XTreme

I think there's one major issue here that hasn't really been addressed.
It's not a question of whether Spain is better than the UK, or vice versa, it's the simple matter of whether Spain is right for you!

IMO.....the majority of people who come here are just not suited to living in Spain. They can't embrace change, they're unable to learn the language, they want to retain their ways and attitudes.....and in many cases inflict them on the Spanish. They should never have come here in the first place AFAIC.

Me and the wife have been together for 25 years. We've lived in more than 20 houses in 9 different towns in the UK. Wherever we were, it never felt right....it just never felt like home. It's like we were looking for something....we didn't know what it was....or even where it was. But we just kept searching....and moving on from place to place.
Then two years ago we came to Spain.....and immediately we knew that finally....we'd come home.
Difficult to quantify.....difficult to explain.....but you just know!

So.....if you're the type of person who's suited to being in Spain.....you'll know. And if you're not, however long you try to deny it, one day it will catch up with you.

(This was my sensible post for December)

hellokittty

I think that is very true Xtreme.

I don't know if anyone else looks at the 'Moving back to the UK' forum on B.Expats but there are lots of stories on there about people who moved to Florida, Australia, Spain and other places and realised that sunshine isn't the be all and end all. Even in English-speaking countries it sometimes just doesn't suit an individual person to live there.

SoJohn

Dunno, I never really had an issue with the UK, For me it was just very expensive for housing. I received an offer which basically doubles my current wage, I think I'll take it. Technically, my biggest reason for leaving has been canceled out...

Each to their own. I just find it a bit annoying the blinkered attitude some brits have in Spain. Example, they don't speak Spanish and therefore don't watch Spanish news or read Spanish papers. Therefore, there is no crime in Spain! hehe

At the airport on Monday there was an English guy that had been in Spain for 5 years. He didn't speak a word of Spanish and a Spanish Girl was trying in her best English to ask him questions for a survey. He corrected every single sentence she spoke. I felt sorry for the girl. Yes, you know the type. Old guy, beard, stupid hat...hehe

Joe King

Yes I'd say 3-4 years is typical, but there are increasing numbers who don't even stay two years.

I think too many come to Spain without really knowing the first thing about the country beyond what they have experienced on a two week package holiday and what they've seen on A Place In The Sun.

I think the numbers going back are also skewed by those who are a) trying to run away from problems (as said above they catch up sooner or later) and b) unable to find work / make ends meet. Neither are Spain's fault.

We've had many happy times here and have no regrets with regards to the move (we did own our first property for three or four years as a holiday home before making the move out - and no we aren't rolling in it, we just bought well before the prices rocketed and were still working back home!). As Xtreme says, it's what's right for you at the right time in your life.

PS I worked in Malta for two years funnily enough! Winters I'd say are similar to the Costa Blanca. Lots of warm days, cold and damp nights. Lovely little island, but it is little - you can go stir crazy there if you like to wander.

jdr

Yeah, but the buses are great. lol

scampicat

Spain was never meant to be a permanent move for us. We came here for the sun, the laid-back lifestyle and also because we can live here solely on my husband's Teachers' pension, which we couldn't do in the UK. So in the UK we couldn't have afforded to take early retirement in our 50s.

When I get my State Pension in two year's time, we'll spend more time in the UK (we still have a house ther); possibly 60-40 and get the best of both countries.

Joe King

The buses!!! I heard they had taken them off the roads because of EU standards. Are they still running?

Relampago

I will pray so that what you have said is completed in the next elections, because the politics of the last 7 years in this country has been a disaster, but the friend Zapatero is the president (and its government) more inapt and more twit since we have the democracy. That disgust of personage

And as soon as my opinion to the topic, I think that everything in this life is adaptation. One cannot say: Like I am not well in Spain, I go to Italy, to Turkey, to Greece...I will try to explain

Look, in my country there are many popular proverbs, but I will put the appropriate one: " En todos los lugares cuecen habas " (in all the places cook beans). It means that in all the places there are problems

What Spain is not perfect and the rest of the world is Disneyworld? Well, the south of Italy is very poor, in Italy some hospitals lack until the most basic thing. In Spain the sanity is gratuitous, universal (something that doesn't happen in all the countries). This knows it many british and foreigners that have come to be operated in Spain of gratuitous way (because they know that in United Kingdom the thing would come out very expensive) with a bestial expense in Social Security for Spain, or in United States, who wants a heart transplant has to pay a fortune...It is all bad in Spain?

It is an example

Personally, I don't know the perfect country, where people are happy every day and win 3000 E/month. Or it is the rent, or it is the people, or it is the quality of life, or it is the weather, etc etc etc...All have something

john1979

I would never think of making the move till i was finicially stable. I am now and can bring my business out to Spain with me this Febuary. Also have a second new business venture in early stages for Spain meaning i need to know the lingo.

At 28 i am happy i can make the move now and not have to worry to much, and just hope business stays as good as it is now and the second business venture takes off what i am sure it will as it is aimed at the Spannish and not just the small ex pat community, well in terms to the spannish.

jdr

Not sure, it was a few years ago now, (I gotta get this right now or all hell will break loose) we spent a holiday there for our silver wedding.

XTreme

In my country (Wales) there are many popular proverbs too....like "Oi mush.....Where's my cowing giro you div".....which literally translates to "Hola....donde esta mi pago de la seguridad social tu cabron".

Lynn R

Another youngish couple I know with 2 children have just gone back to the UK because the husband had managed to get a job there, but they set off in a great hurry without having anywhere to live or school places arranged for the children. They returned because he has found it impossible to get regular work here, but as he didn't have any specialist skills (was previously in airport baggage handliing) and they didn't speak Spanish it was hardly surprising.

What bothers me about this is the way people drag their children around without seeming to consider how unsettling it must be for them. These people took their kids out of their English schools, moved to a country area in Spain where their kids went to the local school but the parents found it too quiet so moved into a town, so another move of schools and friends for the kids. The older one has just recently moved secondary school because of some bullying problems, now they have gone back to the UK to face yet another new school and having to make new friends. I can't help but think all this cannot be in their best interests.

I am in the same fortunate position as others who have posted in this thread in that I could afford (just about) to stop working at 50 and live off savings/profits from UK house sale until we get our pensions paid, but I would never have come here to live had I needed to find work as it is all too obviously very, very diificult to find steady work that pays enough to support a family.

SoJohn

It's because they convince themselves it's better for the children.

If you struggle to make a living in the UK and have no special skill, you will be even worse off in Spain.

People seem to overlook the fact that income tax and national insurance are higher. The cost of living doesn't kick in unless you are retired of on a higher than average wage.

I was on the average UK wage while in Spain and I did notice bills and cost of living cheaper (although I was only there 3 months). There is a threshold you have to pass though in order for that cost of living to work it's way through.

lmj50

Pete
I can't believe Spain is better than Neath!!
But I know what you mean.
I love Wales and also love my time in Spain, we get there 4 times a year now. In total about 6 weeks.
Still working to get enough cash to move permanently.
ELIZ NAVIDAD Y PROSPERO ANO’ NUEVO

NADOLIG LLAWEN A BLWYDDYN NEWYDD DDA But!!

Leighton

Joe King

Education isn't valued by many people today unfortunately.

I know of a family who came to Spain for a two week holiday in Summer 2005 and decided to stay! They put their two children into a local school in September then decided to go back home come Easter 2006. Didn't even tell the school. Neither parent worked while in Spain.

Then for whatever reason they came back again Christmas 2006 and just put their children back into the school - not a word of explanation!

Summer 2007 they went back to the UK - for good this time apparently.

What effect has that had on their children's education and do they even care?