: Tyler believes in individual freedom, market solutions, minimal constraints. He's socially progressive (pro-choice, pro-LGBTQ+) but skeptical of collective solutions. His lifestyle depends on frictionless global mobility and low regulation.
Information Ecosystem
| Source Type | Specific Sources | Trust Level |
|---|---|---|
| TV | None—doesn't own one | N/A |
| Online | Tech news, Twitter/X, Reddit, Substack | Medium |
| Social Media | Twitter, Instagram, Slack communities | Medium |
| Community | Digital nomad networks, coworking spaces | Medium-High |
Media consumption pattern: Algorithm-fed. Tech Twitter for professional world. Nomad subreddits and Slack for lifestyle. Gets Portuguese news when it trends internationally (usually for fires or politics). Lives in an English-language information bubble.
Relationship to Portuguese Politics
Voting Status
- American citizen—cannot vote in any Portuguese elections
- Doesn't follow Portuguese politics closely
- Aware of housing crisis (affects his rents)
- Vaguely aware of Chega ("the Trump guy?")
- Politics feels like other people's business
Political Awareness
- Low direct engagement
- Understands economics better than politics
- Knows he's part of gentrification debate
- Would side with whoever keeps Portugal "open and business-friendly"
Top Concerns (Ranked)
- Visa regulations: "Will they crack down on nomads? Am I secure?"
- Lifestyle preservation: "Is Lisbon still worth it or getting too expensive/crowded?"
- Tax situation: "Portugal's NHR changes, IRS implications, where am I actually tax resident?"
- Community authenticity: "Am I actually living here or just consuming a place?"
- Future planning: "I can't do this forever. Where do I actually settle?"
Hopes
For himself:
"I want to keep this freedom as long as possible. Maybe build something here, maybe settle, maybe move on. Keep options open."
For Portugal:
"I hope Portugal finds a balance. Stays open to people like me but doesn't destroy itself in the process. I know that's probably asking too much."
On his impact:
"I'd like to think I'm contributing more than extracting. Tips, local spending, taxes (kind of). But honestly, I'm probably not the good guy in this story."
Fears
Personal fears:
"Getting priced out of everywhere. Regulatory crackdown ending the nomad era. Growing old with no roots anywhere."
About Portugal:
"That Lisbon becomes another Barcelona—ruined by people like me. That I'm watching a city die while I optimize my lifestyle."
Deepest fear (often unspoken):
"That I'm living a hollow life. Optimizing for freedom while missing depth. That I'll look back at forty having 'lived everywhere' and belonged nowhere."
"In Their Own Voice"
How he'd describe his situation:
"I'm a guest who's stayed too long. Portugal gave me a visa, and I gave Portugal... my rent and restaurant bills? It's a transaction, but it feels off. I know the discourse—gentrification, colonization, displacement. I'm not ignorant. I just haven't figured out what to do about it yet."
What he'd say to Portuguese people who resent digital nomads:
"You're right to be angry. We drive up prices, don't integrate, don't contribute like residents. I get it. But also—your government invited us. Made visa programs, advertised Portugal to remote workers, designed this. Don't just blame us; blame the system that made us possible."
On watching Portuguese politics as an outsider:
"It's like watching a show I can't affect. Chega rises, housing protests happen, governments change—and none of it involves me except indirectly. I'm a spectator with a front-row seat and no vote. Weirdly privileged position. Also weirdly alienating."
Scenario Response Predictions
Note: Tyler can't vote and wouldn't know most candidates. His responses are observational.
| Scenario Element | Predicted Response |
|---|---|
| Anti-nomad regulation | Would consider leaving; resents but understands |
| Housing market crash | Mixed—lower rents vs. economic instability |
| Chega government | Probably wouldn't affect him directly; but would worry about Portugal's "vibe" |
| Tech investment push | Excited—more work opportunities, more community |
| Tourism crackdown | Worried about broader anti-foreigner sentiment |
Notes for Scenario Development
- Emblematic of digital nomad phenomenon
- Gentrification complicity awareness but not action
- Spectator relationship to politics
- Information bubble (English-only)
- Could interact with: other nomads, Portuguese neighbors (awkwardly), Airbnb hosts, coffee shop owners who've seen their neighborhood change
- In "Day in the Future" vignettes: coworking space, walking past housing protest, conversation with Portuguese Uber driver, explaining Portugal to US friends who ask why he's there