Couple exchanges the US for Spain and says it was like getting out of a bad relationship

A couple left the United States and moved to Spain in 2022. Laura Hamlin and your husband Allan Amer They describe the experience like leaving a “bad relationship.”

Laura, from New York, explained that she had difficulty feeling at home after moving from New Jersey to Florida in 2012, and the polarized political environment worn her.

“I was hoping that the United States would be as they were before,” says Laura, who worked in the real estate sector, remembering that it was like “getting out of a relationship that you know was not good.” “You want to recover what you had at the beginning, but it’s just not there,” he added.

Political tensions

Laura and Allan, who have been together for 27 years, decided to spend a few years traveling from Motorhome before moving to Spain.

However, things were not exactly easy. The couple had to return to the United States just six months later after an unexpected accident.

“Life has been a roller coaster of pain and pleasure,” says Laura.

In reflecting on the decision to leave Florida, Laura explains that the political climate made them uncomfortable.

“People were very opinionated and political, and showing off aggressive posters…”, she says, explaining that they changed places several times, but did not feel welcome to any of them.

“It was as if we couldn’t find a place that felt like a home … I no longer felt comfortable there.”

Laura and Allan chose Spain because it was a country they had visited several times And they always fell in love with each trip more.

“We don’t know if Spanish politics is crazy because we don’t speak Spanish right,” jokes Allan. “But We know that the United States is crazy . Laura wanted to escape. I just wanted to travel. ”

Before boarding for a new life in Spain, the couple decided to take a road trip. “I looked at Laura and said, ‘I don’t want to live anywhere for 12 months,” says Allan.

Laura adds that she spent a lot of time traveling when she was in the army in her youth and never lost the “vice of traveling.” “I’m married to Laura, the explorer,” says Allan.

After selling their three properties, including two rental properties, they left on a trip to Idaho, passing through Minneapolis and Colorado.

“Some definitely looked at us as if we had lost our heads,” recalls Laura.

Before leaving Florida, the process of requesting a non -profit visa began, which allows citizens outside the European Union to live in Spain without working, as long as they have enough money to support themselves.

“It was tedious,” says Laura. “It took three months. We had to stay in the United States waiting for the visa to leave.”

When the visa was finally approved in December 2022, the couple, who were in Germany at the time, took Aer Lingus’s “most expensive flight” back to Florida to resolve the paperwork, before finally leaving for Spain to start their lives.

“We arrived on December 22,” says Laura. “So we didn’t spend Christmas with our families.”

“But by this time, after jumping from side to side waiting for the visa approval, they were ready to be.”

New beginning

The couple quickly adapted to life in Spain and was delighted to finally live the dream they had.

“The first months were exciting,” says Laura. “I had to pinch myself. I couldn’t believe we really got it.”

Once installed, Laura and Allan endeavored to know as much as possible in the country.

“We made a day trips, and also a weekend trips,” says Allan. “We went to Granada, Cordoba, Toledo … We invaded many castles.”

Laura highlights her fascination with Spanish history . She loves to explore the many historical monuments of the country. “As an American, we are almost babies compared,” he jokes.

Laura and Allan were enjoying life to the fullest until something tragic happened: Allan stumbled into a supermarket, suffered a kidney damage and broke six ribs, about four months after arriving in Spain.

Although they had paid Spanish private medical insurance for a year, as required by the visa, they found that they were not really covered yet.

“There is a clause that says you can’t use insurance in the first six or eight months after arriving in the country,” explains Laura. “They cut us and refused to pay for Allan.”

Result: They had to spend most of their economies on Allan’s hospital treatment, which lasted four weeks. “I regret not reading the girl,” adds Laura.

During this period, Allan lost a lot of weight and could not walk. “After trying the Spanish hospitals without insurance, I decided it was better to go back to the United States,” he says.

So, just six months after moving to Spain, Laura and Allan returned to the United States – Laura hired a private nurse to take care of her husband during the trip.

“We rented a house near my daughter in Spring Hill (northern Florida), and he recovered there,” she says.

