The article is based on a conversation with Michele Bennett, a 44-year-old who moved from Phoenix to Malaga, Spain in 2024. The conversation has been shortened and edited for transparency.
I spent over a decade on sale, of which nine years in the mortgage industry. For the first six years I worked sometimes 80 hours a week, but almost always at least 55. I was incredibly burned.
I've never been in Europe before, but I always wanted to go. I was particularly drawn to Spain, because my ancestors came from there.
I also liked the slower pace of life, which did not seem completely subordinated to work. I have the impression that in the US people live to work, and in Spain they work to live – here no one replies to emails at 21:00, except for working hours. The very vision of a calmer, more relaxed life was very tempting.
Read also at Business Insider
At that time I lived in the center of Phoenix, in a part of the city, which seemed progressive. However, apart from this “bubble” it was very conservative, which worried me as a Queer person. I did not feel comfortable because of the strong weapon culture in Arizona and I had the impression that I was struggling in “fight or run” in mode. I wanted to live somewhere, where there will be less stress and safer.
After more than a year of planning, I quit my job, sold a car, a flat, basically almost everything I had and went to Spain.
I gave up Barcelona in favor of Malaga
Before moving, I did as much research as I could, but I was nervous anyway, getting on the plane – I think you would have to be crazy to make such a change without nerves. Despite this, my fears related to moving were smaller than the reasons why I wanted to leave the United States.
Initially, I was considering Barcelona because I wanted to live in a big city by the sea, but my friend who lived in Valencia and Seville, convinced me that Malaga suits me more. I'm glad she did it.
Michele Benett
| Michele Bennett (private archive)
Malaga is a medium -sized city and the birthplace of Pablo Picasso. There is a great Picasso Museum and Casa de Picasso – a house where he was born.
Malaga architecture is completely different than anything we have in the USA. I go to the grocery store and pass a huge fortress. Even after a year, living here still impresses me.
I live in the very center of Malaga, just around the corner from Alcazaba, a fortified palace. The area is beautiful, especially at this time of year, although it is full of tourists, which is sometimes a bit tiring.
The locals are deliberate. My Spanish is still poor – I'm learning – but they say to me: “Your Spanish is fine.” It's a sweet lie.
See also: A trap on investing in Spain. The expert explains the nuances of the local licenses
Finding a flat in Spain can be difficult
I used an idealist, real estate pages to find a flat. I was very lucky. I probably wrote up to 30 ads and it was difficult to get an answer at all.
I managed to rent a two -room apartment with central air conditioning, dishwasher and a huge terrace. It is about 85 sq m. Sometimes I sit on the sofa, look at the terrace and see Santa Iglesia Catedral Basílica de la Encarnación – it's amazing.
View from the Michele window
| Michele Bennett (private archive)
I pay around 1325 euros (over 5.6 thousand PLN)which is quite an affordable price for me. However, I noticed that over the past year, housing prices and rents have increased, though not as drastically as in the US in recent years.
I have some guilty, knowing that the sale of my house for about 525 thousand. hole. And some savings allow me to rent a flat that locals often can't afford. This is one of the reasons why I try to give something away from myself. I helped a bit taking care of the colonies of homeless cats in my area.
Social life can be a challenge
I am in Spain on a student visa, which my lawyer recommended to me. Upon I arrived, I submitted an application, he was approved and signed up for classes. I visited several schools and finally chose one in Malaga.
I am saved for 48 weeks and then I will do another 48 weeks of language learning. My goal is ambitious – I would like my Spanish to be almost fluid until next summer. It will be helpful, because ultimately I want to sign up for law studies.
I noticed that it is difficult to make friends with the locals, because my Spanish is still far from liquidity. But I go to a language school, where I met several people. I also made acquaintances at integration meetings and by groups on Facebook.
Dating is difficult – but for women Queer is always a little more difficult. The lesbian community in Malaga is very small. Although Torremolinos, a town 20 minutes from Malaga, is considered the gay capital of Costa del Sol, is mainly directed to men. There is no bar for lesbians.
From moving my life has changed for the better
I am glad that I moved here. My life now, compared to the earlier one, is like night and day.
A year ago I had a huge level of stress. When I lived in the USA, I had a very strong eczema on my hands caused by stress. But within a month of moving to Spain, it completely disappeared.
I still live on savings, but I also look for online work for myself. I do not want to work for a company from the USA, so I publish a lot in social media and also deal with virtual assistance.
The apartment so close to the sea and going to the beach makes me enjoy a much calmer lifestyle. Here you practice siesta and although I don't sleep in the afternoon normally, it happens to me now.
I have always been a girl from the city and a quick walker, but here I really have to remember to slow down. It is not in a hurry.
The above text is a translation with American Business Insider edition
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
