In 2007 we moved to Tenerife, bought a house off plan, with a lot of research under our belt and it was not done on the spur of the moment. We were already in the UK state pension system, so it was easy to transfer immediately to the Spanish system. There is a reciprocal pension arrangement between EEC countries. We have to pay a little towards prescriptions now, not at the start, but so do Canarian pensioners, so that is fair enough. The police mean what they say here. You need to take a translator with you to doctors, as they are not supposed to talk English, but in practice if we speak some Spanish a lot will speak English back, as they want to practice!!! Always better to take a translator when special health needs are to be discussed though, money well spent. We bought off plan in 2005 so had two years getting us and our family used to the idea of us moving.
It is hard and I can't disguise that, especially for women leaving family, but there is email, phone, FaceTime etc. and you just have to work at communication. You have to allow yourself time to let your emotions settle, which I think took at least 3 years and some people take longer others less time. We lived nearly 300 miles from our family in the north west of England anyway they are down in the south, so were never in each others' pockets.
I've had a knee replacement operation and a gall bladder removal operation privately here, but was offered a new knee on the health system here very quickly, but I didn't trust that particular surgeon. I worked very hard at physio before and after my knee operation. I can do more at 70 than I could at 50 and now no pain in that leg. Wonderful. We found the health system very good at preventative monitoring and I have several health problems all of which are well catered for here.
I belong to a church. I am a gardener and can't envisage life without plants around me and fun finding out what works with plants here. It is wonderful to garden all year round, but this year like the rest of the world it has been a very cold year. We dug out a patio so that I can mostly garden at waist height and love to be outside gardening.
I helped start a craft group at church. I came to keep active in retirement and am not one for sitting on a balcony drinking all day or sitting sunbathing, but love the sun and no longer need a light box, which I needed for SAD in the UK. I joined a municipal gym and have a deal using that all the week from 7am to 3pm, Would not want to go back to the UK. I am now 70 and my husband 74 and we have just celebrated our golden wedding anniversary with a church blessing and re-took our wedding vows.
Hope this is of help to someone thinking of moving. Take your time, really do your research. Double check everything and if you are dithering, just do it. Always expect the unexpected and be flexible. You can always go back if you don't like it, but if you don't do it, you might regret that for ever. Make sure you have enough money to be comfortable. It is not the paradise holidaymakers might dream of, be sensible, but adventurous too.