Would you relocate to Spain as a single person?

[Where2live]

I know it's summer NOW and the weather is beautiful, but I found the last winter horrendous. It went on forever, I had the heat on ALL the time. Scuttled to work. Scuttled home again. My children will both be finished university (if the younger one goes) by the time I'm 60, in 13 years. I have no really close friends here, I mean, I'm friendly with people but nobody would be weeping if I leave I have become more introverted as I've got older. out of necessity really. I feel like I'm at the end of a period of trying to meet somebody. I tried for 3 years, it didn't work.

If I have clay, books, a sewing machine and the internet I could in theory hardly notice the difference between here and there, except it'd be hotter I speak Spanish and it's pretty good. I could be fluent again within a year or less. I am rusty speaking it but I can understand written Spanish perfectly. I know that it is speaking it that I need to speed up on. Speak faster I mean.

But I might end up even more isolated?! I don't really want to be single and more specifically, alone, for ever, but I don't want to be alone in the cold either!

Any thoughts?

ps, I have one school friend in Almería but realistically I wouldn't be seeing her more than once every two months probably. I'd want to me somewhere between Málaga and Alicant/Elx

I think it’s a great idea!!!

Check out health insurance, medical needs. Check you’ll be protected and cared for. Then......do it!

Do it! I love a good adventure. Life will embrace you if you embrace it, or something like that!

Not Spain, but I moved to Portugal on my own in 2007. Still here, still crap at speaking Portuguese but I get by and it's home now :)

Wow thanks so much for the replies already. And positive vibes!

@sarahlou63, did you move to the traditional coastal type place favoured by ''ex-pats'' or did you move to a town. How did you decide?

Where2live I had no idea where to go (my only experience of Portugal was a week's holiday in the Algarve that I won on a radio show!) so I started by renting a place for 6 months in the very un-touristy north, then tried the Algarve for a further 6 months but found it waaay too much 'golf and lunch' expat style. Finally settled near Tomar, 150km north of Lisbon - beautiful area, just a smattering of expats and tourists but authentic Portugal.

Where you live will probably be the determining factor in how social your life will be. We used to live inland in southern Spain with all Spanish neighbours for 8 years . They were fabulous, welcoming and generous and would do anything for us but despite this we never really became part of their social circle, which was often very family orientated. We tried very hard to integrate, attending town events etc but in the end we had to seek out other Brits for a more active social life. That is obviously just our experience and I'm sure others are more successful. Maybe it was because we were a family, I don't know.

We now spend 6 months a year close to the coast. We have a very active social life when we are there, far more than when we are in the UK, but it's all with other Brits. As a single person you would have no problem being social here, there are clubs for everything and lots of single ladies (and gents) having a ball.

If you don't fancy that but worry about isolation I suggest you go just a few miles inland where you can live a more authentic Spanish life on a day to day basis but can seek out the hustle and the bustle without a long trek to the coast or nearest big town.

Good luck.

I would be happy with a mixture. I can speak to spanish people and be as friendly as I'm welcomed to be iykwim but I wouldn't turn my nose up at a British circle of friends. My friend told me about a place called altabox (?) she said it's a good mix of Spanish and some British and Irish with things I could join. The car boot sales are amazing she said and she drives from near Lorca for them! So I will look in to that place. google inmobiliaria en Altabox

thanks fussychica and sarahlou63

Before brexit I would say go for it, but post brexit you are going to need some oretty hefty health insurance and you may not get a residence visa if you don't have a job.

It's Albox.

I know it VERY well.

It's 45 minutes inland and the weather is a bit different to the coast. Hotter in summer, colder in winter. It's not particularly pretty as it's a working town rather than a white village but it does have a certain charm. Lots of expats live in this whole area (Almanzora Valley) but nothing like the numbers on the Costa del Sol or Costa Blanca, partly because it's quite undeveloped, with little public transport, particularly inland. Personally, these days I'd consider somewhere a bit closer to the coast but the Albox area would almost certainly offer you plenty opportunity to meet both Spanish and expats and there are lots of clubs/societies etc on offer.

