About a year ago, my husband and I packed our lives into two suitcases each and made the move to Spain with our Golden Retriever, Charlie, and our cat, Spud, along for the adventure. Still with tons of open questions but a confidence for the future, we boarded a flight to Madrid feeling organized, excited, and more than a little curious about what life would look like abroad.
Throughout our entire relationship, we had always wondered what it would be like to live abroad. And while we had close families and a solid community back home in Indiana, we felt drawn toward a less traditional life. For us, moving abroad wasn’t about escaping anything, it was about stepping toward something new, and more aligned with the kind of life we wanted to live.
There are countless reasons people choose to move abroad. Ours was simple: we wanted to live more intentionally and open ourselves up to new experiences.
Everyday Abroad is a space to share what life abroad in Spain is really like—the small wins, the cultural shifts, the practical steps, and the everyday excitement of starting over in a new country.
Life Before the Move
My husband, Sam, and I had been living in Indiana together since I graduated from Butler University in 2019. I’d grown up in Indiana, while Sam (born in Mexico) moved around a lot during his childhood, living in different parts of North America.
We both worked full-time corporate jobs and had a great group of friends. Most days were standard: we worked from home, walked our dog at the park, and spent evenings at trivia nights or relaxing at home. With family nearby and a comfortable lifestyle, it would have been easy to stay.
But even in the comfort, we felt a pull for something more. We were spending less time traveling, more time working, and realized we were slipping into a routine that didn’t reflect the adventurous life we imagined for ourselves. We had always talked about moving abroad, and over time, that idea started to feel more like a realistic option than a daydream.
Why We Decided to Move Abroad
After years of talking about it, we reached a point where we felt ready. We were in our late 20s, newly married, and knew this was the right window to try something bold.
While we considered moving to another city or state in the U.S., the idea of living abroad kept rising to the top of every conversation. Eventually, we asked ourselves: If not now, when?
Our biggest logistical hurdle was Charlie, our sweet, 80-pound Golden Retriever. We couldn’t imagine moving abroad without him, but navigating international pet travel felt overwhelming. After lots of research, planning, and more than a few “are we really doing this?” moments, we found a solution.
Spoiler alert: Charlie made it to Spain just fine, and is now living his best life, complete with weekly jamón snacks from our favorite restaurant.
Why Spain?
Spain checked a lot of boxes for us. Sam is a native Spanish speaker, and I’ve spoken Spanish at an advanced level since college. That level of comfort with the language helped us feel more confident about the transition.
We were also drawn to Spain’s quality of life—affordable healthcare, great weather, a more relaxed pace, accessibility to travel destinations, and walkable cities. I had studied in Alcalá de Henares in 2017 and fell completely in love with the culture, lifestyle, and community. I remember thinking I could live here someday.
Combined with the multiple viable visa options, when we started seriously researching countries to move to, Spain felt like the most natural fit.
The Transition to Life Abroad
Our move abroad came with its fair share of logistical challenges and learning curves, but overall, the transition went more smoothly than we expected. I was fortunate that my company agreed to sponsor my visa, which made the process much easier. We did run into one hiccup once we arrived (more on that in a future post), but we learned through experience that there is nothing we couldn’t handle.
We stayed in an Airbnb during our first few weeks in Madrid while looking for a long-term apartment. I remember walking out of the metro for the first time into the city center, seeing the energy, the architecture, the life around me, and bursting into tears thinking, Wow. We really did it.
What I’ve Learned So Far
Now that we’ve been living in Spain for a year and a half, I can confidently say this has been one of the most rewarding decisions we’ve ever made.
We’ve made new friends, explored new cities, picked up new habits (like daily walks, after-work drinks at Céntrico, and slower meals), and started to feel genuinely at home in Madrid. What’s surprised me most is how much joy there is in the small, everyday experiences like finding new treats at the grocery store or taking my first yoga class in Spanish.
Things that once felt routine now feel like small adventures. And that’s what makes life abroad so special: it invites you to pay closer attention to the beauty in day-to-day life.
If you’re even thinking about moving abroad, I’d encourage you to explore the idea. You can always return home, but you might find that life abroad offers something you didn’t know you were missing.
What’s Next on Everyday Abroad
Through this blog, I’ll be sharing more about our journey, including how we planned our move abroad, what the visa process was like, how we found housing, made friends, and handled everyday life in a new culture. I’ll also share fun content about things to do in Madrid and give you the inside scoop into our travels and itineraries.
Most of all, I want this to be a space that’s honest, helpful, and relatable. Whether you’re seriously considering moving abroad or just curious about what life overseas is like, I hope to cover all aspects of what life abroad entails.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
Are you thinking about moving abroad? If so, what’s stopping you? Tell me a little bit about your story in the comments!
