Sinking Ship?
 

How many of you have counted up how many have `Gone Back` and compared it with how many newbies have arrived in your area , I know of 12 familiy`s that have gone back and only two newbie family`s,
I guess it goes in cycles and in two to three years there will be another wave coming over.

Re: Sinking Ship?
 

I don't think it's fair to say sinking ship. You need to do the same comparison for all expat destinations and see if the ratio is the same. I've been here about 10 years and in that time I've seen a constant stream of people going home over that time. None of them were integrated in any way and most looked at the Spanish as a single person with no individuality, i.e. "the Spanish this, the Spanish that". Most of that type seem to be gone within about 3 years of arriving, and most don't even acquire enough skill in Spanish even to be able to request a foreigner's number without an escort.

Re: Sinking Ship?
 

I saw the relevant figures earlier today, in a computer magazine of all places.

In May, 2000, the pound stood at 1.69 Euros, in May this year it stood at 1.16 Euros.

For those on tight UK incomes, they would have no choice but to go back, and I know many that have.

If the pound goes up again against the Euro, as it might, who knows . . .

Re: Sinking Ship?
 

Most of the ones I know who have gone back were of working age so the exchange rate was not that big an issue ,in fact its benificial if you can sell your house,that alone may inspire some to cash in, as we all know there`s very little work about and I think thats the main reason.

Re: Sinking Ship?
 

yes true enough - in the years we've been here there has been a steady stream of returners - but this past 6-12 months there has been a grand exodus - at least in our area

all sorts of people - families, pensioners, early retired with money behind them - some started businesses which did well for a while - then died

quite a few families have split up - one parent staying with or without the kids & the other going back

sometimes they say it's 'just for work' - then it transpires that divorce is in the works

some leave with a big party - but more just disappear off the radar - then one day you realise that you haven't seen them for a while and on asking around you discover that they've gone back................

Re: Sinking Ship?
 

Ive seen a lot of this ,I think for many Spain was a last attempt to repair
things and for others the financial strain was the problem.

Re: Sinking Ship?
 

I think often that one partner in the marriage/relationship is more keen on the move than the other, and goes along for the ride! We have good friends in Portugal, they moved out without any real research, don't speak the lingo, etc, you know, usual story. She came over on her own recently and said it's OK, but if he was to die tomorrow, I'd be back on the next plane! :p I know if it was up to her, they'd both be back tomorrow.

Re: Sinking Ship?
 

I have been here 12 years and, as someone else said, there have always been people comming and going. But what we have noticed in the past 2-3 years is that we have lost most of our long term friends. People we have known for about 8-10 years. On the up side we have made more friends in the last year through my daughter starting school. That has made my wife a lot happier. We still plan to move back one day but the pressure is off a bit now as my job seems to have settled down again and we have some more friends.

Re: Sinking Ship?
 

Sounds like the major motivator to return home is a financial one (whether that's lack of work or poor exchange rate). We only currently manage to visit Spain 3 or 4 times a year but we're still as excited about increasing this with a view to making the move full time than we were 3 years ago when we first started considering it. Times are rough everywhere at the moment but some nice Spanish air always manages to put a smile on peoples faces.

CBANDY, glad to hear things are working out better for you now.

Re: Sinking Ship?
 

I've seen none arrive and none go back to the UK.
Not sure what that means!

Re: Sinking Ship?
 

At this moment in time, I have more Spanish clients than British clients.

There's a mixture of reasons though.

In over five years I've lived here, I've become more integrated and much more proficient with the language.

There seems to be more Brits leaving (were residing here), or not spending money in Spain (second home owners), because of the economic climate and exchange rate changes.

Overall, I'm fortunate in that work has been steady and regular. It's not increased, nor has it reduced, in quantity and value of contracts undertaken.

I look at contracts the same way, irrespective of if it's for fellow expatriates, or local Spaniards. Interestingly though, it's been more the case that the locals have noticed the reduction of Brits in different villages and towns where I work.

Most of my friends and work colleagues though, are either Spanish locals, or fellow expatriates, who have settled and integrated well, with no intention or need to return to the UK.

Certainly Spain is in the midst of very difficult economic times, but then, so are many other countries. I remain positive. Every so often, there's an economic crisis. Granted, the most recent one was particularly difficult, but things will recover... they always do.

Re: Sinking Ship?
 

probably that you have no friends:p:rofl:


more likely you just don't mix with so many expats though - or live in an area where so many live

Re: Sinking Ship?
 

You're right, just think this little blip will take a lot longer to recover from than some of the previous one's, and not really sure it will even come back to the same level.:frown:

Re: Sinking Ship?
 

