Atilla

Well, my search continues. I am going round in circles still, smaller ones, but still circles

Malaysia and Panama have been, and in the first case still is, on top of my list of options with France, Spain and Italy also in the mix. I speak French OK so France is an option (thinking Carcassonne, Antibes, Languedoc) and Spain also. The economic situation in Spain is a concern to a degree, as is finding the right balance of place, though I'm sure it's possible. Balance and cost of living is an issue with France also (not to mention ceaseless bureaucracy).

I'm 52 now and not ready for peace, tranquility, running my own small-holding or whatever or living in some outback with nothing to do except listen to crickets and drink. Equally I don't want any 'Costa del 18-30' areas.

It would be nice to have a nice place, maybe I detached property, preferably close enough to walk or cycle to a few cafes/bars and/or daily essentials, but within 20 minutes or so drive of a good sized (and pleasant). What I'm thinking is a place with a bit of a buzz and lively if you want it, but more sophisticated than 18-30s, sleazy/rowdy bars and discos.

Pecora Nera

The economic situation in Spain is a concern to a degree,

Strike one for Italy


Balance and cost of living is an issue

Strike two for Italy

not to mention ceaseless bureaucracy

Strike three and Italy is out....


But I wouldn't be anywhere else except Sicily erh!

internationalbefky

I've visited Carcassonne quite a few times (ex's family moved over there a while ago) and it's a lovely area, from what I gather friendly expat community, a couple of hours to the beach, a couple of hours to the slopes in ski season, three hours to Barcelona (if I remember rightly...)

TestaRossa

I live in Florence but still haven't got residency as the bureacracy is a nightmare. My last landlady would only give me a transitorio contract which meant the comune won't grant residency. This is now, in my new place, something I'm hoping to fix. You also need private health insurance and proof of income for Italy.

On the other hand my OH also lives part-time in Spain - we are a similar age to you ( a little younger but not much!!) He is in Marbella/Puerto Banus. Properties are dropping dramatically in price - possibly out of your price range (it is mine!) but an example is a 350sqm villa with pool and 2 hectares of land going for 1.3 million euros as a bank repossession. It was over 6mill....However you need cash as the banks weren't loaning out on properties within 20k of the sea because of the dramatic fall in prices. That end of Marbella is our age range too and has the activities and nightlife to go with what we want, so nice restaurants, decent clubs not 18-30 stuff, casino's etc. Lots of charity do's, opening parties stuff like that. Yes it's a huge expat community and they do like their bling but on the whole I like my 5 weeks or so there a year. Would I live there? I think I would get bored as there is no culture and it can be clickey and if you refuse to fit in with the look etc that is expected it could be hard to make friends but I think you already know that kind of expat community from what you've said! It's also a bonus if you like golf!!

Atilla

Thanks for replies. Will ponder some more. Buying a place is no problem neither is income etc.

Not sure about Marbella etc, know what you mean. Malaysia and Panama still favourite.

dx052

Can I ask you a question? I am assuming that you have an EU passport? but it seems that there are still loads of barriers put up even though we have what is supposed to be a free passage of movement! this confuses me very much! my understanding from what I know about people who come to the UK is that as long as you have a EU passport you can do pretty much do what you like. I thought that was the whole point. Maybe I have got it all wrong.

Hil

Ciao from Cianciana in Sicily,
We are English and American, lived in San Francisco for ever, and then in Burgundy (near Cluny) for 5 years and for the past 5 we've been in Cianciana, Sicily. Residency for the English half was easy as pie, for the American...well one form after another.
Cianciana is a quiet but lively place with quite a few bars and cafes, and you can wonder out at any time and find some life. During the summer, all the families who live abroad return, the lights are put up, and every evening the main street closed off.
It is far less expensive here than in France, but yes of course the economic situation all over Southern Europe is grim. Although here in Cianciana, there have been at least 4 new businesses in the last year, and lots of renovation ongoing.
Rather than try and answer your exact questions, when we were in Burgundy (where winter is long) we began to search in the south. We looked around Carcassonne, and the Languedoc, but found in winter a real exodus. We also looked around Grenada in Spain, which is beautiful, but the coast is far and so over built. We ended up Sicily by accident, and our first arrival in Cianciana, just seem to answer. We arrived at 9pm in mid-September. Bars cafes were open. People were out. And this is the friendliest town we have ever lived in. (Oh and it was 30c---). We were in love, and live in town where we can walk everywhere. The beach is a 40 minute drive, but magic, and only crowded in August. Okay, we love Sicily.
However, if money is not a great concern, and you want lively but not 'disco youth' I recommend Portbou in Spain. It's 3 km from France, is great lively border town with a train station to everywhere, and Cerbere just over the border in France is certainly big ebough to supply all your wants. Also Portbou moved it's harbor out and has a beautiful little beach right in town. What's not to love. But real estate is definitely pricey.
More info than you wanted probably. But good hunting!

