When we arrive in Colmenar, a new chapter begins. It no longer revolves around moving or starting over. This stage is about growing, settling and experiencing life in Spain as it truly is. It is about rooting ourselves in a place we do not yet fully know and discovering a daily rhythm that is calmer, friendlier and more manageable than anything we were used to before. Blog 1 ends with our arrival in Spain. Blog 2 begins with what it is like to actually live here.

Living in Andalusia: Our Rhythm on the Mountain

Our house sits on a mountain just outside the village. The mornings are quiet and clear. We start the day with coffee as the sun slowly rises above the hills. It is a rhythm we never experienced in the Netherlands and it immediately gives us a sense of peace. Living in inland Andalusia means the days are shaped by light, silence and space. It is a way of life that only truly makes sense once you experience it yourself.

Kevin works four days a week from home. He supports Dutch governmental organisations and switches between digital meetings and brief moments where he takes in the view. He stays focused and puts in long hours, but the work feels different here. There is less tension in his body. The landscape around us reminds him that life is more than deadlines and appointments.

Between work he picks up new hobbies. He practices photography, studies investing, reads strategies and works in the garden. Sitting still is not his strength. As soon as space appears, his mind fills with new ideas. A walk through nature or a quick drive to the village for coffee helps him slow down. Nature here acts like a reset button and grounds him in a way that never worked before.

Nancy has her own rhythm. She runs the household, hosts guests in our Airbnb, develops her coaching practice and manages her diabetes with daily focus. She tries new recipes, enjoys baking and her chickens have become part of the family. The environment here gives her room to create. She builds her business intuitively and learns to structure her days in a way that feels natural. Living here brings out new sides of herself that never had space in the Netherlands.

The Real Daily Life in Spain: Tempo and Culture

Moving to Spain often sounds like an endless vacation, but that image is far from accurate. Life here is ordinary life in a different setting with a different culture and a much slower pace. People take their time. A simple cup of coffee can easily take half a morning. At first this feels unfamiliar because we come from a country where everything keeps moving and rushing is normal. Now we are learning that slowing down is not stagnation. It is a different way of living.

The village feels safe and familiar. People know each other and always greet you. There is room for small conversations even when we do not understand every word. Nature completes the experience. The mountains are rugged yet warm. The light shifts throughout the day. Every walk feels slightly different. These small things make living in Andalusia feel lighter and more grounded.

What surprises us most is how this environment forces you to pay attention. Not rushed but consciously. You notice things you would normally miss. A bird of prey circling above the valley. An elderly man greeting everyone in the square. A dog sleeping in the same spot every day. These small moments become meaningful.

The Challenges of Living in Spain: Language and Bureaucracy

Still, life in Spain is not only peaceful or picturesque. The language remains a challenge. We are learning slowly but steadily and we try our best, but it takes time. People are patient and kind, but we sometimes struggle to express ourselves or understand everything. It keeps us humble. Building a new life does not start with speaking perfectly. It starts with daring to try.

Spanish bureaucracy also asks for patience. Some rules feel illogical and not everything is digital. What takes an hour in the Netherlands often takes weeks here. Sometimes months. As we prepare for our next chapter we notice how slowly certain systems move. It is part of living here, even if it can be frustrating.

Socially we are also learning. Spanish people are warm and welcoming, but deep friendships grow slowly. Most people stay close to their families and long time circles. Being invited into someone’s home does not happen quickly. Because of this we often find ourselves between two worlds. We feel welcome, but not fully part of the community.

From Living in Spain to Preparing for a Round the World Journey

We realise that you always take yourself with you no matter where you live. You can stand in the middle of nature and still feel restless. You can have time yet still rush yourself. Spain makes this visible. It offers calm but also reveals what you have not yet resolved or what you still want to work on.

Kevin notices that work which felt right for years no longer fully aligns with who he wants to become. Nancy realises she needs more than rest. She wants to create, learn and grow as an entrepreneur. The space here makes that possible. It teaches us that happiness does not come from a different country but from a way of living that matches who you truly are.

The idea of a round the world trip grows gradually. While living here we realise that we love this place deeply but our dream is bigger than one mountain in Andalusia. We are happy, but a curiosity inside us gets louder.

Nancy shows how good it feels to discover new places. Kevin feels he wants the time and space to create something that goes beyond administration and screens. Slowly we realise that travelling is not a getaway for us. It is a lifestyle. A way to continue building our story.

When we finally say it out loud something clicks. We do not have to wait until everything is perfectly aligned. We can work while we travel. We do not need to know exactly how everything will look. That uncertainty creates space to discover, experiment and grow along the way. The idea does not feel like escaping. It feels like a natural next step. An expansion of the life we are already shaping here.

Letting Go of What We Built in Spain

The hardest part is not the thought of travelling itself. It is the idea of letting go of everything we have built here. Our home, our routines, our chickens, our favourite walks. Everything we created with so much care. It feels strange to imagine starting over again.

Yet it does not feel like losing anything. It feels like making space. The belongings stay here but we take the experience with us. We let go of certainty but our direction remains clear. We know that travelling will bring challenges especially with Nancy’s diabetes and the complexities of banking when you are not a resident anywhere. But we also know that we can handle it together. Many answers we have already researched and the rest we will figure out on the road.

Outlook on Blog 3: Preparing for a Life of Travel

In the next blog we will take you through our preparations for a life of full time travel. Not only what you see on Instagram but especially everything that happens behind the scenes. From paperwork to finances, from decisions to doubts and from practical preparations to the quieter emotions that come with letting go of a life you have only just built.

Two Wild Nomads. Stories about freedom, growth and choosing the life that feels right.