Quitting My Job for Freedom and Spain Move

For years, I worked as a W-2 employee for a very large marketing company. They have employees across the globe. So when I told them about our move to Spain in July 2026, I assumed there would be a solution. I thought maybe I could transition into a 1099 contractor role and continue doing the same work from abroad.

But they said no.

They told me that converting me from a W-2 to a 1099 while living in Spain would be too much of a burden for the company. It didn’t fully make sense to me, especially for a company that already has workers in several countries. If you’ve ever looked into the difference between these classifications, the IRS clearly explains the distinction between employees and independent contractors on the IRS independent contractor guidelines. From my perspective, it seemed like a simple shift.

But in the end, their answer was final.

And you know what? I’m okay with it.

Actually, I’m more than okay. I feel relief.

At first, quitting my job felt heavy. It felt risky. It felt like walking away from security. A steady paycheck. Health benefits. The comfort of the familiar. But once I stopped reacting and started reflecting, something shifted inside me.

Quitting my job is not a loss. It’s alignment.

Over the past year, I’ve been working on several contracts on the side. These aren’t just random gigs. They are projects that light me up. The work I do for these clients makes me proud. It stretches my creativity. It allows me to solve problems in ways that feel meaningful. Most importantly, it gives me freedom.

And freedom is exactly what we need for this move.

When I picture our life in Spain, I don’t see myself chained to a rigid 9-to-5 schedule set by someone else. I see mornings exploring new towns. Afternoons working from a small café. Evenings spent with family, soaking in a slower pace of life. Quitting my job opens the door to that vision.

One of my contracts has already told me I can work full-time hours if I want them. The pay is not much less than my current W-2 role. When I combine that with my two other contracts, we are more than set financially for the move. That realization brought me so much peace.

It’s funny how we often cling to what looks stable on paper. A traditional job feels safe because it’s familiar. But stability isn’t just about a paycheck. It’s about flexibility. It’s about mental clarity. It’s about building a life that works for your family.

For me, quitting my job is about choosing long-term freedom over short-term comfort.

There’s also something deeply empowering about knowing that my income now comes from multiple sources. If one contract ends, I’m not left scrambling. I can pivot. I can find another client. I can adjust. That level of control is something I never truly had as a W-2 employee.

And let’s be honest. The world of work has changed. Remote work, freelance contracts, and independent consulting are more common than ever. Companies operate globally, but sometimes their internal systems lag behind. Instead of fighting that reality, I’m choosing to build something that works for me.

Quitting my job also forces me to grow.

When you’re an employee, there’s a built-in structure. Tasks are assigned. Expectations are clear. When you work for yourself or through contracts, you are responsible for everything. Your schedule. Your output. Your boundaries. Your growth.

That can feel scary.

But it also feels freeing.

I get to decide when I work. I get to decide how much I work. I get to choose the type of projects I take on. If something doesn’t align with my values or our family goals, I can say no. That alone is worth so much.

As we prepare for our move to Spain, quitting my job feels less like an ending and more like a beginning. It’s a transition from one chapter to another. A chapter where I am more present with my family. A chapter where work supports our life, not the other way around.

I also realized something important during this process. Sometimes we wait for permission. Permission from a company. Permission from society. Permission from our own fears. We think, “If they approve this change, then I can move forward.”

But when they said no, I had to decide whether that “no” would stop me.

It didn’t.

Instead, it clarified everything.

Quitting my job became the obvious next step. Not out of frustration. Not out of anger. But out of clarity.

I know some people might read this and think it sounds risky. And yes, there is always some level of risk when you leave a stable job. But there is also risk in staying somewhere that limits your growth. There is risk in ignoring your instincts. There is risk in building a life that doesn’t match your dreams.

For our family, this move to Spain is about more than geography. It’s about values. It’s about slowing down. It’s about exposing our family to a different culture and way of living. It’s about designing our days intentionally.

Quitting my job is one of the key steps that makes that possible.

I’ve noticed that since making the decision, I feel lighter. I’m more focused on the future. I’m more excited about the projects in front of me. I’m showing up better for my clients because I’m choosing to be there, not because I have to be there.

That mindset shift is powerful.

If you’re sitting in a job right now and feeling stuck, I’m not telling you to walk away tomorrow. Every situation is different. Every family has unique needs. But I will say this: don’t ignore that quiet voice inside you. The one that whispers about freedom. About creativity. About alignment.

For me, quitting my job is a bold step toward the life we’ve been dreaming about. It’s a declaration that our family’s vision matters. It’s proof that we’re willing to make hard choices to create something better.

In the next few weeks, I’ll officially give my notice and close this chapter. I’m grateful for what the job provided. It taught me skills. It connected me with talented people. It gave me experience that helped me land these fulfilling contracts.

But now it’s time.

Time to lean into the work that makes me proud.
Time to trust the income streams we’ve built.
Time to fully commit to this move.

Quitting my job is not the end of my career. It’s the start of a more flexible, creative, and intentional one. And as we count down the months until Spain, I feel more confident than ever that this decision is the right one.

If you’ve made a leap like this before, I would love to hear your story. What gave you the courage? What fears did you have to face? Let’s share our experiences and support each other as we build lives that feel true to who we are.

This journey is just getting started, and I can’t wait to see where it takes us.