imlost

Hi everyone,

My name is actually Sandra but recently I find myself so lost that I thought I'd choose something along thos lines

My family and I moved to the Costa del Sol late last year. A full year has nearly passed and it seems that every day that goes by it will be harder to go back home and catch on where we left things and most scaring of all, everyday that goes by here in Spain.... Everything seems to get worse!

I don't want to sound too alarmed but I'm honestly really lost. Our Spanish is not so good yet so we haven't really been able to see or hear how the Spaniards are taking all this, but what seems clear to me is that its a tough time? Perhaps even time to move back home?

What's your experience?

Big Vern

Congratulations on your first year in Spain. We celebrated our first anniversary last night and my wife and I are very happy and certainly wouldn't contemplate moving back to the UK.

There is an economic crisis in pretty well every civilised country in the world at the moment and we can expect unemployment and inflation to rise in both the UK and Spain for a while yet. The euro/sterling exchange rate is also working against those of us who are on a fixed pension paid into a UK bank and I wouldn't expect it to return to normal for another 6 months yet. So yes - things are going to get tough here but.....

What you must ask yourself is why you moved here? We came for the fantastic climate (have you talked to anyone in the UK this year about their summer?!), the cheaper, healthier lifestyle (yes - the price of food is rising here, along with petrol, but so it is in the UK) and the more relaxed way of life.

I'm sure that Spaniards are finding life getting tougher now but it doesn't really change the fact that day-to-day life here is a lot better - fiestas aren't going to stop, you will still be able to buy a bottle of wine for €1 and enjoy eating out at lunchtimes for €8. Compare the price of taxing your car in the UK with Spain and think how much more Community Tax you would be paying to a local authority in the UK, TV licence, income tax, the tax on alcohol, VAT etc. etc.

...and how about crime? Every time I watch the UK news there are reports of more street stabbings and shootings. Life here in the north of the Costa Blanca anyway is virtually crime-free, apart from the odd break-in to a holiday home by someone of E. European descent.

Last time I went back to the UK in April, I was struck by how miserable everyone looked walking down the High St of my home town and how streesed everyone was. Here they are happy, have time to greet you when they pass you in the street and take time out to relax and enjoy themselves.

I would say - don't panic! I would rather ride out an economic crisis here than in the UK. Have an imaginary pair of scales in your mind and weigh up all the good things as well as the bad. Don't let the British media scare you - they love reporting bad news!

imlost

Hi Big_Vern,

First of all thanks a lot for congratulating me, what a coincidence that you are also here for a year now. All the best to you and your wife!

As for your answer, I have to say it has been very refreshing and motivating to read. I guess you are right, things are bad pretty much everywhere. And the reasons we moved out to Spain, have basically not changed.

I must admit, my panic probably comes from the fact that we are experiencing all this in a foreing country and feel lost. But truth of the matter must be that back home people will feel lost too...

Thanks again for your kind words!

Big Vern

De nada! ...or if you haven't got this far in your Spanish lessons yet "you're welcome!"

shelair

Hello to Sandra & Big Vern

Your 2 posts are great reading; I'm sure that a lot of people who've made 'the leap' are thinking about their next step. However, putting aside the gloomy reports from the UK and other countries; living here in Spain is infinitley better in many aspects than the UK.
We moved here 2 years ago, after much deliberating and loads of research about buying a new house/home we made the decision and have not looked back once.
Yes, its been frustrating, scary, difficult at times but we were up for a challenge and thankfully its been a 95% positive experience [the 5% has been the local Brits who care for nothing apart from 'where's my next San Miguel ,etc etc']
Both of us had jobs that entailed working VERY long hours, lots of preparation work to be carried out at home and many's the time I'd contemplated not getting on that bus, train and tram but rather going and sitting in the local park, but then reality reared its ugly head and the word 'Responsibility' always returned. Unfortunatley the sudden death of a close friend at age 49 brought things to the fore and this rubber stamped our decision to move which we'd been formulating for 5 years hence !
We're both glad we made the 'Move' . We're both feeling a damm sight healthier [perhaps not as wealthier - only pensions not salaries to live off ] . Where we'd visit our GP perhaps 4 + times a year on average ,here we've not [thankfully] had that pleasure, even the usual coughs & colds don't appear as horrible or long lasting.
In comparison to the life we previously lead we'd still choose living in Spain and yes, the recent world turmoil has made us think , like millions of others, about being just that little bit more frugal but lifes for living not just existing !

Enjoy life as much as you possibly can, and as long as you've carried out research on how you're going to finance your new lives, just enjoy living here . we do !

footsie

Hi all.well i defected here to spain nearly four years ago now.I left with my dog ,my pc and my car.yes it,s bloody hard going.especially when your a woman on her own.I bought my own apartment here in altea.which i thought was a bargin.(well at the time it was).i spent all my time looking for work.I must add.you do get taken for a mug when it comes to working in spain.but i never gave up.I rented room s out in my apartment.but the stories i could tell about that!.lol.seems most thought this was free rental.I joined an agency and was even going back to uk to work.just so i could live here.every time i did go back.it made me more determined to stay in spain.as was mentioned.uk very depressing.I had to mortgage my apartment last year to keep my head above water.but after all this.i still would,nt put the clock back.I had a break this year and landed two jobs.it took me nearly 4 years to reach my goal.but so happy i did.I love spain the way off life.I gave up a good B&B in cornwall and walked away from a stable but un happy life.I also have witnessed close friends die at a young age.life is not a rehersal.only you can make it work.I would never go back to uk now.well unless they throw me outa here!

shelair

Fantastic comment, footisie. You appear VERY determined so we wish you loads of luck and we're just sorry that an episode in your personal life made you move to Spain. Its a great country to explore but best of all just enjoy it

footsie

Hi thank you.It was not really one episode.Just life in general in uk.I was hooked on a place in the sun.lol.thought well if i dont do it now i never will!.
so glad i did.wish you all the best in this beautiful country.Kay.

shelair

Yes, it is a beautiful place to live in. I've posted some pics as to where w currently live, this will give a general idea as to hat we've done/doing.

stay well

greg

Ive just seen both your photo albums and I must say the photos clearly show how great and beautiful living in Spain can be! And your positive comments about the "final result" after moving to Spain are surely a big motivation to a lot of people thinking of making a move.