Atilla

Thanks, worth a look for sure. Am being VERY tempted by Panama and Malaysia at the moment. Something about me does just like the Asian hustle and bustle and Panama has me intrigued. I'll be sure to bear the places you mention in mind though!!!!!

Hil

We've got a friend who has lived in Panama for 6 years (or maybe longer) he's American, but grew up in England. If I can entice him onto this site, you can get his experiences as well. ciao ~Hilary

Atilla

Thanks. Be interested for sure. Lots appeals about Panama but part of me can't help thinking that outside of Panama City, too much of it is like a shanty town with a considerable amount of crime, risk and not so much to do. I can't quite fathom the cost of living either, whether it's cheap or cheapER and how it compares to say France (very expensive now I think), UK (middle), Italy and Spain (reasonable - ish) and Malaysia (cheap).

internationalbefky

Italy is not cheap! :S

Atilla

No, you'll see I've listed Italy as reasonable (I think) in comparison to UK/France, reasonable being not much different but perhaps not quite so expensive in all cases.

Hil

Hello Again! For some on the ground figures here you are: We have 2 houses (one for vacation rental and sale, the other a huge project). So here we go. Water: a big deal here as mains feed is on only 2 hours a day and we all have a reserve tank we fill during those hours. Current yearly cost: 96 euro fixed, unless it is privatized! Electrics: vary throughout the year but around 37 euro/month (certainly more in winter if you use electric heaters), we've got a wood stove now, say 175 euro/year for wood. Rubbish: based on square meters of your home, around 1.14 euro per sq. meter, Council Tax (recently canceled by Berli) was around 1.20 sq/meter per year, Town gas: available, but we use bottled gas, 22.50 euro a bottle lasts around 3 months for a stove top, 2 if you're using an oven. Food: if you are preparing in season, our produce all locally available is nothing. Meat and Fish are expensive as they are everywhere. Going out: 2 of us at a sea front restaurant, 2 starters, 2 main courses, wine, digestif and coffee around 45-50 euro (keep in mind we have a lot of wine..) Petrol: pricey Car Insurance: really pricey, better to have an older car that qualifies as a classic and is exempt from Road tax. Bars/Cafe: well a super nice glass of wine is 2-2.50, a bottled Italian beer: 1 euro, mixed drinks between 3-5 euro, espresso .60-.80 cents, cappucino 1.20 euro Other Shopping: we just 'splurged' on some very dishy tiles for our kitchen, they were 16 euro/ sq. meter. But for our other job we found lovely tiles for 6 euro/sq. meter.
House Insurance: 250 euro/ year on average.
Okay it's enough, these are all averages and not specific, and everyone's needs are different. But I hope it gives a picture. Every place is possible. (Note: we live in Southern Sicily) One other note is that all our 'estimates' are from within our own town (Cianciana), and certainly rise as you head toward more metropolitan/or seaside areas. That's it. live well.

Atilla

Thanks, very useful. More to ponder

Isakat

You are really lucky you can get tiles at those prices, the cheapest decent tiles for the balconies will cost me 30 euros per m2, while my friend was looking for bathroom tiles at 70 euro m2. Maybe because we live near Rome?
I paid 1,500 euro for wood per year, do you use your stove for cooking and not for heating the house?
Water-our yearly bill is 900 euro, electricity 150 a month on average, rubbish tax is 888 per year, gas around 50 per month when we do not use it for heating, just cooking and hot water.....