Got the CE bit now. Only thing I would consider with Spain and such like is that I don't play golf so a golf complex style of place would not really be of interest.

Other thing I am very mindful of is that as I plan to live wherever I go full time I would not want somewhere that's a ghost town of locked up apartments and villas come the winter and that's as dull as dishwater at Xmas etc. I'd equally not like to live somewhere that got overrun by gob-shite oiks in the high (or indeed any other) season, English, Spanish or wherever they come from. I'm not that keen on apartment complex buildings either where quality of life can be heavily dependant on the quality of neighbours (what with barking dogs, late night parties and general noise that I'd rather do without). All sound a bit negative and grim but better to work out what you don't want from a place and delete options/developments from the list than regret it for years after!! . Full time living is also different to a holiday home but I'd still rather avoid those 'issues' with any type of property acquisition, particularly if it's a purchase.

Various issues with Spanish property build quality and the problems that the current financial have brought for many places (builds and developments suspended or abandoned even) and the ghost towns as people bail out are also a concern. I think this may be more problematic with countries heavily reliant on tourism and particularly where they build vast complexes to accommodate just that source of income and resident.

If you don't want to live in the complexes like CE why not take a look at the old towns and the smaller new builds in Ayamonte area or any of the small towns all the way up to Punta Umbria just outside Huelva. Then you'd still have access to the expat community etc but also a Spanish community. Best of both worlds! There are also nice little towns all the way down the coast in Portugal. You could explore the whole of the coast right from Jerez/ Cadiz up to Huelva and across to Portugal. Would make a nice trip I think.

Might well do that. First though I think I'll be heading off to check out Malaysia and Panama. Thanks for the heads up Anne!!

I think you comments re spain are valid, but I would suggest your concerns are more appropriate to Malaysia which depends even more heavily on tourism and has no building control.

I get what your'e saying but we may be on different wavelengths.

For me the concerns with Spain are:
1) Current state of its economy and growing unrest associated with it.
2) The knock on effect of that on the Euro and the impact on prices/cost of living.
3) The situation with regard to the property market and resale values and such like.
4) Difficulty in choosing the right place as Spain on many of the costas has its own unique brand of tourism for parts of the year and it's getting the balance of being far enough way not to be impacted yet not being so remote that you become a recluse.

Sure there is much tourism in Malaysia but to me it is not of the same type and I find Asian cities have a different 'buzz' to them, in or out of the tourist peak, which contrasts sharply with, say, Benidorm. Not knocking it, just personal preferences and using the extreme of Benidorm as an example.

I think we are in agreement re where not to stay in spain,

Having watched a few episodes on TV showing (mostly) English yobs in Malaga and Bankok I get the impression there is not a great deal of difference. IMHO the ecconomic situation is not nearly as bad as you are suggesting. Indeed for someone in your posisition as a cash buyer who does not need to work it is advantageous. You will get more house for your money and IMHO things will improve unless those W.. bankers screw it up again. Spain is not all about tourism. There are many unspoiled spots all along the Costas or just a few miles inland where you can find many spanish towns and villages where you never see a tourist.

You may be right, but we all have to make decisions based on what we feel happy with. I'd hardly call the financial situation in Spain settled at the moment and know of several people who are now regretting their purchases which have devalued considerably in some places which were perhaps ghost towns at the best of times. Where the pointer might happen to settle on any individual's 'problem scale' is to a degree irrelevant to me. Don't mean that in a nasty way but I have to be content with what i decide based on what I believe rather than what others might.

I'm not sure I'm ready for a life of peaceful seclusion yet and still want a social life in a situation that appeals to me. Far Eastern cities/towns seem to fit the bill more. On the 'yob culture' front whilst there will always be exceptions I have experienced FAR fewer problems with the club 18-30 types in the Far and Middle East than in Europe in high season. Yobs are the same in most places, it's the level of occurrence and density that I get concerns about. Like I say though, it's whatever people feel happier with themselves.

You are right what suits one may not suit another. You are fortunate to have a choice. I wish you well and wherever you pitch up it would be nice to hear how you get on.

Indeed. Good luck to you too. I dare see it will be a year of exploration and then some kind of move, maybe sooner if somewhere does it for me early on. Have a house to sell though so it will take some time.