Couldn’t agree with your take more. I would submit that nobody really needs to move to Europe to fix them because people aren’t broken — the system they are leaving is broken.
I’ve lost track of how many people moved out of the United States and no longer need to take something to sleep, or need to take anti-depressants. It’s almost like there was nothing wrong with them in the first place, but they were living in a totally toxic environment, where they didn’t get enough sleep and we’re working all the time to just survive which can make a person very depressed.
If you’re a totally miserable person, no matter what then obviously moving won’t help you, but I haven’t encountered a single person who is like that who has moved to Europe
I fully second this. When moving to Spain from the US, via Germany, I knew I wasn't moving here for my career. In fact, both my career path and my finances took a steep dive and I needed *years* to recover to previous levels of earning. But the life lived in Spain is not comparable to anywhere else. I'm not sure if (all of) Europe could fix you, but certainly Southern Europe could fix you. 😊
I can’t agree more. I lived for 10 years in NL shooing every day at a local small coop organic grocer. They never even greeted me. After one week in Portugal the supermarket cashier knew who I was and always greeted me.
I moved to the UK twenty years ago, and don’t regret it for a minute. I am in a rural area of great beauty, pace is slower, I have a big vegetable garden and small orchard, eat well, walk in scenic landscapes, and I know if I get sick, the NHS is there. The peace of mind as an early retiree is priceless.
oh, I love this so much! I am a New Yorker originally but I've lived in Spain the past 10 years (moved here right after college when I was 22) and everything you're saying about the quality of life is 100% true. I spent most of my time living in Madrid and eventually felt ready for a change because as I get older, the desire to be in nature is becoming louder and louder, and Madrid cannot offer me that. I'm flirting with the idea of moving to Berlin because the creative energy of that city is unmatched, but as time goes on I find myself longing to be among the abuelos drinking cafe con leche in the street. I also have a dream of buying a house somewhere in the North, ideally Pais Vasco, Galicia or Asturias because I just find it so magical there. I'm thrilled to hear that Spain is offering you so much y que estas aprovechando de la alta calidad de vida ahi. :) I also write about living abroad if you ever feel interested to check out my posts!
It appears I have the kind of problems that can’t be solved by geography, but I’ve definitely been a lot happier and far less stressed since I left the U.S. for Sweden.
Ahh I’ve been referencing Elizabeth’s article a lot, but I will say I’m boarding a plane home to New York from Europe and your piece really resonates. Something that strikes me when I’m in Europe is the attention and emphasis on BEAUTY and I think so much of that gets lost in the states. Beauty matters, details matter, especially for a very visual / creative person. Those things which enhance quality of life can’t often be subbed for the hyper industrial quality of the US.
Anyways, can someone write an article on how to move to Europe with two dogs and not a lot of money? thanks.
Traveling with dogs between the US and the EU is pretty straightforward. We travel the world over with our dog and the US/EU requirements are one of the easiest. If I remember well, it's essentially a chip, a health cert, standard vaccinations, and a rabies antibody test. Just get informed and prepare in time.
As for living costs in Europe, that's a bit more tricky and really depends on your needs, expectations, and budget. The closer you want to live to sought after locations, the more you'll find the cost of living similar or even higher than the USA.
As for beauty, you are probably right that it is more common to find aesthetics in Europe than in the USA. We travel about 4 months a year, renting short term. It is increasingly difficult to find authentic beautiful homes (but also hotels, restaurants, shops,...) in the US. Most have simply been massacred without any attention to detail or authenticity in favor of mass standardisation. We rented a marvellous 1956 MCM in Florida this year that was kept intact. Even the kitchen was original and still fully operational. Guess what? The owner was English...
Social connectedness is what I have been missing in the past 25 years in Switzerland. It has taken that long— and numerous trips to Portugal— for me to be able to identify the problem. Now I’m kind of mad at myself for putting up with an unsatisfying social environment for so long. But at least I don’t live in the States — gave that up 35 years ago and have never regretted choosing a comparatively safe and considerate home in Europe.
We bought a place in Spain three years ago, our main residence is Switzerland. I much prefer the Spanish lifestyle; the climate is far more pleasant, and the sense of community is much more developed than in Switzerland. I love it! Great piece! Thanks! And well done! My place is close to Girona, if ever you’re in the area!
I've had one toe in each continent for the last few years. Never 100% sure I could actually make the move to Europe , but next year is the year to leave the US. I will probably start in a smaller town in Croatia, or potentially Sarajevo because of the lower cost of living. European countries have plenty of problems, plenty of bureaucratic headaches, and my path to citizenship is slim. The thing is, I'd rather face a wall of daily roadblocks in a place where I can walk, see friends during the day over coffee, and afford basic healthcare. My life will not change, it will not save me as a person, but it will improve my quality of life. In doing the math, I'd have to move to a rural midwestern town with likely only a Walmart to spend what I'd spend in a city centre in a smaller European city with everything I want in my daily life.
