Look, I know what youre thinking. Spain? Really? Isnt that just for college kids doing study abroad? No, seriously, stick with me on this. I’ve gone down a rabbit hole of retirement research, and I cant get Andalucía out of my head. So your neighbor Do
Look, I know what you're thinking. "Spain? Really? Isn't that just for college kids doing study abroad?" No, seriously, stick with me on this. I’ve gone down a rabbit hole of retirement research, and I can't get Andalucía out of my head.
So your neighbor Donald just moved to some overpriced Florida community where he pays $3,000 a month for a shoebox apartment. Meanwhile, I'm over here researching these gorgeous white villages in southern Spain where you can buy an actual house—with a view!—for less than what Janet's paying in yearly HOA fees. I mean, come on.
Okay, so you know how we're all terrified of medical bills, right? Well, get this—Spain has universal healthcare. UNIVERSAL. Once you're a resident, you're covered. I was talking to this American guy online who moved to Granada, and he had knee surgery last year. Know what he paid? Zero. Nada. Nothing.
And get this—if you’re still nervous and want private insurance, it’s something like 50 to 150 euros a month. For peace of mind! That’s less than my old cable bill. Though I'll admit, navigating the bureaucracy initially sounds like a nightmare. But still.
Everyone thinks Spain = beaches, but honestly? I'm so over crowded coastlines. The real magic is inland. Have you seen photos of Ronda? It's literally perched on a cliff! And these little white villages scattered across the mountains—they look like something out of a fairytale.
Though I'll be honest, part of me is torn. The mountains are gorgeous, but what if I miss the ocean? And some of these mountain villages are pretty remote. Like, "hope you don't need Amazon Prime" remote. But then again, maybe that's exactly what I need.
This is where it gets crazy. Remember when I was looking at those retirement communities in Arizona? $400,000 for a basic condo, and that's BEFORE all the fees. In Andalucía, you can get a restored village house for half that. HALF.
And groceries? I'm seeing people talk about spending 30-40 euros a week on fresh produce, good wine, olive oil that would cost a fortune here. Okay, I know I’m probably dreaming. I’m sure there are a ton of hidden costs I’m not seeing. But even so, you can’t argue with those numbers.
You know what's killing me about retirement here? The isolation. My parents barely know their neighbors after 30 years. But in these Spanish towns, people actually TALK to each other. They have these evening walks—paseos—where the whole town comes out. Old people, families, everyone just... walking and chatting.
And don't get me started on the festivals. I’m not talking about our town’s lame Founder’s Day parade. These are legit, chaotic celebrations that have been going on forever. Though I wonder if I'd feel like an outsider. What if I never really fit in? My Spanish is terrible, and I'm not exactly the most outgoing person.
Here's what surprised me—there are already tons of expats there. Americans, Brits, Germans, all kinds of people who said "screw it" and moved to Spain. There are Facebook groups, meetups, people who help with paperwork and finding apartments.
My only worry is ending up in an expat bubble. What’s the point of moving to Spain if I’m just going to hang out with a bunch of Americans? I want the real deal, you know? Not 'Spain-lite.' It’s a total head-scratcher.
Can Americans even buy property there? Yes, apparently no restrictions. But you need a good lawyer, and honestly, the legal stuff sounds terrifying.
The visa situation? There's this Non-Lucrative Visa that seems doable if you have enough savings. But "enough" is subjective, and the paperwork... ugh.
And Spanish. I really should learn Spanish. I downloaded Duolingo but haven't opened it in weeks. I'm terrible at languages, but maybe being immersed would help? Or maybe I'd just be the confused American who points at things in grocery stores.
Ronda keeps coming up in my research. It's dramatic, historic, but probably touristy. Then there's Órgiva in the Alpujarras—sounds more authentic, artsy even. But what if it's too hippie-dippy? And Antequera looks charming but might be too quiet.
This is my whole problem, right here. I want the 'real' Spain, but god help me if the wifi is slow. I want to feel part of a community, but I don't want to be swarmed by tourists. I want an adventure that’s also completely safe. It’s impossible, I know. I’m looking for a unicorn.
Look, maybe I'm having a midlife crisis. Maybe I'm idealizing the hell out of this whole thing. But when I think about spending my retirement years in some beige Florida condo, watching the same people complain about the same things... versus waking up to mountain views and walking to the local market for fresh bread?
I mean, worst case scenario, I hate it and move back, right? But what if I don't? What if this is exactly the adventure I need?
I don't know. Maybe I'm crazy. But I'm starting to think crazy might be exactly what I need right now.
What do you think? Am I completely losing it, or does this sound like the best idea ever?
So I've been talking about this Spain thing with everyone, and they all have the same questions. Let me just get these out of the way:
From what I can tell, yes. There aren't any crazy laws against foreigners buying property, which is a relief. But everyone says get a lawyer, which makes me nervous. Like, what could go wrong that I need a lawyer? Don't answer that.
There's this Non-Lucrative Visa thing that sounds... not terrible? Basically, I'd have to show them I have enough cash to live on without working and get my own private health insurance. The catch is "enough money" is probably more than I think it is. And it's renewable after a year, so it's not like you're stuck if you hate it. Or stuck if you love it but they don't want you anymore.
This is where I get defensive. I hear that in a lot of the expat towns, you can get by with just English, but come on—living in a country and not speaking the language feels so... American tourist-y. I want to chat with my neighbors, not just point at things like a confused child. Though let's be real, I'll probably start with pointing at things.
Everyone keeps saying 50 to 150 euros a month, which sounds too good to be true. That's like... what I spend on my phone bill. But what if you're older? What if you have pre-existing conditions? There's got to be a catch, right?
My brain just goes in circles on this one. People keep saying Ronda, but I have a feeling it’s crawling with tourists (like me). Órgiva sounds artsy and authentic, but what if it's too crunchy granola? Antequera looks perfect but might be boring. The Alpujarras are stunning but feel like they're in the middle of nowhere.
See what I mean? Every answer leads to five more questions. But maybe that's the whole deal. Maybe you can't have all the answers and you just have to... go.
I don't know. Sometimes I think I'm overthinking this whole thing. But then again, it's only the rest of my life, right?