When Allan was better, they resumed Motorhome’s trip, passing by Montana and Glacier National Park.

Although the couple had planned to return to Spain as soon as possible, the return was postponed by several health problems.

“Since 2019, I had problems – feet, neck,” says Allan. “And my back, my accidents. So it’s been hard for her (Laura). She’s my angel.”

Although they almost gave up the idea, the couple decided to try again. “We spent two months in an assisted center of life, with our furniture stored, thinking we would stay there,” says Laura. “But Allan recovered surprisingly.”

Laura and Allan returned to Spain in November 2023 reaching time to meet the period of permanence outside the country required by the visa.

“We managed to get to the right time,” says Laura. “Now it’s much better.”

Laura and Allan live happily near Cartagena, in the Murcia region, in southeastern Spain, and plan to stay there indefinitely.

They love the Spanish lifestyle, including travel and cheap wine.

Although they admit that in the beginning, the business routine closing to Siesta in the afternoon has been “frustrating,” they say they no longer care about it.

“Even in the United States, around three in the afternoon, I was already taking a nap after working out,” says Allan, explaining that he used to swim in the morning when he lived in a condominium with a pool in Florida.

“At three in the afternoon, I was exhausted and sleeping. So, Siesta here fits perfectly into my lifestyle.”

Laura notes that sometimes they catch themselves looking at the clock in the afternoon and realizing that the banks are about to close. “Look, leave it tomorrow,” she jokes.

However, there is a part of life in Spain with which they still have difficulties – learn the language.

Linguistic barrier

Laura and Allan are doing Spanish classes online and using apps – “the one with the owl.”

However, they admit that their Spaniard still leaves something to be desired, and attempts to attend face-to-face classes have not been very successful.

“There are free spanglish classes at the library every Friday,” says Laura. “We went to three, but we used Google because we didn’t understand what was going on.”

“And in the end, the woman who leads the class said, ‘You don’t know enough Spanish to be here. Go back when you know more Spanish.’

Medical insurance was also a problem for the couple at first, especially due to Allan’s health problems.

“We paid too much for private insurance because we needed to have it, and there are many limitations to me,” says Allan.

“When I got the roof, there were four paragraphs about what they cover and four pages from what I’m deleted.”

He added, “Now, fortunately, I qualify for the Spanish health system.”

Spain’s Universal Health System, known as NHS (National Health System), is available for residents of the country.

“When I go to my local doctor here, it takes the computer, puts Google translator and we have a quiet conversation,” adds Allan.

Social life and lower costs

Laura and Allan made several friends, especially from the United Kingdom, during the time in Spain, and they say that their social life is even better than it was in Florida. “She’s a social butterfly. I hate people,” jokes Allan.

For the couple, one of the biggest differences they noticed in Spain is that “everything is smaller, including supermarkets.”

“But it’s also healthier,” says Laura. “Because there are not so many processed product options.”

“You don’t have an entire corridor of sugar cereals … there are some things I can’t find, but it’s not a big problem. I think we’re much healthier now.”

As for the cost of living, Laura and Allan find Spain much more accessible than the US pointing out that they always realize the price increase when they return to visit their families – both have children of previous marriages.

“I know it’s a price shock when we go back to visit and go to the supermarket…” says Laura.

“I know my family and friends are all worried and complaining about the cost of living now.”

“The cost of housing has tremendously increased there. So we’re happy to have a more affordable and simple life here.”

They pay 550 euros (R $ 3,387) per month for your three -bedroom apartment, which has a view of the mountains. “We love our owner,” adds Laura.

Although things have not always come out as expected since change, Laura and Allan try to adopt a relaxed approach, dealing with the setbacks quietly most of the time.

“We know there will be difficulties and problems,” says Allan. “And when we make trips, it’s never without mishaps.”

“There is always something that comes that we need to solve, whether with the SIM or phone card.”

United States estimates to receive 77.1 million visitors in 2025

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Source: CNN Brasil