I moved to the Netherlands as a result of a 3 year work project - 30 years ago and I’ve never gone back, I’m retired now, i can walk to anyplace that’s needed (stores, pharmacy, doctors, physio), I have great healthcare and I’m four hours driving or train from a whole lot of beautiful cities. My house has a mortgage of about $250/month and well, the weather is the weather. November is grey and rainy, as are many of the months. But it’s mild and I live less than 400m from the sea. I have friends, I have dogs, I have a life. And I can live on my retirement income (well, I’d like more, because I’d like to travel more, but it’s still OK!)
I love everything about this argument, though I'm biased. Also a big Johann Hari / Lost Connections fan! I use the arguments from his book to explain to parents why school can be such a genuinely depression-inducing experience for some kids.
Thank you for this! I affirmed a lot of beliefs and current meditations on how much impact environment has on our wellbeing, as well as how we should optimize based off our chosen careers and dreams.
I always had a bone to pick with the phrase "the grass is greener on the other side." Sometimes...it genuinely is, depending on what conditions one's inner seeds need to thrive. And the kind of gardens others are planting around yours.
Respectfully, as someone born in Spain and now living in Paris, I find this article and the comments surrounding it incredibly frustrating. The idea that "Europe will cure you" is not only misleading but deeply out of touch with reality. People here are not living some idyllic, postcard-perfect life. In Spain, for example, wages are low, rents are skyrocketing, and even groceries have become unaffordable for many.
This isn’t just a Spanish issue—it’s a Europe-wide problem. Unemployment remains high, especially for young people, and many are stuck in precarious jobs with no stability or security. Housing crises are widespread, and countless people struggle to make ends meet. The idea that you don’t need a well-paid job to "live well" is absurd when so many are barely managing to survive.
I understand that this article and similar comments are often well-intentioned, but they perpetuate a fantasy that ignores the harsh realities Europeans face. Moving here won’t "cure" anyone, and these narratives only make things worse by minimizing the challenges and driving up costs for locals. Please try to approach this topic with more nuance and realism.
My thoughts exactly!! It‘s astonishing how many Americans wanna move to Italy :O I would also love to live there, so it’s understandable. But they usually prefer to rent their houses on Airbnb than longterm… I have lived in Spain 10 years ago and it was great indeed but from what I have understood, I would now pay about double for that same apartment… I also romanticise that time and wish I could go back, but I think it‘s possible that times have changed so much. Things just are really expensive, but maybe not for Americans…
Couldn’t agree with your take more. I would submit that nobody really needs to move to Europe to fix them because people aren’t broken — the system they are leaving is broken.
I’ve lost track of how many people moved out of the United States and no longer need to take something to sleep, or need to take anti-depressants. It’s almost like there was nothing wrong with them in the first place, but they were living in a totally toxic environment, where they didn’t get enough sleep and we’re working all the time to just survive which can make a person very depressed.
If you’re a totally miserable person, no matter what then obviously moving won’t help you, but I haven’t encountered a single person who is like that who has moved to Europe
Yep exactly. We're saying the same thing. The causes are usually environmental.
I fully second this. When moving to Spain from the US, via Germany, I knew I wasn't moving here for my career. In fact, both my career path and my finances took a steep dive and I needed *years* to recover to previous levels of earning. But the life lived in Spain is not comparable to anywhere else. I'm not sure if (all of) Europe could fix you, but certainly Southern Europe could fix you. 😊
I can’t agree more. I lived for 10 years in NL shooing every day at a local small coop organic grocer. They never even greeted me. After one week in Portugal the supermarket cashier knew who I was and always greeted me.
Wow. Stunning.
I moved to the UK twenty years ago, and don’t regret it for a minute. I am in a rural area of great beauty, pace is slower, I have a big vegetable garden and small orchard, eat well, walk in scenic landscapes, and I know if I get sick, the NHS is there. The peace of mind as an early retiree is priceless.
oh, I love this so much! I am a New Yorker originally but I've lived in Spain the past 10 years (moved here right after college when I was 22) and everything you're saying about the quality of life is 100% true. I spent most of my time living in Madrid and eventually felt ready for a change because as I get older, the desire to be in nature is becoming louder and louder, and Madrid cannot offer me that. I'm flirting with the idea of moving to Berlin because the creative energy of that city is unmatched, but as time goes on I find myself longing to be among the abuelos drinking cafe con leche in the street. I also have a dream of buying a house somewhere in the North, ideally Pais Vasco, Galicia or Asturias because I just find it so magical there. I'm thrilled to hear that Spain is offering you so much y que estas aprovechando de la alta calidad de vida ahi. :) I also write about living abroad if you ever feel interested to check out my posts!
Thanks Tara! I'll check them out.
Subscribed!
It appears I have the kind of problems that can’t be solved by geography, but I’ve definitely been a lot happier and far less stressed since I left the U.S. for Sweden.
Ahh I’ve been referencing Elizabeth’s article a lot, but I will say I’m boarding a plane home to New York from Europe and your piece really resonates. Something that strikes me when I’m in Europe is the attention and emphasis on BEAUTY and I think so much of that gets lost in the states. Beauty matters, details matter, especially for a very visual / creative person. Those things which enhance quality of life can’t often be subbed for the hyper industrial quality of the US.
