Never Retire: Living The Semi-Retired Life

Never Retire: Living The Semi-Retired Life

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Never Retire: Living The Semi-Retired Life
Never Retire: Living The Semi-Retired Life
Never Retire: The Cost of Living Abroad No One Talks About

Never Retire: The Cost of Living Abroad No One Talks About

You can either hedge like a multinational—or adjust like a human.

Rocco Pendola's avatar
Rocco Pendola
Jul 02, 2025
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Never Retire: Living The Semi-Retired Life
Never Retire: Living The Semi-Retired Life
Never Retire: The Cost of Living Abroad No One Talks About
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You think about language, logistics, and lifestyle when you move abroad.

With zero variation our hopes and expectations of how life would be in Spain have lined up with the reality we experience in the day to day:

  • Language: For me, it’s not easy (even though Spanish is my wife’s first language). However—for as hard as I am on myself—I have made solid strides and continue to improve.

  • Logistics: There’s not much to say. They have gone off pretty much without a hitch and only minor (anticipated) hiccups.

  • Lifestyle: As I have covered extensively during our first six months here—(can you believe it has been six months!?)—the lifestyle here and the life we lead has exceeded our typically well-informed and realistic and even our most lofty expectations.

But there’s one thing we didn’t think hard enough about: currency exchange.

If you live abroad—or plan to—this one’s for you.
I’m sharing exactly how I’m navigating one of the biggest hidden costs of moving: earning in one currency and living in another. No fluff. No fake “solutions.” Just what I’m actually doing.

Even if living abroad isn’t part of your plan, this is still a story about perspective.
The world feels full of fear and hype right now—especially from people trying to freak you out. Sometimes the smartest move is to stay calm, get clear, and keep going.

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