06/09/2026
PART 2 – LESS ABOUT APPEARANCES, MORE ABOUT LIVING : ALMOST 20 YEARS IN SPAIN : OUR EXPERIENCE
One of the things we have really come to appreciate about life in Spain is that not everything has to be perfect, brand new or impressive.
A home doesn’t need to follow the latest interior trends. A terrace doesn’t have to be Instagram perfect. And your car doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone.
If something works, feels comfortable and brings people together, that is often more than enough.
Family life is also very visible here.
Grandparents are often closely involved in their grandchildren’s lives, families spend a lot of time together and older people remain very much part of everyday and social life.
You see different generations together everywhere, looking after and caring for one another.
On a terrace, in the village square, at local fiestas, at the sports club or simply taking an evening walk through the village.
And even outside the family, you notice the respect people have for older generations.
People here still genuinely know each other.
Especially in smaller towns and villages, there is still a strong sense of community.
People know who your children are. They know which family you belong to. They know who plays sport where, who works where and sometimes even who usually sits at which terrace.
Sometimes we have to laugh about it, because news can travel remarkably fast in a Spanish village.
But at the same time, there is something very comforting about it.
People notice when something is different and they look out for one another.
That also gives us a real sense of safety.
Our children can be out in the village until later in the evening without us constantly worrying. They have grown up with that freedom and with the feeling that there are always familiar faces around.
Of course, Spain isn’t paradise. There are plenty of things here that can be frustrating or disappointing too.
But for us, everyday life feels freer, more social and less rushed.
There is more sunshine, more light and a much bigger part of life happens outdoors.
And perhaps most importantly, you spend much less time worrying about what other people think of you.
For us, that has become one of the greatest luxuries of living here!
Next time, Part 3: why moving to Spain today is very different from when we made the move almost 20 years ago.
