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Living overseas

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Original poster

Has anyone returned to UK from Spain?

35 replies

Touty · 21/04/2024 22:12

Hi, I’ve lived in Spain for over 10 years, for many reasons I’ve had enough and want to return to UK.

would like to hear from others in a similar situation.

OP posts:
Soggywelly · 22/04/2024 15:58

I'm in the same boat, also living in Spain and thinking about coming back.

Can I ask why you've had enough too?

Original poster
Touty · 22/04/2024 22:50

@Soggywelly the main problem is that I live in a remote part of a Spanish island, I feel isolated and restricted in what I can do. It’s a long drive to get anywhere. It’s beautiful here but I have never felt that it’s a place to live - but great for a holiday. Not much sense of community, people come and go all the time.

im getting older too, i just need something more than sun and beach.

What about you?

OP posts:
cheapskatemum · 22/04/2024 23:04

My cousin & her partner have. She said that after Brexit it became far more difficult to go in & out of Spain several times a year, which she needed to do to visit her elderly parents. They now go to their house in Spain for a few weeks once a year for a holiday & live back in England the rest of the year.

Maddy70 · 06/05/2024 16:44

Have you considered moving elsewhere in spain? Its just so problematic if you change your mind once you've moved back to the uk.
I would think very carefully. In spain the healthcare and public services are so much better. Dont move because you dont like the area when thats a fairly simple fix

Original poster
Touty · 08/05/2024 09:58

Maddy70 · 06/05/2024 16:44

Have you considered moving elsewhere in spain? Its just so problematic if you change your mind once you've moved back to the uk.
I would think very carefully. In spain the healthcare and public services are so much better. Dont move because you dont like the area when thats a fairly simple fix

I know what you mean and I’ve thought about that, I’ve looked a lot at the Alicante area along the Mediterranean coast, whilst the area is beautiful and cost of living would be lower than where I am now I still can’t help but think it’s a place to go on holiday but not live. Lots of foreigners there coming and going, but I’d like a community rather than just being somewhere where people are transient like where I am now. Also, there isn’t much work in the mainland.

if u know of a nice area can you recommend?

OP posts:
SharpLily · 08/05/2024 10:10

In the Marina Alta I've noticed a lot of people lately (the last three years maybe) moving from the islands to the mainland for mostly the same reasons you give. They seem happy with it.

mondaytosunday · 08/05/2024 12:02

@Touty my parents lived half of the year in Spain (didn't like the heat of the summers). They lived in between Mojacar and Turre. Great ex pat community - their phone was always ringing! My father was a member of the tennis club and they were big into art and met others. They travelled a bit in Spain too - going up to Madrid for a special exhibit for example. Their Spanish wasn't great but Dad in particular always made an effort and somehow managed to communicate. They had their own estate of over 8 acres and their own source of water. They were friendly with locals but most of their friends were early retirees from UK. They entertained a lot and had full lives (my Dad had a stroke and died so my mother felt that in her 80s she couldn't stay there on her own). Some people get involved local charities or wrote for the two English language papers. Check out 'Sun, Sea and Selling Houses' tv show- the Gardener family are in the area.
My MIL used to have a flat in Ibiza and worked the tourist season (she knows about five languages). Loved her time there (again quite elderly now and travels more to see family).
Maybe a hybrid? Half your time there then back here for half the time?

Maddy70 · 08/05/2024 15:14

Touty · 08/05/2024 09:58

I know what you mean and I’ve thought about that, I’ve looked a lot at the Alicante area along the Mediterranean coast, whilst the area is beautiful and cost of living would be lower than where I am now I still can’t help but think it’s a place to go on holiday but not live. Lots of foreigners there coming and going, but I’d like a community rather than just being somewhere where people are transient like where I am now. Also, there isn’t much work in the mainland.

if u know of a nice area can you recommend?

