Photo by Johan Mouchet
So, you want to move to Spain, and you’ve got questions!
I’ve had the pleasure of calling Spain home for a decade. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that I feel Spanish, but I will say that I’ve spent 1/3 of my entire life, and all of my adult life living in this beautiful, chaotic, country chock full of both contradictions and charm.
What I love about living in Spain:
Time is relative: I do not rush anymore. I understand that appointment times are merely a suggestion, or a rough estimate, and by rushing to get to a place I’ll only arrive sweaty, frustrated and I’ll probably be the first one there.
If we’re meeting at 14h, I’ll probably leave my house at ten minutes to 14h. Luckily everyone I know here is on the same page, and will follow suit. Time is a concept, and rushing is a no-no.
Lunch can last for hours: I really appreciate how a lunch with friends turns into a digestif, which turns into afternoon tapas, and then dinner, and then drinks and, well, you look up, and it’s 2 a.m.! I don’t want to misrepresent the Spanish, however. These long lunches typically happen on weekends (although mid-week lunch dates do happen). It’s taught me to slow down, savor, and take my sweet time. (I’m noticing a pattern here!)
It’s always glass half full, even when it’s not: I’ve lived in Spain through the financial crisis and the pandemic and even when things feel bleak, you will find that Spanish optimism— or at the very least a healthy amount of communal griping— make these bad times bearable.
The most common expression you’ll hear is: no pasa nada. Which loosely translates to: no worries. So whether we’re whining about a politician, clapping for the incredibly dedicated doctors from our balconies, or having a water balloon fight in the street, it’s hard to ever feel fully alone here.
Is Spain a nice place to live? Absolutely!
I appreciate the sunshine.
I love how greeting your neighbors is the norm.
I adore vermouth with an orange slice; especially a vermouth that lasts for hours.
I love how dog-friendly the country is (especially Madrid!)
I’ll never get tired of abuelos shouting "buenos días” to their friends from their second-floor window.
I love how going to get a loaf of bread is a perfectly acceptable morning plan, just as going for a walk to nowhere is also a thing people do.
After 10 years here, I am people. I’m grateful for my life in Spain.
It’s simple. It’s curious. It’s beautiful.