I'll stop there but feel free to pm me or ask as many questions as you like about the area and I'll try to answer.

Hi OP, I think it’s a good idea. If it’s not for 13 years then there’s plenty of time to see how brexit plays out. I have nine years until my youngest goes to university and plan to go the same, although I have lived in Spain before and still have friends there.
It is very hard to completely integrate with the Spanish locals, even if you speak fluent Spanish but there’s no reason why you can’t have a mixed social life with expats and the local community.

How are you going to get the right to live there when we're out of the EU? There'll probably be a visa system, but will you qualify? There's time yet to explore these options, but people I know who want to live in Europe are moving now with the hope that they might be allowed to stay in the future - no guarantees of course.

If it's not for 13 years I just guess you'll have to see how things go with Brexit.Last I heard was that a majority of EU countries aren't planning to clamp down as hard on British immigrants as we are on EU immigrants (which is totally unfair, but good for us), but who knows what they'll be saying in a year's, or even 5 minutes', time.

Other than that, it's all about research, and finding the right place to settle in. I'd go for one with a good mix of locals, British people, and ideally other nationalities, too- one with a thriving community that matches your interests (you sound quite artistic), maybe a small village with good public transport links to a larger, vibrant town?

I know so many people who just buy a pretty house in the country, whether here or abroad, without paying much attention to the kind of community they're moving to, and whether it's a good match for them, who then complain of boredom, isolation or unfriendly locals.

If you are thinking of moving soon Do remember the cut off date of end March 2019 or end of December 2020 if the transition deal is signed. If you are resident by the cut off the EU will respect your rights to stay. Also keep campaigning for remain as Brexit could always not happen or be delayed.

I would; but I'd have a job. If you can afford decent health insurance and somewhere lovely, I would.

Well, maybe a little job like reading the tarot cards but I would like not to have to work. Working in a financial field right now and would prefer to go when I have preserved pension benefits. Don't think I am eligible for state/work pension until 66-67 so I will be living off the difference between renting out a house in dublin. Also being Irish I'm hoping that the eligibility to health care is less complicated.

@fussychica thank you for the second opinion on albox. Doesn't sound too marvellous when you describe ! Are there any places you would you recomend? I would like to be able to get ONE bus/coach from an airport to 'my' town. I would prefer they spoke castellano not valenciano or catalan because at this point in my life I'm not looking for any extra challenges. I know Santa Pola and in my youth (20-22) I seem to remember that everybody spoke Spanish but am I remembering that incorrectly. A lot of people who worked in Elche decamped to Santa Pola at weekends and my recollection is that I always understood everybody and I do not remember that I was ever excluded by not speaking Valenciano but .......... when I look at the maps of where valencian is spoken, ''elx'' and Santa Pola would seem to be valencian speaking areas. Very confused about that! I need to go on a rekky and of course I will! But my mind is racing already so any clarification you can provide would be gratefully received!

Well anywhere down from Alicante province and you don't have to worry about Valenciano but although I have spent some time up that way I don't know it well.

Buses are a rarity in Almeria province though there is a private shuttle from both Alicante and Almeria airport to various towns in the province including Albox. If you dont like the sound of Albox ( I actually like it) there are lots of good spots closer to the coast like Vera, Huercal Overa and Turre or Mojacar Pueblo (a white village) or the playa itself. All these places have a proper bus service, weekly markets and lots of restaurants and bars. The last 3 have plenty of expats around and therefore offer social activities like various classes, am dram, quizzes, zumba, tennis etc.

Probably a month during winter in a few areas would give you a reasonable idea of what it's like, property available and how easy it is to get around.

thanks @fussychica, I'm google mapping those towns and doing a bit of research on them. When my DC are with their dad I'll make a reconnaissance mission!

Eligibility to healthcare might be more complicated that you think if you don't have employment when you go and have not yet reached state retirement age. I'd research it very thoroughly before going as in many EU countries it's no longer automatic if you fall into the "not working" category....

Yes no state healthcare here unless working and paying social security or already a state pensioner.