No Regrets: Three Months Into Our Move to Spain

It was exactly three months ago today, that my family and I boarded a plane in Newark, New Jersey and started this journey of reinvention in another country. And I’m happy to say that so far, I have zero regrets about our move to Spain.

Waking Up in (Noisy) Heaven Every Day

Every morning, I can honestly say that I wake up feeling grateful. I’m grateful that we found a beautiful apartment, in a beautiful neighborhood, that is walking distance to an adorable town, and a short bus ride to the city. I start every day by walking out on to my balcony and looking out on the lush manicured garden that is my front yard and thanking God for delivering us to such a beautiful location. I honestly didn’t know how beautiful, green and colorful this part of southern Spain was.

After I give my proper good morning to all of the plants and animals outside in the garden, including my own small herb garden, I head inside to my office and start writing. If I ever get stuck or frustrated with my novel or an article I’m working on, all I have to do is glance outside my window for a view of this lush paradise and my creative energy is restored. The only downside to being a writer here is that there are so many parrots who live in our yard who communicate with one another by screeching…loudly. All. Day. Long! I’ve mostly gotten used to their noisy chatter, but occasionally I want to ask them to quiet down.

Reconnecting with Family

One of the driving forces for our move to Spain centered on family. El esposo really missed his parents and worried about losing out on being present for their last active years. And we both wanted our children to build stronger bonds with their Spanish relatives. Unlike in the United States, in Spain our kids have cousins their age who all live in the same general area. Thus far, we’ve developed a wonderful routine of driving the two hours to el esposo’s parents’ home every two weeks  for the weekend. Because we still are living in a global pandemic, our weekends in Cadiz are simple. We eat, play in the pool and just enjoy each other’s company. We don’t go to restaurants or even to the overcrowded beaches, but the kids get to finally hang out with people their own age and it is wonderful to behold.

Both my son and daughter light up when they’re with their cousins. The easy familiarity they feel with them astounds me, considering they’ve grown up on opposite sides of the ocean, in different countries, speaking different languages. But both my son and daughter have found they have much in common with their cousins and love hanging out with them. And the love flows both ways. Watching my daughter in the pool with her four female cousins this past weekend, finally surrounded by girl energy instead of always being the only girl in a bunch of older boys, made my heart sing. And the fact that my son and his cousin bonded over their mutual love for World War II trivia and American fast food had me giggling. Watching these interactions, el esposo and I really felt like we did the right thing coming to Spain.

When Will the Honeymoon Be Over?

I am forever an optimist and I’m not trying to court doom and gloom, but I can’t help but think that what we’re experiencing right now is the honeymoon period of our move abroad. It’s summer. We don’t have to follow any rigid schedules. Our biggest concern on most days is what to eat for lunch. Yes, we’ve had to deal with pesky administrative details like opening a bank account and filing for my visa (which is still in process, by the way.), but we just chip away at those things one day at a time. But within a matter of a few short weeks, the children start school, el esposo and I have to start working again in earnest, and inevitably the beautiful summer weather will fade away. (Honestly, I don’t know what to expect for fall and winter except rain.). In other words, real life is coming for us.

The thing is, I don’t have any real concrete fears, it’s more of just anticipating the unknown. What will school be like for the children? Will they be able to handle the language change? Will COVID protocols be enough to keep them healthy? Will I be able to handle getting babygirl to school every day? Her school sits on top of a mountain and requires climbing up 207 stairs (we counted) after climbing a steep hill!; Will I still love this place when it’s rainy and cold instead of a gloriously sunny and dry?; Will more time away give me more time to miss the friends and family I left behind?

Only Time Will Tell

I know the only thing I can do to calm my nerves is to simply live each day as it comes. There’s no point worrying about a future I cannot predict. And it is so easy to enjoy every single day here. Just taking walks, eating ice cream by the beach, and hanging out with my family feels so luxurious. Right now I love my life and I’m so glad we made the decision to take the leap and bet on our success. I have no regrets about moving, and I hope I continue to feel the same way.

Stay tuned!