I haven’t been doing much novel writing lately—my time has been completely absorbed by two TTRPG campaigns and a special new project.

Over the years, my husband and I have traveled to Spain several times. We’ve spent days wandering Barcelona and enjoyed the sun-drenched calm of Mallorca and Ibiza. It didn’t take long for us to fall in love with that part of the country: the walkable cities, the sense of safety, the warmth of the people, and the stunning architecture. My husband, in particular, felt an immediate pull to spend much more time there.

That affection eventually led him to explore the possibility of moving abroad. At first, I was hesitant to take the idea seriously—but he soon made it clear that he was increasingly certain he wanted to make the move, and it would be up to me to decide whether I would join him. He has spent thirty years following me as I pursued my own dreams; how could I not follow him in return? And truthfully, the possibilities ahead excite me.

For the past several months, we’ve been researching what such a move would require. We’ve taken online courses—one especially helpful resource was the Move to Spain Masterclass from Spain Revealed—and joined a variety of online communities. We’ve learned a great deal, and although the path ahead will be challenging, we’re still committed to pursuing it. Our current estimate is that we won’t be ready to relocate until late 2026 or early 2027. As for where we’ll end up, we’re not entirely sure yet—only that it will be somewhere along the Mediterranean coast. We’re already planning a “scouting trip” to visit several cities and get a feel for what might become our future home.

Friend have asked whether it’s the political climate in the US that’s causing us to be planning this. I’d be lying if I said it had not impact, but it’s not really a primary motivation. Michael has been thinking strongly about this for over a year, well before Trump’s second administration became a possibility. If anything, it’s affecting our timeline more than it is being a cause.

There’s still plenty of research, paperwork, and planning ahead, not to mention getting rid of many years of accumulation of stuff in the house, but every step makes the move feel a little more tangible. I’m looking forward to sharing each milestone as we get closer to a Mediterranean sunrise of our own.