After being back in the U.S. for 2 months, I can finally say that I have a “home”. The lease was signed last month and I worked on turning it into a cozy abode. At the moment, this place, all 500 square feet of it, feels perfect.

Before coming here, my husband and I expected that a move near one of the most expensive cities in this country would be a challenge. We wanted to find a way to keep a lifestyle close to the one we had in Madrid. That meant the place had to be affordable, close to reliable public transportation and within walking distance to restaurants, groceries etc. It also meant keeping a simple, relaxed way of life by a city known for being the complete opposite.

Many people may consider this rented space too small – the kind you get if there’s not enough money to spend for bigger or the kind you keep before you have kids. Not to mention, as a rental, this place seems far off from the ideal. After all, many people in the U.S. would consider owning as a checklist item for adulthood. However, our apartment in Madrid was all of 52 sq meters (560 sq feet) and the condo we owned in Austin was 516 sq feet. So, the only differences are that there is no separation for the bedroom and the nearest bakery is several blocks instead of 2 doors down.

After taking into account our life goals and personal tendencies to travel and move around, having this small place fits what we need. Here’s just a few personal reasons why less is more:

1) Less space to clean = more time for preferred pursuits
I know I’m not alone when I say that I do not enjoy cleaning (except washing dishes which I find weirdly relaxing). But it is a necessary evil. So the less time spent doing it, the better. It means there’s more time to go take a walk, read, binge-watch Netflix or catch up with a friend or two – anything but cleaning!

2) Less stuff to worry about = freedom to move around
After two transatlantic moves in two years, we’ve trimmed off most of the excess accumulated over time. Before the moves, plenty of clothes and household goods were donated to friends and charities. What we have left is more or less what we need/want. Plus, since the place is a rental, we don’t have to wait around for a buyer to take the place off our hands like the one in Austin. Though we have no set plans to leave in the next couple of years, it’s good to keep the possibilities open. Who knows when a great opportunity might come this way? If it does, we’re ready.

3) Less room for things = save money for traveling
While in Madrid, I barely went shopping. It’s not from lack of good stores. Quite the opposite. But there were better uses for my euros and the apartment had little space for unnecessary extras. With so many places to explore nearby, the money instead went into the travel budget. Now, I realize it’s hard to escape shopping in the U.S. It’s so easy with online shopping and credit cards accepted everywhere. That’s one of the biggest temptations I noticed when I returned. However, what will really make me happy, a brand new dress or a check in my “places to visit” list? Okay, that’s a hard one because I love dresses. But at the end of the day, it’s more fulfilling to be on a plane to a new place than put a new dress in the closet.

Overall, less keeps things simple. It’s one less thing to think about on the to-do list. One less room to furnish and clean. One less accessory to consider. One less toy to pay for. One less (insert item here) cluttering (insert already overstuffed part of life). The simpler you keep life, the more time you have for little pleasures. And that ideal is the best part of our old life in Madrid that we hope to hang on to no matter where we go.