Show quote history

Im on the catalonia coast and love it. South of Barcelona and its beautiful I have a great friendship group. Lots of work in barcelona

overthinkersanonnymus · 08/05/2024 15:19

Gosh I'm so jealous!! Sorry op I know you're thinking of coming back, but there's nothing in the UK. It's falling to pieces.

@Maddy70 what sort of work is there in Barcey?

overthinkersanonnymus · 08/05/2024 15:20

@Maddy70 Barcelona- no idea what barcey is 😂 bloody autocorrect

Maddy70 · 08/05/2024 15:23

Its a big city so every job is available. Non of my friends have had problems getting work

BigDahliaFan · 08/05/2024 15:26

Friends live in Salobrena, it's a proper town with a real community. Very hot in summer though.....

Whenissummer · 11/05/2024 11:02

Spain is big and surely you will find a better place than coming back to the UK. Unless there are other reasons to come back.

Newestname002 · 11/05/2024 18:18

Maddy70 · 06/05/2024 16:44

Have you considered moving elsewhere in spain? Its just so problematic if you change your mind once you've moved back to the uk.
I would think very carefully. In spain the healthcare and public services are so much better. Dont move because you dont like the area when thats a fairly simple fix

Also don't forget to take state pension eligibility into account. I think you need to have paid 35yrs National Insurance before you're fully eligible? Also do check, if you've lived out of the country many years, whether you'll get all NHS treatment for free or if you need to make any payment, for example, for hospital treatment. 🌹

natura · 11/05/2024 18:29

I'm coming back to the UK from Spain this year (after 8 years), and completely get what you're talking about.

For me a lot of it is simply the sense of belonging – even after so long, there's a daily friction where everything takes just that little more effort, and it's tiring.

I miss not having to think so hard, having full fluidity and freedom in my language (I'm pretty fluent in Spanish but I still don't feel entirely like 'me' when I speak), shared cultural references and social memories...

I know the UK I'm returning to is not the one I left, but for better or worse, it's 'home'. I never thought I'd find myself feeling or saying that (been living abroad around the world since 2011), but here I am.

I have permanent residency now (do you have your 10-year TIE?) so I know if in the next 2 years I decide the UK isn't for me and I want to come back to Spain, I can. That's given me at least a little breathing room to try it on and see how it feels.

Whenissummer · 11/05/2024 22:45

natura · 11/05/2024 18:29

I'm coming back to the UK from Spain this year (after 8 years), and completely get what you're talking about.

For me a lot of it is simply the sense of belonging – even after so long, there's a daily friction where everything takes just that little more effort, and it's tiring.

I miss not having to think so hard, having full fluidity and freedom in my language (I'm pretty fluent in Spanish but I still don't feel entirely like 'me' when I speak), shared cultural references and social memories...

I know the UK I'm returning to is not the one I left, but for better or worse, it's 'home'. I never thought I'd find myself feeling or saying that (been living abroad around the world since 2011), but here I am.

I have permanent residency now (do you have your 10-year TIE?) so I know if in the next 2 years I decide the UK isn't for me and I want to come back to Spain, I can. That's given me at least a little breathing room to try it on and see how it feels.

I think this is a common feeling as you get older; you start missing the familiarity, people who share your same culture, foods, history, jokes, weather, language, etc.

I feel similar after nearly 20 year in the UK; however kids are born and growing up here so this is their home country.

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 11/05/2024 23:05

When Joan Sutherland retired from signing in 1990, she made a ‘ guest appearance’ ( accompanied by Pavarotti) at the performance of Traviata ar the RoH, the last time she sang in public.

it’s worth watching on YTube ; how you feel about it will tell you at lot about how you feel, I think.

