By Mary Bolich

Ever since she was a high school student in Grafton, Wisconsin, Dana Thome envisioned herself as an expatriate someday. Today, she and her husband Sean Duffey are official residents of Spain. Their dual citizenship status made a world of difference in their relocation from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Málaga last year.

“From a young age, I could see myself living somewhere else. Every time I’d travel, I’d always think, ‘Could I live here? Or ‘I wonder what it would be like to live here,’” said Dana, who has traveled extensively throughout her life. 

When she learned that she could get her dual citizenship, which would facilitate a move abroad, she wasn’t sure how Sean, who had not travelled much, would react. It turned out he was fully supportive, especially with having relocation options. In fact, it prompted him to investigate obtaining his Irish dual citizenship, which he qualified for through Irish grandmother. 

Dana’s brother Gregory did the legwork for their Luxembourg dual citizenship, and the siblings became citizens in 2023 through Kevin Wester at Luxembourg Legacy. Their qualifying ancestor was their maternal great-great-grandfather Jacques Hintgen, born in Hostert, Canton du Luxembourg in 1821. 

Sean, a retired Milwaukee firefighter, and Dana, a Milwaukee Public Schools teacher for 20 years, received their passports within two weeks of each other. As EU citizens, they have the right to live, work and travel freely across the 27 EU member states.

Researching a move abroad
The couple starting ranking countries and cities based on their top criteria: temperate climate, government aligned with their beliefs, travel infrastructure, proficiency with the language and ability to acquire official residency. Ireland? Not the ideal weather they long for. Luxembourg? High cost of living and language barrier. Spain? Beautiful weather and Dana has a degree in Spanish and was a bilingual teacher. Bonus: they had a friend with dual Luxembourg citizenship who had recently moved to Spain with his partner. 

“Once we narrowed it down to Spain, we started to do a ton of research. There are a million videos online of people who have moved there and have suggestions. We started looking at maps and searched for cities on the coast. We checked to see if they had good hospitals. We looked at climate, travel infrastructure with high-speed rail and at least a small airport nearby.”

There were places in Spain that seemed to check all the boxes, so the next step was a scouting trip in November 2024 to four cities. Málaga came out on top. 

Settling into a new life in a new land
Their EU passports and dual citizenship made the relocation process a lot simpler. Being retired and not having to find jobs also made things easier. They were required to provide proof of financial self-sufficiency, open a bank account and sign up for private insurance, which in Spain was one-sixth of what they would have paid in the United States, according to Dana’s calculations. 

“We’ve used our insurance a couple of times already here and we’ve not gotten a single bill,” Dana said. 

The couple also followed advice to hire a consultant familiar with the country’s laws and navigating the residency application process. They recently became residents and should they decide to move to a different city in Spain, they must simply register at the local police department.

Things they are appreciating most? The gorgeous weather, a relaxed lifestyle and an overall sense of safety. 

Dana has tried to remain fluent in Spanish her whole life but living full-time in a Spanish-speaking country takes it to a whole new level, she said.

“It’s definitely been interesting because spending all day talking to six-year-old students in Spanish in Milwaukee is a completely different ball game than going to a department store in Spain and buying a new stove top.”

The most challenging part of their new life in Spain has been making friends. And while it would seem tempting to try to meet other Americans or English-speakers, that’s not what Dana prefers.

“There are plenty of places I could go here to make friends with expats, but I really want to make friends with people who are Spanish-speaking. It’s a little more challenging for my husband but he is taking classes and working really hard at it.”

The couple recently sold their Milwaukee condo and will have to pay property gains tax in Spain.

“So, who knows,” Dana said, laughing, “That might be our biggest challenge.”

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Considering a Move Abroad?

According to the Wall Street Journal, more Americans are choosing to move abroad than ever before, calculating that at least 180,000 U.S. citizens voluntarily left the states in 2025, a record high. WSJ said the trend is driven by “a combination of ‘America First’ policies and a desire to leave the current political climate, alongside economic factors like inflation and taxation.” The first negative net migration since the Great Depression, this movement accelerated after the reelection of Donald Trump. 

If you are contemplating a move to a foreign country, Dana offers the following advice.

Make a list of what matters to you
What type of climate is most appealing to you? Do you know the language of your preferred country and/or are you willing to learn it? If you prefer coastal living, be aware that it usually has a higher cost of living. Learn about health care because even universal healthcare has restrictions depending on the country. Dana and Sean had to purchase private health insurance to get their residency in Spain and must live there for a year before they qualify for the national program. Many people have both, which provides greater options. Investigate access to hospitals/ healthcare, transportation and the arts scene, too. Consider city size and check out the vibe by visiting. 

Do lots of research
Internet and YouTube searches provide an amazing amount of information, and you can find groups like “Expats in Spain” or “Expats in Málaga City.” People who have made the move are eager to share their experiences and advice. Everyone’s experience is different, but the tips are helpful. 

And remember, it doesn’t have to be a life-long commitment, Dana said.
The first place might just be a landing place to settle in while you decide
where you really want to be. 

Dana Thome

Take a scouting trip
Narrow your choices down to a few cities and visit the places you’re most interested in. Dana and Sean visited four various-sized cities along the southern coast of Spain. The place they thought was their top choice ended up not fitting the bill. And remember, it doesn’t have to be a life-long commitment, Dana said. The first place might just be a landing place to settle in while you decide where you really want to be. 

Once you have settled, find out how to get residency
An EU passport will make getting residency easier without having to deal with visa issues. However, there is still a certain amount of bureaucracy you’ll need to wade through. Dana highly recommends hiring a consultant or someone who specializes in helping people relocate. They hired a “gestor” who helped them with tricky paperwork, make appointments and guided them through the nitty-gritty details. Every country has their unique bureaucratic system and being able to navigate it is important. 

Bringing belongings can be costly and complicated
Shipping your belongings is expensive and requires navigating through a mountain of red tape. Dana recommends storing items until you know what you want or need. You can find just about everything in Europe, she said, adding that she and Sean gave away or sold almost everything they owned and left for Spain with a backpack and two suitcases each. So far, they have no regrets.

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Dana Thome, whose ancestors are Jacob (aka Jaques) Hintgen and Anna Streff, has records of four preceding generations dating back to 1698. Jacob and Anna were born in Luxembourg and married in about 1847 and had 13 children. Eleven of them were born in the United States after they emigrated. Jacob and Anna’s son Anton is Dana’s great-grandfather. His son Gregory is her grandfather and Gregory’s daughter Katherine is her mother. The simplified family tree was done by Dana’s distant cousin who did extensive research on the family history.