Heli’s story: sunshine over stoicism
What makes a Finnish family swap the “happiest place on earth” for life on Spain’s Costa del Sol? I sat down with Heli, who moved south with her husband and five‑year‑old daughter, to talk about sunshine, freedom, and finding a truer sense of happiness.
For the last eight years Finland has been ranked the happiest place to live, but for Heli and her family, happiness came to mean something deeper. After spending the past five winters in Spain, the family now split their time between Finland and the Costa del Sol — and for them, Spain truly feels like home
“I think Finland’s happiness ranking comes from the quality of the space, services and systems,” Heli says. “Yes, it’s clean and modern and functional, but real happiness comes from inside. For us, Spain simply feels lighter, more smiles, more laughter, more life.”
Why a happy Finnish family chose Spain
Heli and her husband loved many things about Finland, but she longed for more spontaneity and emotion in daily life. “Here in Spain, people show how they feel,” she explains. “If you’re happy, you smile. If you’re sad, you can be sad. In Finland, I always felt I had to keep those emotions in check.”
For her, Spain offered warmth, not just in weather, but in spirit. “Both of us can be more ourselves here, and our daughter can be too,” Heli says. “I have a loud voice and I want my daughter to grow up knowing that’s okay. Children should be able to be themselves, not apologising for existing.”
At home on the Costa del Sol
Heli first visited Spain in 2019 when she was pregnant. “We came for just one week,” she remembers, “but it felt instantly like somewhere we wanted to return.”
In 2021 they came back, and by their second winter they knew they wanted to stay. “My soul is in Spain,” Heli says simply. “I don’t miss Finland. When I travel, I miss Spain. The places I miss are always near the sea, that’s my home.”
She smiles as she describes a small beach in Benalmádena, Playa Bonita, where she feels most at peace. “It’s not about material things,” she adds. “Even if the apartment doesn’t feel like ours yet, being here together with my husband, our daughter, and the few special things we chose to bring, in the sun and by the sea, that’s home.”
What Spain gives that Finland didn’t
“Energy,” she says instantly. “I have more light, more movement, more connection.”
The family spends most of their time outdoors, walking, cycling, swimming, even in winter. “Yesterday it rained so much, but today we still went for a long walk. In Finland, we would have stayed inside.”
Spain also brought a stronger sense of community. “We use the local frutería, chat with neighbours, talk to the gardener taking care of our urbanisation. Everyone takes the time to say hello,” she says. “In Finland, people are kind but reserved. Here you don’t need to break the ice, the ice just doesn’t exist.”
“For me, I don’t need depth in all of my connections, just a few close ones, but those small chats in daily life make us feel like we belong here,” she adds. “It gives us that feeling of being part of something.”
Raising a child between cultures
For Heli, environment shapes who we become, and she’s already seen Spain’s influence on her daughter.
“She’s more positive and curious now, always watching what’s happening around her,” Heli says. “She’s growing up speaking three languages and learning that communication isn’t about perfection, it’s about connection.”
Heli hopes this openness will stay with her daughter as she grows, that she’ll always know how to be kind and confident, even across cultures.
Still, moving hasn’t been without challenges. “Paperwork and administration are complicated,” she laughs. “And helping our daughter settle has been the biggest emotional challenge. She still misses her best friends in Finland.”
When she asks if they can go back, Heli reminds her of the good friends she has already made and the ones still to come. “I spoke to someone who moved here when they were just a child, and now they have so many friends,” she says. “It takes time. We just have to keep believing in the decision we made.”
Balancing two worlds
Heli admits that living between countries can be draining. “Keeping close to friends and family in Finland while building a life here takes energy,” she says. “I’ve always been the connector in our family, but even for me, it’s hard to maintain everything, old friends, new ones, work, school. You have to know your limits.”
Still, she finds rewards in unexpected places. “Spain is so child‑friendly,” she says. “At Christmas, for example, everything feels magical and full of joy. Despite Finland being the home of Christmas, I was never very Christmassy there. Here it feels different, lighter, more heartfelt. Spain has helped me shed old feelings and create new traditions with my daughter, and that makes me incredibly happy.”
Finding real happiness in everyday life
Heli smiles when I ask what happiness looks like for her now.
“It’s freedom,” she says. “Freedom from the rat race, from pressure, from always doing things the ‘right’ way. Here, I can decide to go to the beach, take a walk, be spontaneous. That’s real happiness.”
Choosing when she works, how she spends her time, and watching her daughter grow up surrounded by sunshine and openness has changed what success means. “Of course I love Finland, it gave us so much, but Spain gave us a new way of living.”
A message for mums thinking of moving
“You live only once,” Heli says softly. “It’s so important to fill that life with experiences, not just things. If you have this dream, start taking small steps. Memories, adventures, and time with the people you love will always matter most.”
She pauses, her eyes warm. “People wait until retirement to start living. Don’t wait. Come now, while you can truly enjoy it.”
Nearly three years on, Heli and her family have built a slower, sunnier life on the Costa del Sol, one filled with movement, belonging, and the freedom to be themselves.
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