Three years ago, Dr. Colleen Crowley exchanged Montecito, California, manicured perfection for Spain’s Basque Country rugged shoreline and the ripple effect on her family’s happiness, worldview, and lifestyle has been dramatic. From visa-seeking to siestas, her own path provides a roadmap for anyone in the process of weighing a move overseas.
1. Ditching “Too Comfortable” Can Stimulate Growth
Montecito provided Crowley’s family with beauty, safety, and privilege but a bubble, as well. “It was a great place to raise kids,” she said. “But to be honest, maybe a little too great. It’s very manicured. It’s very contained.” She wanted her three children to experience more of the world’s complexity, and the move has been “awesome and life-changing” for them. All three said to her, “We wish we had done it years ago.”
2. Engaging the Entire Family in the Decision Matters
The 16-year-old, 13-year-old, and 8-year-old children then assisted in deciding where they would relocate. They sold their house, downsized possessions, and even persuaded Crowley’s 80-year-old mother to relocate with them. This engagement is greater than symbolic studies indicate involving kids in the process of relocating can enhance resilience and anxiety decreases when moving.
3. Selecting the Best Visa Is Step One
Crowley and her spouse both received Spain’s digital nomad visas, which allow for remote work for five years, and her mother received a non-lucrative visa. Americans must submit proof of income, health insurance, and clean records when selecting among these options. It’s best to start planning months ahead, says experts, and, as one expat website recommends, hiring an attorney can prevent costly mistakes.
4. Test-Drive Your New Home Before Committing
The family had initially relocated to Mallorca, drawn by its coves and mountains. But after six months, they yearned for a more “Spanish experience” and relocated to San Sebastián. Within two days, they knew they had struck the right spot surf that was world-class, mountain trails, and size that met their lifestyle needs. Most relocation experts recommend experimenting with several spots before deciding.
5. Expect and Embrace Cultural Curveballs
Patience comes with adjustment, from Basque Country island cuadrilla pal buddy squads to national siesta beat. Crowley teases about “getting Spained” when bureaucracy slows down, but respects the balance it attests to, too. Afternoon shut-downs annoyed her at first “Man, siesta gets me every time” but she’s settled into synchronizing chores and enjoying slower afternoons.
6. Outdoor Living Turbocharges Well-Being
San Sebastián’s closeness to the Pyrenees and the beaches allow for surfing in France and walking the Camino de Santiago the following day. Science attributes outdoor lifestyles along coastlines and mountains to reduced stress and enhanced mood, something Crowley observes in her children’s increasing self-assurance and international friendships.
7. Reducing Transportation Can Be Freedom
“In America, you have two cars. You’re always driving, and it’s awful,” Crowley said. They ride their bikes everywhere in Spain and only put their car to use every so often. This change not only saves money but provides more interaction on a daily basis.
8. Cost of Living Can Be a Game-Changer
Even in expensive San Sebastián, the family gets by on half of what they paid in California. Meals, eating out, and visits to the doctor cost a fraction of what they did. Crowley is effusive in her admiration for Spain’s public healthcare system, particularly after her mother’s treatment regimen: “The quality of care the responsiveness has been amazing.”
9. The Biggest Payoff Is a Broader Worldview
Crowley finds “a diversification and a worldview that has been monumental” in her children. Her 16-year-old once said to her, “Sometimes I feel like life didn’t start for me till I moved abroad.” Experts in child development point out that such multicultural experience can increase empathy, flexibility, and long-term career benefits.
The transition has not been effortless foreign language acquisition remains a daily process, and settlement within host communities is a slow one. Yet the family’s experience reinforce a fact that many expatriates will attest to: with preparation, an open mind, and tolerance, foreign relocation can markedly enhance life in a manner that more than offsets the hardships.
