US Couple Finds New Life and Community in Valencia, Spain

Madeline Waid and her husband Jim moved from Randolph, Vermont, to Valencia, Spain, in 2019, seeking a lower cost of living and a more fulfilling retirement. The couple, both in their 60s, were drawn to Valencia’s vibrant culture, walkable streets, and friendly locals. After visiting the city, they knew within 24 hours that it was the perfect place to settle.

Madeline, a retired anesthesiologist, and Jim, a former IT professor, initially considered relocating to Germany, where Jim had lived as a child. However, they found Spain more welcoming to retirees. They applied for a non-lucrative visa, which allows non-EU nationals to live in Spain without working, provided they can financially support themselves. In 2017, they purchased a two-bedroom apartment in Valencia’s El Carmen neighborhood, though they didn’t move permanently until 2019.

Their new life in Spain was idyllic, filled with travel, language lessons, and cultural immersion. However, their plans were upended in 2021 when Jim was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Despite the devastating diagnosis, the couple chose to remain in Spain, where they had built a strong community and trusted the healthcare system. Jim passed away in late 2022, but Madeline decided to stay in Valencia, honoring their shared dream.

Madeline credits the local community for helping her through the difficult period. “Every business I went by, the proprietor came out, gave me a hug, told me how sorry they were,” she recalls. She has since moved to a new apartment in the Malilla neighborhood and continues to embrace life in Spain, taking piano and language classes and attending classical music concerts.

While she misses her children and friends in the U.S., Madeline has no plans to return. “This kind of is the life we had envisioned,” she says. “I’m just doing it alone.”