It's true, I don't know many at all. And those that I do know of are all 'young'. I'm not aware of any retirees here (which seems to be the typical profile for the Costa expats), so nobody is dependent upon a UK income/pension. Perhaps that makes a difference.

Re: Sinking Ship?
 

I think it will get back to how it was 3 years ago but it may take 5 to 7 years to get there ,Brits will always long for the sunshine and beaches and a culture change so when the UK economy picks up it will boost the Spanish economy:thumbsup:

Re: Sinking Ship?
 

I don't know anyone that's gone back but then I also don't know anyone retired/relying on a £ based income. We have noticed a marked increase in work and new businesses starting up (both locally in town and directly through our work)

Re: Sinking Ship?
 

Yes, could be a long time, but I still wonder will it come back to what it was. Yes, Brits always like their holidays, but Spain is nowhere near the cheap destination it used to be. AS we´ve seen, their way to combat the crisis is to put prices up even higher! :rofl: Amongst my own friends and family, I know of several that have been to Sharm el-Sheikh this year instead of Spain, and seem to like what they saw. I certainly wouldn't like to go there, but that and Tunisia, Turkey etc keeps coming up when talking about summer holidays. I think Spain will always do well, just maybe not as well as it used to.

Re: Sinking Ship?
 

Over the last two years I have seen quite a few British families/couples leave the area where I live (mostly for financial/lack of work reasons, but also because of health issues or one partner not being able to settle). In the last few months more houses have sold and the British seem to be being replaced by Scandinavians and Canadian people (the Canadians tell me they had seen a programme featuring our town on TV and liked what they saw!).

It does not bother me at all, as we don't socialise a great deal with British people, it grieves me to see most of them doing nothing with their time except drinking in bars and gossiping about other Brits. There are another two couples about to leave in the next month or two, they have got through all their money doing exactly that so I don't have a lot of sympathy. As previous posters have said they made little or no effort to integrate and although both couples have lived here permanently twice as long as I have, they barely speak a word of Spanish. No doubt they will be better off in Britain claiming benefits and moaning about "the Spanish".

Re: Sinking Ship?
 

There has always been a high turnover on the CDS even in the boom times. Used to see them all the time when UK house prices rose quickly, off to Spain with the equity, kids in private school, live all year round as if on holiday for a couple of years then back to the UK.

Unless prices in Spain fall sharply or the exchange rate goes back to about 1.65 I can't see many retirees coming. 15 years ago you could have lived reasonably on just a state pension if buying a house outright, not possible now unless never going out. Less retirees = less younger people as most who need work feed off other ex-pats. Seemed at one time as if every other Brit was an estate agent:rofl:

Re: Sinking Ship?
 

I'm more Spanish than you.

No you're not, I'm more Spanish than you because I drink in Spanish bars.

Well, I'm more Spanish than you because you socialise with the Brits.

Actually, I'm more Spanish than any of you because I have more Spanish friends than Brit friends.

You're all wrong, I'm more Spanish than you because you all used a Brit tradesman once upon a time and I only use Spanish tradersmen.

Well, I think I'm the most Spanish because I speak more of the language.

I'm more Spanish because I've lived here longest.

I'm more Spanish because I pay my taxes.

I'm more Spanish because you drive a Brit registered car.

Even though we're all Brits it seems we all want to be Spanish.:eek:
Anyway, refering back to the OP, I've seen more people going back due to marriages breaking up than finances. Of course, it could very well be that lack of money is the reason for the breakups, but at least seven or eight couples that I know of (mostly Brits, but a couple of other non Spanish nationalities) have split up/getting divorced. Usually kids are involved as well and one half is going home with the kids.
Some may go back to UK and claim benefits (I certainly would be claiming everything I was entitled to) but generally they are all nice people fallen on bad times. I feel for most of them and I'm just glad that I'm not in that position. As for moaning about the Spanish, I can't imagine why they would feel it was the fault of the Spanish.:huh:

Re: Sinking Ship?
 

Not me ,I`m British and feel nuetral about it ,proud for some reasons and ashamed for others , have no desire to be more Spanish than any other expat ,I guess some people are insecure and want to be seen as intergrating better than others.

Re: Sinking Ship?
 

Todays retirees wanting to move from the UK are certainly much better off and better informed than the olden days.
Many may not even have to sell their UK home in order to fund a purchase abroad.
People will retire abroad at the current exchange rate because despite everything it is probably cheaper (and certainly healthier) living in Spain than in the UK.:)

Re: Sinking Ship?
 

There's an old saying about this. Can't quite remember. Something like "when the money goes out the door, the love goes out the window".
That's not like for like. If you want to travel 4+ hours or go on cheap holiday destination in Africa or Asia of course it's going to be cheaper, but it's not going to be Europe.

