At the age of 63, Marsha Scarbrough faced bankruptcy and foreclosure. After spending two decades as an assistant director in Hollywood, she relocated to Santa Fe, New Mexico, with the intention of bolstering her savings through real estate investments and property rentals.
This strategy worked well until the real estate market collapsed in 2008, which left her properties financially crippled and her real estate commissions nearly nonexistent. Confronted with severe financial strain, Scarbrough explored alternative options, realizing that other nations might offer a lower cost of living.
She initiated her journey by obtaining a TESOL certificate to teach English and later facilitated English immersion programs for faculty and postgraduate students from diverse countries. During the frigid winters of Santa Fe, Scarbrough traveled to visit her former students and discover their native lands. Her explorations took her to Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Honduras, Guatemala, and Puerto Rico, but none of those locations met her criteria for safety, affordability, and infrastructure.
She had previously assumed that Europe would be prohibitively expensive until she received an invitation from a former student to come to Madrid, Spain.
A New Chapter in Spain
Wandering through cities like Sevilla, Granada, Cordoba, Cadiz, and Barcelona, Scarbrough discovered that Spain could be her ideal destination.
To her surprise, Spain’s living expenses were reasonable, even less than those of some South American nations. It boasted top-tier infrastructure, reliable public transport, sunny climates, and welcoming residents. Following extensive investigation, Scarbrough learned that her pensions satisfied Spain’s residency financial criteria.
She meticulously prepared for the move by securing health insurance, acquiring a letter from her doctor, translating her documents into Spanish, and completing the necessary applications. Marsha sold off most of her belongings and managed to fit her life into just four suitcases. In 2017, at 70, she made the transition to Madrid.
This decision turned out to be one of the most rewarding of her life. She integrated into a nurturing community, embraced the local culture, and found herself safe in her new surroundings. Spain has granted her a rich and budget-friendly retirement that eluded her in the U.S.
