As you are in your fifties, and have no private health insurance, what do you do about healthcare?

Well that list above sounds more like a script from Place in the Sun. Music, art, drama...maybe in Northern Spain but andalucia

Probably pop back to the placethey keep slagging off

iQuite, or are they are taking a huge risk by not having any cover, or perhaps using the UK EHIC card?(not allowed) There is no way you can live in Spain without care-how could you sleep at night? Some were entitled to free care if resident before April24th 2012, is that the case?

Unless the house was declared illegal and bulldozed?

[QUOTE=chrisjolly;10778772]Do you really need an answer??

1. The weather
2. The incredible lifestyle that living outside offers
3. The cost of living..still much cheaper than the UK
4. The people..generous, kind, community spirited, family orienatated, funny, involved in music, dance and culture.
5. The music of Flamenco
6. Culture, art, cinema and drama.
7. The environment, wild in places, mountainous, desert like, beaches
8. The wildlife, birds, animals and plants
9. The proximity to France, Morocco and Portugal.
10. No Channel to cross
11. No island mentality
12. No rat race, keeping up with the Jones´s, mowing lawns in straight lines
and personalised number plates.


1. Not always, cold winter if villa uninsulated, sahara rain, unbearable August for some who then go back to UK.
3. Many are finding this is not now the case
6. How many ex pats does this apply to?
7. Applies just as much in GT Britain
8. Ditto
9. Not necessarily a good thing!
10. Why would that bother anyone?
12. I disagree-live on an urbanisation ( though not as much in villages)and you will often see many examples of keeping up with the Joneses eg. latest cars, adding extensions like a lego house, fancy walls,changing every thing in sight as if they've got more money than sense!

Never regretted moving to Spain, haven't regretted moving back either!

I have always had links with Spain as grandfather was Spanish and we always had a house there. My last job in the uk included travelling north a couple of days per week. One October it seemed everytime I was driving on the M1 it seemed to be raining, work was a bit stressful and I though F*** it. We moved out for good at the end of November...not that I moved out for the weather It was for all the art galleries and first nights at the theatre

It's the obvious question really, isn't it? In their fifties, "OH has health issues", can't afford health insurance, not sure it's the move I would have made. Even if it means waking up to the sun every morning! Mind you, I'm a bit puzzled about being told they are too old to work in their fifties, am I the only one that knows loads of people working in their 50's and 60's? Most of my friends are in that age group and they are all working, except those that have retired early.

It was built with a proper building licence for a vivienda and has a licence of first occupation, approval from the Junta de Andalucia and is registered and has a proper escritura.

There are many legal properties in the campo.


Why would you think it was illegal?

Honest post. People rabbit on about culture etc. yet how many could name 3 Spanish Poets or Authors without googling. The diet is another often quoted reason,fact: you can eat exactly the same in the UK. As for integration the odd 'Buenos dias' from someone who you may pass regularly does not mean integration. And let's not forget the 'outdoor lifestyle' platitude. As Cricketman pointed out temperatures in Spain can be extreme, too hot, too cold or too wet to enjoy the outdoor life.
I have long dreamed of moving to Spain but (at least for now) the dream is over.

As regards cost of living, it's always interesting how many people always find it cheaper, yet others differ.
This may help in comparing costs. Most things are cheaper, but items such as published materials or internet service can be more expensive



http://www.spanish-property-sales.ne...c#.UdCc3W2bClL

...and their off as RugbyMatt would say

What would you expect a property sales website to show, it's better in the UK

Me, me me! I could name 3 Spanish poets, authors etc, but then I don't live in Spain. I've also read many of them, watched lots of Spanish TV etc, you don't have to be in Spain to do that either. The much lauded med diet, Spain has the third highest child obesity levels in the world, they've forsaken it for Yankee fast food.
http://www.theolivepress.es/spain-ne...my-number-one/
Agree with the integration, if you want to see what the Spanish really think of Brits, read their forums, it's not good reading, it's not very flattering.
The outdoor life for many during the hottest months involves staying out of the sun, travelling from an air conditioned house in an air conditioned car, to an airconditioned shopping mall/restaurant/bar etc. We've have spent months there in April/May, October time and really enjoyed it (although April/May has been dire at times abril, aguas mil, Hasta el cuarenta de mayo no te quites el sayo!!!) the height of the summer you can keep for me.

I found the winters seemed to be getting longer, scarcely any spring with suave temperatures, then one day straight into scorching weather. My neighbours kids had to play in the basement during the summer for coolness. Saw a post on here last week almost boasting that it was 35C and I thought is that supposed to be good A nice temperature of 24C year round would be fine for me.

June and September were my favourite months.

You just wrote my list for me!