Hola, amigos! After spending the last year living in Spain, people often ask us the same question — do we actually like it? The answer is yes. No country is perfect, but over the past year there have been so many things we’ve genuinely fallen in love with about life here. From the people and the community to the lifestyle, the affordability and the opportunities it’s given our family, Spain has given us far more than we ever expected. So today we’re sharing the things we love most — and these aren’t the typical reasons you’ll find in a travel brochure, they’re the everyday things that have quietly won us over.
Outdoor Living Woven Into Everyday Life
Even before moving here, we were always an outdoorsy family — rain or shine, we’d usually still be out exploring somewhere. But in Spain it feels different: outdoor living isn’t something you plan, it’s simply part of everyday life. Family meals happen on terraces and in town squares, kids play in parks long into the evening, friends meet for coffee outside, and local fiestas and community gatherings unfold in the open air. Over the past year we’ve found ourselves spending more and more time outside — whether that’s on the farm, in the local towns, or just enjoying a coffee while taking in the views.
The Affordable Cost of Everyday Life
Prices vary across Spain, but where we live, socialising feels genuinely affordable. A coffee for around a euro, a tostada for a couple of euros, sitting down for tapas without worrying about the bill — meeting friends or heading out for lunch doesn’t feel like a special occasion that needs weeks of planning. It’s just something you can simply do.
The Sense of Community That Surprised Us
One of the biggest surprises has been the sense of community in Spain. When we first arrived, we didn’t know a single person. Over time we’ve made wonderful friends who’ve welcomed us into their lives — invitations to local events, days out, watercolour lessons, and community activities we never would have experienced otherwise. People genuinely seem to enjoy bringing others into the fold.
Just How Friendly People Have Been
Which leads perfectly onto another thing we love: the people. Almost everybody says buenas as they pass, and whenever we’ve attempted to speak Spanish — often getting it slightly wrong — people have been incredibly patient and encouraging rather than making us feel awkward. Those small daily interactions have made settling into a new country feel far less intimidating than we imagined.
Family-Focused Life & Our First Spanish Summer Camp
Life here feels family-focused in a way that’s hard to overstate. Kids seem to be included in everything — activities, sports clubs, fiestas and community events run throughout the year, and our local football club plays a huge role in bringing families together. The parks are fantastic, often with picnic areas and barbecue facilities where people spend entire afternoons together. But what genuinely amazed us was the local summer camp: this July, both Hayden and Maya attended a month-long camp, Monday to Friday, 9am until 2pm, packed with activities, arts and crafts, games and swimming. The cost? Just €60 each for the entire month. Back in the UK, that would barely cover a single day in some places.
Facilities We Didn’t Expect in a Rural Area
We’ve also been genuinely impressed by the facilities available, even in the smaller towns near us. There’s a local co-working space anyone can use, sports facilities, community spaces, parks, and constant events throughout the year. For a rural area, there’s often far more on offer than people expect.
The Shopping Mix: Tiny Shops vs Huge Stores
One thing that surprised us was the shopping — on one hand, plenty of small independent shops specialising in just one thing, and on the other, huge stores stocked with things we’d never expect to find so readily available out here. It’s a combination we’ve really come to appreciate.
The Little Everyday Things: Communal Bins
It’s often the smallest things that make the biggest difference, and for us one of those is the communal bins. It probably sounds like an odd thing to mention, but being able to take your rubbish out whenever you need to, instead of waiting for a specific collection day, is something we’ve quickly grown to love.
What We Love Most: The Opportunity
More than anything else, what we love most about life in Spain is the opportunity it’s given us — not just to restore an old farmhouse, but to build a life centred around family, adventure and making memories together. And for that, we’ll always be grateful.
Watch: After One Year In Spain, Here’s What We Love Most
Here’s the full episode — everything we’ve come to love about building this new life:
After One Year In Spain, Here’s What We Love Most
Jump to the moments that matter most:
- 0:00 – One year in Spain: do we actually like it?
- 0:41 – Why outdoor living is woven into everyday life
- 1:37 – The affordable cost of everyday life
- 2:09 – The sense of community that surprised us
- 2:35 – Just how friendly people have been
- 3:06 – Family-focused life & our first Spanish summer camp
- 4:01 – Facilities we didn’t expect in a rural area
- 4:23 – The shopping mix: tiny shops vs huge stores
- 4:37 – The little everyday things: communal bins
- 4:52 – What we love most: the opportunity Spain has given us
Join Our Off-Grid Journey in Spain
We’re a UK family living off-grid in Andalusia, Spain — restoring an abandoned farmhouse while falling more in love with our adopted home every week. Subscribe on YouTube and follow along as we keep transforming Renacer McGlynn (that’s Spanish for “to be reborn”) into the homestead we’ve always dreamed of.
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¡Hasta la próxima!