I understand what you mean about standing on the sidelines not feeling part of something. However, if you were in a small community and included in everything you would feel totally differently about the whole thing. My husband was delighted when he was asked to help to carry one of the images even though we are not Catholic. I asked why they had invited him and I received a blank look and was then told that we are an integral part of the community. Every year until my husband became ill we were in one of the processions and I have continued with this since he died. Again it is almost as though it is expected due to being here. Our neighbours have always taken a great deal of pleasure in telling us about each fiesta and the significance of each event.

Rosemary

I'm genuinely pleased that you feel so loved by and involved in your community. How did you achieve this? Did you have a good level of Spanish prior to your move?

This forum is not picking on this couple-I think anyone would wonder how a couple in their fifties on a low income, can afford healthcare in Spain as:
They cannot go back to UK to see their GP as that would be fraud
They cannot use their EHIC if living here
They are not eligible for free care in Spain.
Just because the sunny weather has improved the husband's health doesn't mean he won't need a doctor out here. What about emergencies, accident etc?Can't travel back then!

I would say that it was achieved by being open and friendly, approachable but above all by showing a genuine interest in events, the town and the people. Also it is down to how friendly the people are in our town. Our Spanish was infantile when we came here but if people spoke to us we responded in a friendly manner. I joined in with the ladies of the town and that broadened the number of people who spoke to me. When my husband was ill I felt very supported by these people and since he died this support has strengthened. I am useless at languages and whilst he needed 24 hours a day care for almost 3 years I could not take any time to continue learning and the stress caused a memory block so I had to start learning again when he died last July. My spoken Spanish is terrible but I understand most of what is said to me so they are very forgiving.

Rosemary

That's a strange place you live. Using a non-Catholic is unheard of and would be considered sacrilege in most communities. There is great competition for the honour and most never manage it in their lifetime, lots of practice and praying beforehand too!

In a town of 3000 people it is not difficult for all of the men to have the opportunity to carry the various images. The time when Graham was asked to do it they sellected certain sections and changed people in order that quite a lot of people carried the image. We had all taken two days to paint the roadway in our street and the whole event was only for about 45 minutes. This was a dedication procession in just our street which has never occurred since so it was quite unique.

Rosemary

I think that sums it up nicely.
If you are nice people you shall always be accepted wherever you live, Spain or UK

I think that living in a small community is the key to feeling as though you belong here, we also live in a hamlet on the edge of a small village some kms away from a town, we are included in and expected to attend all of the local events.
We actually feel more that we belong here than we ever did living in a town in England.
On the other hand when we first made the move we lived for three months in Mijas Costa and hated it, surrounded by holiday lets we would never have felt at home there.

Perhaps the medical cover is just that, Being in Spain! Maybe that is what the doctor ordered, have you not heard of the placebo effect? Perhaps for you a prescription is the required salve for your pain or you may require a C.A.T. scan, some of us just need what we think we need. It is not all science. What did people do before the N.H.S? Some died, some suffered and some thrived. I hope Heikeund Alan are in the latter category.

Think so!

So, if it is in the mind, leave it there. An element of gamble is, I think, OK. Medicalising it will not necessarily make it better, even though you and I may see it as illogical, in some respects. Let others take their chances. The best of luck to them.

although in not too small a community here we are made welcome
biggest drawback is the number of people, even pensioners, who want to talk to us in English when we want to use our Spanish.
but go with the flow

Take a look at the link to those two houses I messaged you.
Around here you simply have to speak in Spanish as the locals don't speak English.... it's all good fun and they appreciate us trying... even though we often get it wrong.

so do we
we going to enjoy it while we can

Although living in a small community is a good way of getting to know people I believe that it is down to your attitude towards the people that really counts. If you treat people with genuine respect and do not come over as superior, richer or in any other way too different from them they will treat you with the same attitude. Unfortunately there are a lot of Brits/different nationalities who seem to think that the Spanish people are inferior and this is when bad feeling and more negative experiences can occur.

Rosemary