Re: Sinking Ship?
 

Funny:lol: Usual responses on here for any complaint in Spain. For all they know the poster could be bi-lingual, married to a spaniard etc. I think a lot of these assumptions are made because that is how they are themselves.

Re: Sinking Ship?
 

:rofl::rofl::rofl:
I get accused of the wanting to be British and told to go back to blighty with my Brit ghetto mentality.
It is a hoot.

But remember IF YOU TEACH A PARROT TO BARK, IT DOES NOT BECOME A DOG.....:blink::blink:

On a more serous note did anyone see the report about a Muslim woman called Fatima who has lived for years in Cunit (an islamic intergration representative) who is being abused and hounded by the Muslim population in her town for not covering her head.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...021205010.html

it seems the whole cumminty has turned their back on her, and are even abusing her children in the street.

The case is in court today

Re: Sinking Ship?
 

This shows one of the many reasons I personally feel islam has no place in the western world ,it`s just not compatable .

Re: Sinking Ship?
 

Yes I agree. We had a receptionist in the UK who was a muslim but outgoing and westernised. One day a bearded muslim man came in and berated her for her dress and said she should be at home not working. Shortly afterwards she received a letter threatening to break her legs.

PS...why are we discussing muslims:blink:;)

Re: Sinking Ship?
 

Well it is quite a big story on the Spanish telly....:)

In fact it is a little light relief from the Ivonne Reyes-Pepe Navaja:ohmy: story

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Ged away! You learn something every day! Africa is not in Europe. Don't think anyone said it was, just that people are considering and taking holidays there instead of Spain. Anyway, "África empieza en los Pirineos", which makes Spain in Africa! :rofl:

Re: Sinking Ship?
 

I was always told by northern Spaniards that Africa starts at Granada

But it doesn't matter it's so close I can see it out of my window.

Re: Sinking Ship?
 

I( hadn’t thought much about relationship break-ups and concentrated on the falling pound being the biggest factors for the sinking ship.

Now that I have, it must be a factor, because I’ve seen it all around. What causes it? Cheap booze, a social madness due to living in a foreign country, coming over to escape a failing relationship?

I’ll settle for the latter, and remember a time when I first arrived, slightly wounded by life because of my own stupidity, and believing that I was living in a community of lost souls.

It lasted a while, and some of it wasn’t too bad, but when I think back on it now, it was a daft time. Apart from that lost soul from Beckenham, we nearly made it.

I’m a respectable Joe now, mostly, a parrot that knows how to bark, but I’m still a dog.

Re: Sinking Ship?
 

Shortly after I purchased my first apartment in 1989. I realised that many Brits were leaving Spain becuase the cost of living had shot up. They weren't used to it.

Time moved on and the migration home eased off, and the migration into Spain increased once again.

Now we are back in the same times as the early 90s, and folk, frightened for whatever reason, are having to head back home to lick whatever wounds may have been suffered. But, as has been said, 'This too, will pass' - whether in good times or bad, nothing lasts for ever, life continues in cycles.

Best wishes to those who have suffered, good luck to those fighting on.

Re: Sinking Ship?
 

I quite like the idea that a lot of us want to be 'born-again' Spanish.
Immigration is fine if you're prepared to fit in. That goes for immigration into the UK too. Very few people who move to Spain for the right reasons ever *want* to go back.

Re: Sinking Ship?
 

You've missed a few:

• My spouse is Spanish.
• My kids are Spanish
• My in-laws are Spanish
• And I've got a DNI

Doesn't make me Spanish though... and I couldn't really care less either way. I love living here though and couldn't face the idea of going back to Britain.

Re: Sinking Ship?
 

I think about going back every July and August, not only because of the heat, but also because of the millions of holidaymakers clogging up the whole system. The half-hour drive to the airport turns into a two-hour nightmare stuck in traffic, the cashpoints are regularly out of cash, Mercadona runs out of fresh bread, and everything smells of coconut oil.

And Mosquito repellent. I suppose if they made it smell nicer, it wouldn’t repel them.

Re: Sinking Ship?
 

I love that smell! :thumbup:

Re: Sinking Ship?
 

I don't know your location, but if you are able to, hurry along to the Levante Beach in Benidorm. That's where I've smelled the smell most strongly.

Come to think of it, I'm only an hour away from there myself . . .and I still know where to find a parking space . . . and that giant Spanish cafe at the Rincon de Loix end . . .I wonder if the Platters are still playing at that other place on the front . . .

Re: Sinking Ship?
 

Sadly still in the UK but will be in Costa Blanca (Javea) in about 4 weeks for 1 of my fixes this year :)

Re: Sinking Ship?
 

Effluent ?