One-way road trip to Spain [bio]
Una vida intencional
TLDR: We moved to Spain, very intentionally
Word count: 454
Read time: 2 mins
I have 15 minutes to write this. I’m in a car, driving today from Bordeaux to Madrid. We drove 993km yesterday. We have two more full days of driving ahead. We’re on our way — me, wife, two large dogs and two cats — to San Pedro de Alcantara, near Malaga. To live there, for good. And I have 15 minutes of battery left on my laptop.
(Coincidentally, the book launches in Spain the month we arrive there. The Spanish publisher is UranaWorld. And I like the sound of ‘una cosa a la vez’.)
We’ve decided to emigrate for four reasons:
the excitement and discomfort of adventure
to be able to speak and for our kids to speak Spanish
more sun, bluer skies, a big, warm sea on our doorstep
a growing discomfort with aspects of the UK
These are all true, right now, as we pass and then decide to stop at San Sebastián.
Formation of the intention
But the idea came and the intention started to form years ago. Back then, I didn’t and we didn’t have a quartet of reasons articulated so clearly and distinctly.
I’d had a desire to live a warmer, happier, more spontaneous Mediterranean life for a while. Morning sea swims, siestas, and warm evening strolls with an ice cream all have a strong appeal.
In a life coaching session (an excellent, still-remembered and valued one, with Caty Hartung) a few years ago, living in Spain came up explicitly as my #1 goal. But it was logistically impossible then, so I focussed on my #2 goal, instead (which was to be a good friend to my kids, despite what Michelle Obama says on the topic).
Implementing the plan
Then some home logistics changed and Lola (my wife) and I became fully aligned. That was lucky; not all couples will happen to want exactly the same large life change at exactly the same time. Open-hearted communication gives big, shared plans a chance.
Pandemic-enforced remote work made the prospect of running a learning tech business and doing everything else from elsewhere seem more feasible. Still there were, are and will always be a thousand reasons not to emigrate from one’s comfort zone.
Last summer, we went for a short trip to the area, visiting Lola’s brother. We visited a couple of schools for the kids, liked one, and that was the point of no return. All other logistics grew around that one.
***
Finally acting on this feels good. Like life is starting again, but more vibrantly, and on our terms. I can see the intention and agency I talk a lot about in high fidelity.
Living intentionally often is but needn’t be a mere platitude. We can all do it with small stuff, daily. Or with big stuff, like emigration.
Another thousand kilometres to go. Next post will be written from the Med.
Marc
Links you may like
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