Aibu to seek an ex-pat community as I want to move somewhere English speaking?

It’s both good manners and self-preservation to learn the language if you’re moving somewhere, surely?

I know people think this is a piss take but Seattle is actually warm and dry and gorgeous from June to September! But with climate change, it's getting hotter and there's wildfire smoke.

Now, the rest of the year... that's another story in the PNW/southern BC. Although Victoria, BC has a really lovely climate, but you'd need a visa and it's very expensive. Anywhere really English speaking beyond the UK, you'd need to worry about immigration. So it's that or learn a language, because there's limitations to the expat bubble.

Central Europe? Warmer and drier. Not sure about the English though.

Malta?

As well as not wanting to learn the language or integrate into the local community. Just wanting to settle in little ghettos of English speaking communities......Sounds like a familiar complaint from certain quarters!

While calling themselves ex-pats instead of immigrants which they are.

Would keep away from Spain anyway what with all the protests at tourists.

@Skethylita As someone who has emmigrated (from mainland Europe to the UK) let me tell you that moving countries for the chance of better weather is bloody stuipd and will make you miserable, no matter what.

Hhahaha I totally disagree. We moved abroad 4 years ago and the catalyst was the UK weather (and covid). November - March is so so miserable in England. Agree you need to sit down and be very realistic about where you can go, job prospects, family etc, but I have 360 days of sunshine now every year and it was definitely worth it.

As someone.who has moved abroad, if you are actually serious, you need to be a lot more proactive.

1. Are you still working? If so, you need to think about where your best job prospects are. And work from there.
2. Are you retired? If so, what is your budget? Italy or Cornwall will be a lot more expensive than Spain. My parents have just retired to Spain and the cost of houses varies wildly. There are popupar expat places where you can't get a flat under 800k.

YANBU to look for places where there are other expats as you usually make friends more easily, people will be going through the same things as you etc.

While it's nice to think about making friends with locals, my experience is that locals will have their own friendship groups, different worries and experiences and it will be harder to form a bond with. Not impossible, just not as easy.

I'd prefer this then the situation here where the spouse gets everything. Then on remarriage the inheritance goes to the new spouse & their family instead of the kids from the original marriage. That's not fair.

Until one of the siblings wants to sell their share in the inherited house and the others don't..
Or when the NC/ n'aer-do-well sibling gets and equal share of inheritance!!

The Isle of Wight is the statistically sunniest part of the UK, and Malta is one of the sunniest places in Europe where English is widely spoken (though not the majority first language/ mother tongue it is for a sizable minority of residents).

Whether you can find work and establish yourself in either place is a different question.

These types of post are usually pipe dreams, which is fair enough but not worth other posters investigating too much in unless they mutually enjoy daydreaming about moving to an idealised location.

I actually really like French inheritance laws from what I know of them ( I’m British) I think they are quite fair in lots of ways,

Cyprus. English widely spoken, drive on the left. I think the electric sockets are usually the same too. Loads of ex pats. If you have to fill any official forms which are in Greek you just pay someone to do it for you.

Maybe the wrong word! I was thinking of inheritance etc. No offence meant to the French - France is my happy place, will be there in a few weeks!

Malta. English is an official language there.

What arcane laws are they? Seriously interested!

Everyone speaks english in malta but ut gets very hot in summer these days. My son went over 8 years ago and is still there and married a maltese girl.

It's more than a shame, it's fucking rude.
And living in a country takes a bit more than hand gestures and franglaise when dealing with legal matters, tradespeople and the rest of the community

You may be surprised to learn that they do mainly speak English in Cornwall and in the South of England. However, some Cornish people might speak, errm, Cornish.
By all means emigrate, but France has arcane and impenetrable laws for both living and dying, so research before ye go.
However, given you want a strong ex-pat community, it sounds like you only want an extended holiday rather than the bother of intregrating into your new community

You are so lucky - you have all of Europe to choose from.

For something radical New Zealand or Australia but obviously you need to look at whether you can get a work visa...

In the UK the South East is probably your best bet. I am on the Kent coast and it still rains quite often but obviously better weather than in Ireland.

If you want to move to Spain/Italy/France you really need to learn the language or you won't be able to deal with all the life admin and you will restrict your job opportunities. Plus of course with Brexit it is not that easy now to live and work in an EU country.

I understand wanting to have for example a cinema or theatre, maybe a bar, where English is spoken. Wherever you choose you should make an effort to learn the local language as mentioned for things such as shopping, paying bills, those kind of things.

True it’s nearly always possible to get your message across if you speak English but it doesn’t mean you can totally enjoy an aperitif with for example French people in France , make a joke, debate politics etc ,which is kind of a shame .