I am seriously thinking of moving to spain but its quite daunting moving alone, has anyone gone through the move alone and found friends over there? love to hear from you, cheers, (Joyce age 55, divorced)

I met a lady last Summer, who was retired, and widowed, a lot older than you, who had moved to Spain. She said she wouldn't go back to the UK. She is living in a communal apartment block (with pool, though she doesnt swim herself). Some people live there and some are holiday apartments. She knows all the regulars and even looks after their keys and waters their plants. In turn, they look after her and take her out for meals etc. She is in a village where she knows the locals, has a bus service on her doorstep (well a 2 minute walk at least) the doctors is in the next village. She is quite a chatty person and has made many friends, of all Nationalities. Her family come out to stay with her at various times in the year. (big family, I think).

The only downside was (for us) she knew your every move - as she had a lot of time on her hands....but for her, she was happy and had many friends.

One point, she found the Summers far too hot, so she would return to UK for the July/August heat, then return to Spain again.

I also know of a lady who was widowed when she was about 65 and then decided to pack up and move over to Spain (Alicante area) alone. She settled in well and said that for some reason the Brits abroad are much friendlier and chattier than the Brits at home, so had no trouble making friends.

Good luck!

HI Joyce

And welcome ..

I am sure a lot have and will be on to tell you there knowledge and stuff

So once again welcome and nice to have you on the forum

I too know a lady (not to well) she is single and in her 50's, she has very filled social life and has many friends both within the Spanish community and the ex pat's. I think it really depends on you, if you are a social sort of person then you will have a great time if on the other hand you are not so social and wait to be asked then it could take a while before you start to mix.

Whatever you decide I wish you well, and I hope you have fun doing it.

thanks for your reply, its reassuring to know there are others in the same boat, i suppose i should really find a site where i can actually ask if there are ladies who would love to make the move but not really on their own. Think i will make enquiries to see if such a site exists, thanks again,

thanks for your reply, i think the sun makes people friendly, really looking forward to the move, just feels kinda lonely leaving friends and family behind, nice to hear from you, cheers Joyce

I bet if you watch this post you made !or post a thread on that very same theme . You will get loads of similar ladies like your self Joyce

As long as you dont end up getting a gang together , buying Motorbikes and stuff , wearing leather jackets with Studs and stuff on causing mayhem the Spanish will love you all

Joyce,

I "did it alone" in 1997, at that time a 38 year old single woman. I am still here having sold everything in the U.K. in 2000 (I wanted to be sure this is where I wanted to be) living very happily in the middle of knowhere with my two dogs. It is different, you need to be careful and have your wits about you, but I think there are quite a few of us single women do this - and good on us for having the guts I say !

Good luck, if you want to chat or have any questions, I will try and help if I can !
LA

thanks for the welcome, im looking forward to my replies, good firsthand advice, the site is a great idea, cheers

nice to hear from you.
did you take your dogs with you? i have 3 cats and intend to take them with me. It will be difficult for them, especially the 16yr old but i could never leave them behind. Did you make some friends, sounds like you're in the middle of nowhere. Well done anyway, it gives me encouragement, cheers

Hi, if youve read any of my other threads, then you might know that Im going it alone on April 23rd, im 25 year old male and have no friends or contacts what so ever in the Costa Del Sol and I am just taking myself and my car down there then and just got to work on fitting in basically. Im scared sh*t*ess!!!!

Should be fun though, 28 days to go and ive got butterflies already!

Joyce, not sure how the Cats would fit in, though there are a lot of stray dogs (or more like dogs that are let out each morning) roaming around.

I would be careful if you bought in a communal place, the 'Rules and Regs' might say No Pets, so check it out first.

Onlineamiga,

Good luck to you! I wish I had done that at 25!

thanks for your reply, it wont be easy, ive heard that some people are a bit wary when you are on your own but hopefully i'll find some in the same boat as myself, cheers