Anyways, can someone write an article on how to move to Europe with two dogs and not a lot of money? thanks.
Traveling with dogs between the US and the EU is pretty straightforward. We travel the world over with our dog and the US/EU requirements are one of the easiest. If I remember well, it's essentially a chip, a health cert, standard vaccinations, and a rabies antibody test. Just get informed and prepare in time.
As for living costs in Europe, that's a bit more tricky and really depends on your needs, expectations, and budget. The closer you want to live to sought after locations, the more you'll find the cost of living similar or even higher than the USA.
As for beauty, you are probably right that it is more common to find aesthetics in Europe than in the USA. We travel about 4 months a year, renting short term. It is increasingly difficult to find authentic beautiful homes (but also hotels, restaurants, shops,...) in the US. Most have simply been massacred without any attention to detail or authenticity in favor of mass standardisation. We rented a marvellous 1956 MCM in Florida this year that was kept intact. Even the kitchen was original and still fully operational. Guess what? The owner was English...
Ok I’m in
Social connectedness is what I have been missing in the past 25 years in Switzerland. It has taken that long— and numerous trips to Portugal— for me to be able to identify the problem. Now I’m kind of mad at myself for putting up with an unsatisfying social environment for so long. But at least I don’t live in the States — gave that up 35 years ago and have never regretted choosing a comparatively safe and considerate home in Europe.
We bought a place in Spain three years ago, our main residence is Switzerland. I much prefer the Spanish lifestyle; the climate is far more pleasant, and the sense of community is much more developed than in Switzerland. I love it! Great piece! Thanks! And well done! My place is close to Girona, if ever you’re in the area!
I've had one toe in each continent for the last few years. Never 100% sure I could actually make the move to Europe , but next year is the year to leave the US. I will probably start in a smaller town in Croatia, or potentially Sarajevo because of the lower cost of living. European countries have plenty of problems, plenty of bureaucratic headaches, and my path to citizenship is slim. The thing is, I'd rather face a wall of daily roadblocks in a place where I can walk, see friends during the day over coffee, and afford basic healthcare. My life will not change, it will not save me as a person, but it will improve my quality of life. In doing the math, I'd have to move to a rural midwestern town with likely only a Walmart to spend what I'd spend in a city centre in a smaller European city with everything I want in my daily life.
I moved to the Netherlands as a result of a 3 year work project - 30 years ago and I’ve never gone back, I’m retired now, i can walk to anyplace that’s needed (stores, pharmacy, doctors, physio), I have great healthcare and I’m four hours driving or train from a whole lot of beautiful cities. My house has a mortgage of about $250/month and well, the weather is the weather. November is grey and rainy, as are many of the months. But it’s mild and I live less than 400m from the sea. I have friends, I have dogs, I have a life. And I can live on my retirement income (well, I’d like more, because I’d like to travel more, but it’s still OK!)
I love everything about this argument, though I'm biased. Also a big Johann Hari / Lost Connections fan! I use the arguments from his book to explain to parents why school can be such a genuinely depression-inducing experience for some kids.
Thank you for this! I affirmed a lot of beliefs and current meditations on how much impact environment has on our wellbeing, as well as how we should optimize based off our chosen careers and dreams.
I always had a bone to pick with the phrase "the grass is greener on the other side." Sometimes...it genuinely is, depending on what conditions one's inner seeds need to thrive. And the kind of gardens others are planting around yours.
Yes it can! Planning to move to early in the next 2 to 3 years can’t wait
Respectfully, as someone born in Spain and now living in Paris, I find this article and the comments surrounding it incredibly frustrating. The idea that "Europe will cure you" is not only misleading but deeply out of touch with reality. People here are not living some idyllic, postcard-perfect life. In Spain, for example, wages are low, rents are skyrocketing, and even groceries have become unaffordable for many.
This isn’t just a Spanish issue—it’s a Europe-wide problem. Unemployment remains high, especially for young people, and many are stuck in precarious jobs with no stability or security. Housing crises are widespread, and countless people struggle to make ends meet. The idea that you don’t need a well-paid job to "live well" is absurd when so many are barely managing to survive.
I understand that this article and similar comments are often well-intentioned, but they perpetuate a fantasy that ignores the harsh realities Europeans face. Moving here won’t "cure" anyone, and these narratives only make things worse by minimizing the challenges and driving up costs for locals. Please try to approach this topic with more nuance and realism.
My thoughts exactly!! It‘s astonishing how many Americans wanna move to Italy :O I would also love to live there, so it’s understandable. But they usually prefer to rent their houses on Airbnb than longterm… I have lived in Spain 10 years ago and it was great indeed but from what I have understood, I would now pay about double for that same apartment… I also romanticise that time and wish I could go back, but I think it‘s possible that times have changed so much. Things just are really expensive, but maybe not for Americans…