Americans Abroad

I think everything needs to be on a case by case basis, the OP has the language and what would seem to be specific skills so that bodes well. And surely a lot depends on where you decide to live, big cities offer more and I can only speak for my little corner of Spain.
But it is not easy for a non EU citizen to move here and near on impossible visa wise if you need employment unless you can get an EU passport. Also Spain suffered greatly from the economic crash and unemployment levels are sky high, over 20 percent and much higher for youth levels so family wise it does not offer great prospects for children leaving school.
That said should you be retired it has a lot to offer but we are a long way off that.

We are lucky as my wife was offered a good job before we made the move and we are quite comfortable financially but life is still a struggle against lack of common sense, civil rights and logic. It's hard to quantify really, not awful by any stretch but if you can't scratch your head and laugh at what is thrown at you then it gets very frustrating.