Our Spanish Dream Hank and Linda’s Journey from Minnesota to Costa Brava

If someone had told us a few years ago that we’d end up living in Spain I’m pretty sure we wouldn’t have believed it We’re Hank and Linda a retired couple from Minnesota who’d always been pretty rooted in our ways Winters in the Midwest just part of life layers blankets hunkering down But one winter while scraping ice off the windshield for what felt like the hundredth time Linda just looked at me and said Wouldn’t it be nice if we could just skip this

That’s when the idea of a holiday place first popped up We didn’t know much about Costa Brava back then but the more we read about it the more we thought Why not Beautiful coastlines warm winters friendly people it all sounded just right. So we took the plunge and reached out to VivendaNova, a real estate agency in Costa Brava that works with international clients like us. And wouldn’t you know it, one thing led to another.

Our Little Slice of Heaven

We flew over one spring to check out some homes Now we weren’t looking for anything grand We had a budget we wanted a simple place just something cozy with maybe a bit of a view Well after a few days of looking we found it a small white house up in Begur with a view of the Mediterranean It wasn’t big or fancy but it had this charm that just felt right

The price was surprisingly reasonable way less than what we’d pay for a comparable place back in the States We thought This could really be ours So we did it Signed the papers and just like that we had our little getaway At first we thought it’d be just for winter escapes But after a couple of seasons something shifted

From Snowbirds to Full Timers

That first summer back in Minnesota something felt off Here we were back home but our minds kept drifting to that little house in Spain The thought of going back to Costa Brava just kept us going Winters started to feel colder days felt longer and we realized maybe we didn’t want to come back

So we made the decision we’d move I mean it took a bit of doing of course Selling the house figuring out the visa requirements thankfully there’s this thing called the Golden Visa for folks investing in Spanish property which made it a whole lot easier We even had to learn about Spanish property laws and taxes which are a bit different from what we were used to but with some help we got it all squared away

Living the Good Life

Now here we are I can’t tell you how good it feels to wake up pull open the curtains and see that beautiful blue sea Every morning coffee on the terrace has become our ritual We walk down to the local market pick up fresh produce and chat with the vendors It’s just a simpler way of life Less rush more time to actually live

We’ve met other Americans and even a few Brits who had the same idea as us There’s a small community of us expats here We celebrate Thanksgiving together swap stories about home and even share recipes And we’re starting to make friends with our Spanish neighbors too There’s an older man Miguel who brings us oranges from his garden He’s probably amused by our broken Spanish but he’s always patient and helpful

No Regrets

Leaving Minnesota was hard don’t get me wrong But we’re so glad we made the move Here on Costa Brava life just feels fuller Time stretches out The sun is warmer the days are brighter and who would’ve thought we’re happier than we’ve been in years If anyone out there is dreaming of a retirement like this all we can say is go for it You might just find what we did a new place to call home

Let us help you find your dream home in Spain and make it a reality. Let’s get started, shall we?

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