Thread: Moving back to the UK

Just received this one from an old member:

you can take us off your mailing list now, as, thank god, happy + settled back in uk, never to set foot out of this country again!!! Thanks

Must have been a bad experience here in Spain of them...

I wonder what "it takes" to move back home... What are the decisive factors?

For what it is worth here is my two cents worth :-)
Moving back to my country of birth, is something I have given some thought to since the death of my husband. He was the reason I moved here and we had a good life. Initially I never even gave it a second thought, I would move back after the funeral. After a trip to UK for his memorial service I changed my mind and could not get back 'home' to Spain quick enough. Life is hard in many ways but the blue sky and warmth was much better for my state of mind than grey wet days. Now 2 years on and looking to move on, 98% of the time I am looking here for a new life. The 2 % is .. should I look at going back to UK.

The reasons being, mainly my lack of language here which is a huge draw back and makes life very reliant on others. Not good for your self esteem. Everything you need to understand is a challenge, anything you need is fraught with the stress of your lack of understanding of the ways and means. The other great drawback is not driving which is a vicious circle with not know enough spanish. These alone would have made many go back I think, but I am stubborn/strong woman.



What does it take to go back ? I believe these things are among the list of reasons people go back...tire of the bureaucracy, corruption and not knowing who to trust. No work, no hand outs/help from government, not being able to get the health care they need as they don't qualify and cannot afford private scheme, the exchange rate. Besides these things I think the people/animal noise, the animal cruelty, the rubbish and general unfinished look of many buildings/ roads etc for some the endless fiestas and the upheaval they cause with streets closed etc. The lack of consideration for others, the driving and lack of customer service. Choice of area is also a factor for some, they bought in a small village or a busy town then found it was no so good for one reason or another. Loss of partner, birth of grandchildren in home country. When you add some of these to the equation and the fact many miss family and friends and various leisure time pursuits they cannot find here it makes for one unhappy person.

While I do not agree with all the things above I can see they are all part of a picture that eventually makes people think life will be better back from whence they came or a different country. For now I am still looking to stay here.