What does everybody do?
 

Planning to spend 6 months in Spain (Costa Blanca) and living as opposed to holidaying while we look round and find somewhere permanent. I wondered what everyone does to occupy their time. I can find plenty to do in the UK even though I'm retired, but don't know what the situation is out there. And no I don't play golf! I suppose learning the language will take up some time but not 24/7. I'm into home brewing and DIY, also writing, but am open to suggestions as to other activities. Any ideas anyone?

Re: What does everybody do?
 

You will probably spend half your time on paperwork. lol and the rest relaxing after the paperchase.

Re: What does everybody do?
 

Last year we had 69 people come to visit us so we didn't have a lot of spare time, what time we did have we used to recover from the visits:D Not so many this year but still a steady flow, between the 21st Aug and the 20th Sept we have another 10 people arriving, so no time for snoozing:zzz:

Don't worry hrothgar you will find plenty to do, the time here in Spain just flies by, no sooner do you get up it seems like it's time to go to bed;) Wait to you are here you will wonder:blink: what you did with your life before Spain :thumbsup:

Re: What does everybody do?
 

What??? :eek: All at once?:ohmy:

Now I know why I stay in the UK!!

Re: What does everybody do?
 

I spend most of my time carrying bags of sand up steps

Re: What does everybody do?
 

:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

Re: What does everybody do?
 

No, not all at once, silly.....the first peeps came at the end of Feb and the last ones went home middle of Spet. July and August we had only one week when there was no visitors.:blink::blink:

Re: What does everybody do?
 

Have a big family, and between us we have 5 children some of them come out 3/4 times a year to see us, not complaining as we love having people here but it is hard work and can cost a fortune:eek:

Re: What does everybody do?
 

In that case I must make sure I rent the smallest apartment possible.

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Very definitely otherwise the visitors are nonstop and as Crispy says it gets expensive!!

Re: What does everybody do?
 

There are writers´ groups in javea and denia - not sure which bit of the Blanca you are heading for?

Re: What does everybody do?
 

Whatever you got/get up to in the UK you can do over here:lol:

Re: What does everybody do?
 

Its hard to find time between coffee and brandy after breakfast, tinto verano after lunch, sunbathing, swimming, bit of shopping then evening to to anything really! Specially now in august, plenty of bedrest necessary!!

Re: What does everybody do?
 

I find you can squeeze the sleeping/siesta in with the sunbathing just put lots of suncream on!

Re: What does everybody do?
 

Hadnt thought of that one! Must try it probably tomorrow..................

Re: What does everybody do?
 

Don`t do what my son did and lay with your arm over your body.

Nice stripe !

Re: What does everybody do?
 

Can some one tell me if JDR said something then;) I think he maybe on ignore for some!

Re: What does everybody do?
 

Re: What does everybody do?
 

So you get some perks of the job then

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Re: What does everybody do?
 

interesting number:rofl:

Re: What does everybody do?
 

How old are you??

Re: What does everybody do?
 

mentally I am obviously a lot younger

Re: What does everybody do?
 

I knew some one would have to say something (thought ir would have been Matt) I once won a raffle with that number, didn't live it down for ages amongst my friends

Re: What does everybody do?
 

So, did you really have 69 visitors or was it so near that you thought of the amusement angle on here with the boys?

Rosemary

Re: What does everybody do?
 

Believe it or not Rosemary it was 69, this year so far it is only 26 so it feels as if we have had a holiday:D Oops make that 28 just remembered daughter and son-in-law were here in June.

Re: What does everybody do?
 

Plus wait around for months on end for tradespeople.

So paperchase. waiting around, shopping, eating, drinking, sunbathing, learning Spanish, siesta's, fiesta's and everything that you normally do should take up the vast majority of your time.

Timetable change and temperature change also has an effect so everything you do you do at a slowere pace. We tend to rise a lot later than we did in UK, have a long leisurely breakfast instead of stuffing it down our throats and rushing off to work. Working on our house, have a late lunch, shopping, siesta, learning Spanish and then it is time to cook and eat dinner. We usually end our evenings by sitting on our roof terrace looking at the view and cooling off (if we are lucky).

Rosemary

Re: What does everybody do?
 

I am know officially a someone!!! that must be a step up from a nobody:o

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Not sure how highly it counts if the someone is Matt. No offence Matt - only a bit of fun.

Rosemary

Re: What does everybody do?
 

Depends where you live and your outlook on life. There is so much more to do here than uk ,mainly because its affordable.
I could do with a hand Sept, Almond Harvest 500 trees , Nov- Dec Olive harvest 200 trees , winter oranges, Garden 10 months of year. Cutting wood for wood burner, Painting/ Maint of Cortijo, Spanish lessons, meeting friends. fishing, trips in the countryside. The list is endless i am in my fifth year and it seems like yesterday that we drove down from uk.
I would first rent for 6 months and keep property in uk We have an estate agent friend who says if you last 9 months you are normally ok and a lot dont last which financially is a disaster for them.The add on taxes of buying and selling in a falling property market should make anyone cautious.
Dont be put off its a fabulous counrty with wonderful friendly people choose area and friends wisely.

Re: What does everybody do?
 

Thanks for that - the mention of a woodburner reminds me of when I had a cottage which had one that did all the central heating and hot water. Trouble was I spent most of my free time chopping wood!

Re: What does everybody do?
 

It is amazing how fast the time flies by. It seems like yesterday that we first moved here, it's actually over 3 years ago. Family and friends visit. We have made new friends in our village. We pop out to get the bread and return six hours later. People are so much friendlier here. If you make the effort, even by just saying 'Hola' they appreciate it. We have been invited to weddings, communions, children's birthday parties and for dinner in our Spanish neighbour's house.
We live in a beautiful part of Andalucia which is an ideal spot for artists.
I am teaching myself to draw, slowly. I go to the markets and buy books. We both enjoy photography and walking. We have been to all the villages in our area and taken many photos.
We also write a daily blog of our life here in Spain.
We have three border collies, four cats, two donkeys and are looking after 5 motherless kittens at the moment.
I am not sure if I can post our website addresses here, but if anyone is interested pm me and I will send you the links.

Re: What does everybody do?
 

You are not allowed to post promotional url`s, but if you go to "my profile" "edit signature" you can put it in there and it will show on every post you make. ;-))

Re: What does everybody do?
 

Hi Rhiannon1 well I must say you life sounds idilic, where in Andalucia do you live,we are looking at that area to move to.I would just love a donkey myself and another boxer dog or two.Im also interested in water colour ,I hope to spend more time on hobbies when we move.I would be interested to look at your links,JDR says you can put them where your signature goes,look forward to them:thumbsup:

Re: What does everybody do?
 

Hi Jean,

Just click on Rhiannon's name and go to "View Public Profile". The link to her webpage is there ;)

Re: What does everybody do?
 

Thank You Martha, how are you today ?? :wub:

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Hey there gorgeous *waving to you in front of my screen* ;)

I'm doing ok!

Hospital appointment tomorrow.....fingers crossed for a good outcome!

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Ahhhhhhhhh the best of luck,hope it goes OK for you.........:thumbup:

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Hi Jandy hope you like our websites. We live in a mountain village called Benarraba. It's off the main road to Ronda, just passed Gaucin. This part of Spain is absolutely beautiful. We are so lucky to live here, the views are spectacular. It's an ideal place for artists. I think I have managed to get a couple of links in my signature.

Re: What does everybody do?
 

Hope everything went well for you at the hospital :)