Maddy70 · 12/05/2024 07:32

Newestname002 · 11/05/2024 18:18

Also don't forget to take state pension eligibility into account. I think you need to have paid 35yrs National Insurance before you're fully eligible? Also do check, if you've lived out of the country many years, whether you'll get all NHS treatment for free or if you need to make any payment, for example, for hospital treatment. 🌹

Show quote history

You can top up your British pension. But all the time youre working in spain you are accruing your Spanish pension which is far more generous than the british one and can be lumped together at the end . The state healthcare in Spain is also far superior to the nhs which is another consideration when returning. Im in the middle of cancer treatment in spain and am having treatment and tests here not often offered in the uk as its deemed "too expensive "

Definitely something to consider

fungipie · 12/05/2024 07:38

Going back to the UK at the moment, if you are getting older, with very low pension and the NHS in tatters, does not make sense to me.

Move to another part of Spain which is not so isolated would be my advice.

bert3400 · 12/05/2024 07:47

@Maddy70

I live in Javea/Xàbia, been here 4 years and lived here previously for 1 years (12 years ago) . It's a fantastic place, yes busy in July/August but the other 10 months it's a really vibrant all year round town. Denia is close by and Valencia/Alicante is an hour away.

A real mix of Spanish/northern European/Brits .

Before you leave Spain I would recommend relocating, I come back to the UK fairly regularly for family reasons and could never live in the UK full time. The traffic, aggressive behavior and expensive public transport would drive me crazy along with the dire weather 😫

Happy to chat if you want any advice

bert3400 · 12/05/2024 07:50

Sorry that was meant for @Touty

sandgrown · 12/05/2024 08:04

My friend lives in quite a vibrant ex pat community in Spain . Most of the Brits are older but if they become seriously ill they all seem to return “home “.Obviously they probably want to be close to family but I think they also want the safety net of the NHS despite people on here thinking it’s so bad. My friend lives in a beautiful place but has to drive everywhere. When she becomes too old she will move to a less remote area but that means starting again. I think you should possibly try another part of Spain but seriously consider where and think about being older.

alloverthewaves · 12/05/2024 08:13

I know what you mean and I’ve thought about that, I’ve looked a lot at the Alicante area along the Mediterranean coast, whilst the area is beautiful and cost of living would be lower than where I am now I still can’t help but think it’s a place to go on holiday but not live. Lots of foreigners there coming and going, but I’d like a community rather than just being somewhere where people are transient like where I am now. Also, there isn’t much work in the mainland.

if u know of a nice area can you recommend?

I have older relatives in the Mazarron area, they have a great ex Pat community there even though they've only lived there two years and are always busy. They can fly from Alicante or Murcia.

Jasmine240 · 20/09/2024 23:18

natura · 11/05/2024 18:29

I'm coming back to the UK from Spain this year (after 8 years), and completely get what you're talking about.

For me a lot of it is simply the sense of belonging – even after so long, there's a daily friction where everything takes just that little more effort, and it's tiring.

I miss not having to think so hard, having full fluidity and freedom in my language (I'm pretty fluent in Spanish but I still don't feel entirely like 'me' when I speak), shared cultural references and social memories...

I know the UK I'm returning to is not the one I left, but for better or worse, it's 'home'. I never thought I'd find myself feeling or saying that (been living abroad around the world since 2011), but here I am.

I have permanent residency now (do you have your 10-year TIE?) so I know if in the next 2 years I decide the UK isn't for me and I want to come back to Spain, I can. That's given me at least a little breathing room to try it on and see how it feels.

Hey, my grandad has lived in Spain for 13 years he hasn't come back for around 5 years. He got a permanent residency before brexit lol... Anyways he's really not in good shape and he's on his own in the Alicante region with his elderly sister she can just about look after herself and now he's starting to panic. He wants to come back to live in the UK... Are there any complications or procedures about coming back to the UK for him that you've come across so far? Tia

whirlyhead · 08/10/2024 12:21

I live in mallorca near Pollensa, and there’s a great sense of community here. I started playing padel in order to meet people as everyone seems to play. I’ve met people from all over the world here and have friends from several countries including Spain.

it is not the cheapest of places to live though!