Retiring In Valencia Spain
Who would have thought that I would be retiring in Spain and/or living in Valencia, a city known for its cultural attractions, Mediterranean food, renowned sunny weather and beautiful beaches. It was just a dream when I was younger, well thanks to my oldest son and his family – my dream has come true!
I retired a little early so that I could help with my four grandchildren. I was totally surprised when my son and daughter-in-law shared that they wanted to move and live in Spain. I have to admit that I was a little shocked but also kind of excited at the thought. Let’s look at how my journey began and what I had to do to move to Spain.
Why Retire In Valencia?
My son and wife had been thinking about relocating to somewhere in Europe for a while. They had done their research, narrowed it down before explaining what Valencia offered their family compared to other European countries. I have listed a few of the factors which influenced my family to move to Valencia and me to retire to Spain.



Decision Made - Important Steps Visa And Application

As many of you know, if you are traveling to foreign countries for less than 90 days, you just need a current passport. If you plan to stay more than 90 days, you must check into the various Visas available.
As I stated above, my son and daughter-in-law did their research, a very thorough job of it, which made it very easy for me. Since we were planning to live in Spain, we applied for a non-lucrative visa.

We completed all of the paperwork needed and scheduled an appointment at the Spanish Consulate in Chicago. It took just over two hours because we had seven people – 3 adults and 4 children. We each had to be present for this meeting. Thank goodness my daughter-in-law is organized because it was a lot of paperwork to go through and very stressful at times. We were very relieved and happy when we got our acceptance letter.
Adjusting To Life In Spain

Living in Spain has been unbelievable. I am always surprised at the number of expats retiring to Spain, especially those who have chosen Valencia as their home. Many expats in Valencia have commented not only on the cost of living here but the standard of living as well.
We, as a family chose to live close to the city center yet close enough to the Turia. It’s a great compromise because we have very active children and three dogs!
We have also gotten spoiled by city living where everything is within walking distance. The public transportation, whether it’s the bus or metro system, is great for getting to those areas that are farther out or perfect for those crazy days when you need a walking break because of your active grandchildren.
I have always been fascinated by art and architecture, so I love what Valencia’s old city and various museums have to offer. You’ll find that Valencia is one of the best places to leisurely stroll and take in all the beautiful historic sites.
You can learn a lot from the people in Valencia, their lifestyle and how they embrace the pace of life in this wonderful city.
Overall, I feel that retiring in Valencia, Spain has offered me a higher quality of life, a lower cost of living compared to other major Spanish cities, and a wider range of cultural, culinary, and recreational opportunities. I say that the research my son and wife did definitely ensured that we as a family, would have a smooth transition which has enabled us to fully enjoy all that Valencia has to offer.