OK, hubby has been fed up with UK for quite a while. I keep saying nooo noooo I'm happy here, can't uproot the kids. We first talked about France. My mum's french so obvious staring place. But northern France isn't going to be any different to here really. I always moan about being cold. And stuck inside. Spoke to some people this summer in Spain (part time expats) who said if push come to shove they'd cut UK ties and choose Spain.

Righty O then I thought. Time to stop being chicken s**t drum up the courage and give relocating some serious thought. After all I'd hate to choose not to do something that could be a great opportunity for the kids just because I don't want to leave my comfort zone. Life's too short blah blah blah . . .

But typical me, must be thorough, I thought I'll try to suss out bad bits first. Don't want rose coloured specs ta very much. Except I think I might of overdone it a bit. So can I have loads of positive stuff and some nice fluffy stories about living in Spain on this thread please, just so I can balance my head back up

Cheers!

As another Kentish maid I can fully sympathise with your need to flee!
We also looked at France, but as you say, areas that we could afford are much the same weatherwise as here, not much point in uprooting for freezing cold winters!
We chose the area we're going to for a multitude of reasons: close to airports(H.G is commuting) near city, sea and countryside, not a huge ex-pat enclave, enough to keep you sane though!
also its not brown, lots of greenery, I lived in mid west U.S.A for a while vowed never to live somewhere brown again!!
We are desperate to go, just as soon as house is sold we'll be off!!

Hi Silverchick, thanks for answering ( I thought I'd post after reading your other comment in t'other section!)

I just need pepping up to get me motivated about it all again, read too many crime, concrete jungle housing crisis, anti-brit racism, financial disaster threads . . .

I find its best to just bury my head in the lovely warm sand of oliva beach!
There is crime, no doubt everywhere, but i seem to remember reading its more concentrated in ex pat enclaves, from what people report on here, the Spanish are very friendly and welcoming, if you try to fit in, learn the language , contribute to the country in some way
As for financial disaster, I think a lot of people do seem to leave their brains on the plane when arrive, don't take decent advice and do things they wouldn't do in their home country.
Take the plunge... in another thread today, lives life to the full, its the only one you've got!!

You'll never know unless you try it. I read those things and think I must be living somewhere else! After four years here, we still say it's the best thing we have ever done. And we did no research apart from sticking a pin in a map and finding a b+b. When we got here, we spent several months looking at property, but as long as you put the effort in when searching areas and property, it's fine.
Regards
Tim

Right, I haven't done this for a while so here goes.............


Firstly, Welcome.

I wont tell you that Spain is a paradise, its not, even for the people who absolutely adore the place and are aware they are much better off there acknowledge that its not a paradise, there are so many issues and problems that life can sometimes seem much easier back in blighty.......BUT................its all to do with what you want out of life.

If you are looking for that Eden, the Utopia, you wont find it in a country, you can only find that within yourself and within your life. It can't possibly exist in a country or everyone on earth would be there. Spain offers so much for so many people but that doesn't mean that the second you arrive it will find you and make you welcome. The Spanish can be wonderful, warm, generous people, but they can also be cantankerous, arrogant, and self opinionated.

Like any country, Spain is what you make it, no more no less.

A bit like you then Matt!!

I moved to Spain 5 years ago, yes there were problems initially, but overall the quality of life here is far superior to what we'd have had in the UK. It's better for the kids, they are growing up tri lingual (actually the eldest is also learning French). The general cost of living here is cheaper, eating out and groceries especially. White goods and furniture are more expensive and can cost more than the UK.

We do work hard but play hard too, if you can get past the first year and have an income to live on the positives far outweigh the negatives.

With regard to crime, yes it happens but not nearly as much as they would have you believe, tourists are targetted but quite often they are the authors of their own misfortune by not taking adequate precautions. A little bit of common sense with regards to the security of yourself and belongings goes a long way.

D'you know, thanks guys, you've got me back on track.

I know wherever you live it is what you make of it. After all you do get back what you put in so to speak. The UK might be my geographical home but it isn't my be all and end all.

With having spent so much time in France I'm used to other cultures, pere noel used to knock on our door at midnight xmas eve, which was great fun! I don't have much family there and the village my family lived in has sadly died a death since a mini supermarket was put in (that's progress for you) and I find it too sad that the magic that was there has now gone.

I've never looked english, and had loads of really awful racial abuse at junior school believe it or not, because I was the 'wappy' looking girl with the olive skin. We don't really cook english cuisine, my home doesn't look english, and I find it easier to drive on the right which I find very strange! (and dangerous too!!!). We've been stung by a mortgage broker ( a supposed friend), had the ups and downs and lack of funds with setting up our own business. It's all down to research before you do anything big as you say, in whatever country you're in, UK included, so I'm not going to read the bad bits any more and just get my bottom on a plane out there to see it as it is. I think it's just the having kids bit, if it was me on my own I'd do it tomorrow.

Anyway, must go and work now so we can afford to move!

Thanks again, Nats xx

Hell yeah, why do you think I love them so much?

We are in Canterbury this weekend visiting our son.We both love the area and have considered moving there,but the draw of moving to Spain has got stronger over the last months.

we're 10 mins from the City, yes, its lovely, as is the countryside and sea, but i would say Gandia is heads above that, the ambiance of the pavement cafes just isn't the same in this country and you don't get much change from a fiver! and the beaches, Spain, wins, hands down!!

Really difficult to comment. But worth a go. Surely its better than saying what if?

Just remember your security blanket. In other words definitely have a Plan 'B'!

Just remember the one piece of advice which often is repeated by quite a few people on here. Rent first! I wanted to do that but hubby said renting is dead money - not so when you are relocating to another country - you need to check out the area first and that means living there! Luckily we like where we have located to but it can be very quiet here as we are inland.

Hi Snats - if you dont do it you will always live thinking 'what if?'

I moved here to Spain over 12 years ago and yes it was tough - in a way its easier now as there are so many ex-pats and people look at the local paers to hire various services whereas when I came here it tokk me 18 months to build my business up and then it was mad - too much work!

Life really is what you make of it. I myself although born and bred in Londond, never really fitted in. With Greek, Italian French and English blood, I really felt the cold as well, even at a young age.

Suddenly it became clear and with 2 younk kids in tow we moved. And I have NEVER regretted it, even when life has thrown me a rough hand, and boy have I had a few tough hands, I have not once thought to move back.

There is no back up, social security or any of that stuff to fall back on, but it keeps that rod of steel in your back strong. Charachter building for sure, and the feeling when you come out the other end is second to none.

To see your kids growing up as I did, hardly a care in the world and mainly worries about them getting run down by a car has been a priviledge.

Now at 15 and 17, they have had a fab childhood, safe secure yet fun and carefree! They both have scooters now and are very responsible and are able to start out on their lives, its a pleasure to watch them. They both speak 4 languages as in one of the chools Imoved them to for 2 years, German was the third language, now they are back to French. So with this small world, out of everything they have learned, their language skills will set them in good stead for their future - daughter is studying science and is going to Granada Uni next year!

As for myself, well now finding this new freedom, to stroll along the prom after midnight, get a coffee and brandy for a few euro, an icecream on the way back and then look forward to the beach most of the year, it truly is paradise!

You wont regret it! Good Luck