From the moment I set foot in the Netherlands at 17, I knew I wanted to move abroad. But my dream of living overseas always felt just out of reach.
I made several attempts: studying Spanish in Spain at 21, teaching English there at 26, and even returning to pursue a master’s degree at 29. Each time, though, my story reached the same seemingly inevitable conclusion: I’d return to my home state of Texas to “get a real job.”
There were practical obstacles, but the pressure to conform was just as limiting. Society, family, and my own internal expectations all pushed me toward a more traditional path: climb the corporate ladder and measure your worth by title and paycheck. I gave it my all, but I never found fulfillment trying to fit into that box.
At 35, with no clear plan, I quit another job and packed my bags. It felt like my last shot at a lifelong dream. Doubts loomed: Was I too old? What if it didn’t work out?
As I settled into my new life in Spain, something shifted. Outside the confines of a 9-to-5 grind, I found creativity and clarity. I discovered new interests, and within a year and a half, I started She Hit Refresh, which empowers women ages 30+ to transform their lives by moving abroad.
Nearly a decade later, I have a thriving business, a fulfilling career, and a sense of identity I’d struggled to find in the U.S. The fresh outlook I found in Spain wasn’t a coincidence — living overseas allowed me to rewrite my story.
redefine myself.
financial freedom allowed me to take risks that would have been impossible before — like becoming a freelancer, pursuing creative projects, and pivoting my career. With lower rent, affordable healthcare, and more disposable income, I had the flexibility to invest in myself and the courage to dream bigger and take risks.
While prices have increased significantly and my own lifestyle has evolved since I moved here in 2015, life is still incredibly affordable for Americans with a foreign income.
