My Top 5 Lessons Moving Abroad from the USA

It’s been one year since my husband and I packed our bags, kissed the familiar goodbye, and finally made our dream of living in Spain a reality!

My personal journey, sparked by seeing my father’s early-onset Alzheimer’s as my parents were retiring, and the loss of a close friend before she turned 50, taught me a profound lesson: life is for living, and you have to seize the day. I didn't want to wait until retirement to embrace the Spanish life I'd dreamt of for over 30 years. I wanted my kids to see us living a life of bold choices and new adventures. So, a year ago in the fall of 2024, we took the leap to experience a freer, healthier lifestyle and to explore more of the world.

I’m naturally curious, and one of the biggest joys of this past year has been inspiring other expat-curious people to take their own bold steps and live out their dreams. For those of you wondering what it's really like to make such a big move, I want to share the five most surprising and rewarding lessons I've learned since moving abroad from the USA.

Lesson 1: The Magic of Less - I Haven't Missed My "Stuff"

Before we moved, I spent a lot of time agonizing over what to keep, what to sell, and what to put in storage. The sentimentality attached to my belongings was a real hurdle. I’m sure many people contemplating moving abroad from the USA, Australia or anywhere else to a new country can relate. The sheer volume of things we accumulate over decades is staggering.

But here is the absolute truth: I haven't missed my stuff. Not even a little bit.

Sure, there are a few things that would be nice to have, like a specific kitchen gadget or that one cozy blanket, but those feelings are fleeting. What has replaced the feeling of needing more is the profound sense of liberation that comes from managing less. Our life is simpler, lighter, and more mobile. The time and energy I used to spend organizing, cleaning, and maintaining possessions is now freed up for actual living. For language classes, exploring hidden pueblos, or just sitting in a sun-drenched plaza with a coffee.

This reduction in physical clutter has translated directly into a reduction in mental clutter. If you are preparing for a move abroad, be ruthless in your purge. You will find that the experiences you gain in your new home far outweigh the comfort of an old sofa or a closet full of clothes. Less things equals more life.

Lesson 2: Making Friends is Easier Than You Think

One of the major concerns for anyone leaving their established network is the fear of isolation or the anxiety of navigating a new culture and language. When you are moving abroad from the USA (or just about anywhere else, for that matter), you're leaving behind decades of built-in community - neighbors, colleagues, and lifelong friends. I certainly worried about whether I’d be able to forge meaningful connections in a new country.

What I quickly learned, however, is that making friends in the expat world is surprisingly easy. Why? Because you already have a massive, shared experience in common: you all took the leap! Whether you’re married or single, that shared bond of being an expat is an instant connector.

In Valencia, I’ve found that within the first five minutes of meeting a fellow expat, you’ve already covered the common ground: visa applications, the best way to get health insurance, which Spanish bank to choose, and the best places to find that one food item from back home. It's a supportive environment where people are genuinely open and welcoming. The community is powerful. This applies to people moving abroad from the USA or even from a completely different continent like Australia. The shared journey of creating a life abroad makes everyone instant allies.

Lesson 3: Bureaucracy is a Speed Bump, Not a Roadblock

Let’s be honest: the thought of dealing with foreign bureaucracy, visas, healthcare, and the general complexities of life abroad, is a major source of anxiety for people considering moving abroad from the USA or other non-EU location. I won't lie. Spain has its fair share of paperwork, appointments, and processes that can feel overwhelming. But you already knew that!

Here’s the key difference between an anxiety-inducing experience and a manageable one: preparation and mindset.

Before we moved, I did my research to understand what it would be like to integrate into the community. I dug into things like options for visas, the national health system, taxes, finding an apartment and I mentally prepared for things to take longer than I was used to. Because I knew what to expect, the reality hasn’t been an issue. When a bureaucratic process inevitably moved at a glacial pace, or when an official required a document I didn't realize I needed, I simply adjusted my mindset. I took a deep breath, reminded myself that this is simply the "cost of entry" for this incredible life, and went with the flow.

It's about letting go of the expectation of American efficiency and embracing the European pace. When you reframe the necessary paperwork as just another task to complete in your grand adventure, the frustration melts away. It’s all part of the process of demystifying life abroad. Heck, it’s part of the experience!

While navigating it all, we’ve tapped into others who have already gone through it. We’ve built a trusted network of referrals, resources and other pieces of wisdom, and it continues to grow.