Thread: Why did you choose to move to Spain?

I am really starting to get fed up and have always dreamt of moving to Spain someday... It's just sooo cold here and everyone seems to be miserable all the time. I know they say the grass is always greener on the other side but if hundreds of thousands have decided to move to Spain then there must be something to it, or not?

What were your reasons to decide it was time to move to Spain?

Hi Franny, The main reason is the weather and the people. Life is completely different and this is the reason they say "Spain is different". We enjoy more time outside on streets, having a walk and with our family. For us work is important but not the most important thing, more important are friends, family and time off. You enjoy the day up till late, with kidds. Spanish people are very friendly and helpfull and we try do be happy all the time, even the economical situation is not good. Another important reason is the time we have nice weather and sun, even you do not believe it, it makes a big difference from a sunny place to a cloudy and cold place, you notice this in people´s faces. I hope you find your place.

Our reasons were very similar, Franny. It's warmer, sunnier, the pace of life is much slower and the cost of living is much cheaper (although watch the low exchange rate at the moment.) Yes, the people are more friendly and we notice how much more miserable people are when we go back to the UK. The Spanish are less materialistic and having a good time is more important than how big your house is or what you do for a living.

I must stress though that we are retired (albeit I'm only 61) and I don't know what the employment situation is at the moment. If you decide to move to Spain, spend some time travelling around to different places and don't buy a property off-plan - there are so many exisitng properties on the market at the moment to choose from and many owners are desperate to sell. We started off by renting a villa, which gave us time to look around and decide where we wanted to live.

Good luck - I'm sure you'll make the right decision eventually.

I can only agree with everything that has been said. I too am retired and love living down here because of the warmth, of the weather and the people and the simple life-style.
I don't speak much Spanish which doesn't really matter as I can spend ages in shops having a laugh with the staff as I try to pronounce a new word (word of the day tijeras which means scissors!) but I do think that it would be important to have a reasonable grasp of the language if you want to work down here.

I moved over to Spain to try something else I up and left the YUK with my Mum and Dad. nearly 4 years ago.
I loved everything about Spain the heat, the sun, the people, the cost of living. the food not that different from the UK Okay away from the coast you cant get your fish & chips etc. Tapas with every drink. the people look out for each other. Fresh fruit and veg on the markets I could go on and on and on. However I have just returned to the YUK as OH could not get use to the way of live over in Spain so have been back here now for just short of 2 months. I hate everything about being here almost everything I like interner shopping and getting your tesco's shop delivered this however means that I dont have any reason to leave the house.
Its cold its expensive gas bills a few euro's to the gas man on a monday and job done.
water bills - Didn't pay for water in Spain.
Again I could go on and on and on about the things I miss soooooo much about Spain.
I never thought that one day I would be lining in Spain but I did and it is something i would do again.
If it is something you want to do the just go ahead and do it what is the worst that can happen?

I wish everyone all the luck in the world with forfilling your dream of moving to Spain. Wish I was.

It's very difficult when you first move back isn't it, especially if you didn't want to go in the first place, Callum 1 ? Welcome to the forum by the way.
I remember when I moved briefly back to UK from MEast many years ago, I found my first few winter months in UK very hard to cope with but I'm sure you'll get used to it again in time. I remember being really cold at first and then too hot indoors with all the central heating which I wasn't used to.
At least Christmas is just around the corner and its fun there with all the lights, films and shops - I do miss that bit a little.

This question is almost a standard question and mostly is met with the same an answers. Personally Spain was not my first choice. We had always invisiged living in SW France, around the Pyrynese. However, when the time came we got on a plane to Malaga and decided to look at the most southern point of Spain and work back up Northwards.
We had last been to the Costa del Sol in 1972 with our two eldest children and Mijas in those days had about 6 shops and 2 bars, both with spitoons and sawdust floors which the kids thought as wonderful.
Spain to us had always been a holiday destination and little did we know that in 2002 we arrived in Malaga and fell in love with the inland areas. Game set and match, we moved down 4 months later and enjoy every single day, even the beurocratic days when you meet up with Mr Officialdom!!!!!!!
Of course the weather, the people etc all help and will continue to do so.

I walked into a trap! I was at a restaurant function in Torrevieja, having a wonderful time. At the time I was visiting whilst a colleague to my left who had lived here for years asked: "Why do you want to leave the UK, Mike?'
When I came up for air several minutes later he was smiling. "Now," he said; "Ask me why I want to leave Spain."
"Why do you want to leave Spain, Keith?"
His answer will answer your question. He said simply: 'I don't.'

It wasn't our first choice either, Keddyboy, and we thought we'd end up southern France too.
Infact, we spent several years deciding where to go. We checked out Cyprus first but were a little wary about attitudes to Brits at the time - there was some trouble with the army back in those days. As a long term expat, you become hyper sensitive about these things.
Then we checked out Normandy. Another holiday we went to Ireland - too expensive to buy for us. Had a good look at hotels in Cornwall.
Then tried Southern France - again pretty expensive.
We had always steered clear of Spain for our hols since we only had on leave a year and could go to exotic places, so had never even been.
We were in for quite surprise and liked it, especially as you say, the inland CDS - very beautiful and a well developed infrastructure and good holiday potential.
We drove up and down the whole of the south coast just to make sure, on several return trips, then rented for six months until we could find exactly what we were looking for.
A very long research project and I don't regret one moment of it and nor do I think we made the wrong choice, even in today's gloom and doom.
The Cornish hotel lost its customers and is worth less. The Cypriots are still more anti than the Spanish. I have quite a few good local friends. France and Ireland are still just as expensive as they were and the weather has been so bad in both lately that many of them come to holiday at mine. Vive Espana !