Moving to Spain.

The bit that would bother me most is having to re-sit my driving test in Spain. I just successfully taught me 17 year old son to drive in the UK so I can't be a total idiot but on foreign roads and in a foreign language? Not sure about that at all.

Also I am not sure how well I would get on with learning Spanish, sufficient to avoid being a burden to the Spanish people and health system when I get the inevitable health issues in old age.

We are lucky to have some funds and are due to complete on a holiday home in a few days. My plan is to spend increasing amounts of time there over the next few years, maybe up to the allowed 6 months in 12. I too suffer from arthritis, maybe a good spell in warmer Winter weather will do the trick. I will have to wait and see how it goes and also how I get on with the language.

Thankyou for your reply. Driving doesn't bother my husband he is a have driver. Also we have been coming to Spain for nearly 15 years now. Good luck with your move.

Relocating to another country is not something that should be taken lightly and even more so now that the rules are a lot harder to comply with. Spending time in Spain as a tourist is one thing and becoming a permanent resident is another. You need to take into consideration a lot of things such as health-care, family and friends, your current social activities and all the other things that you may take for granted in the UK (if that is where you are from). There's a lot more to living in Spain that lying in the sun and spending your nights in the local British pub, which may become boring after a while. Learning to speak the language is often on people's initial agenda but few of them ever bother to get any further than the basics as it's just easier to move in circles with other people like you and stay in the "ex-pat" bubble in which you find yourself comfortable. If you chose to move to Spain you would need to apply for one of the visas that are now necessary (if you are from the UK) so your first step would be the Spanish Embassy in the UK. There are several long threads regarding NLV (non-lucrative visas) on this forum if you do a search. If you and your husband are not yet of retirement age and would like to work in Spain, then again, you would need a work permit and probably the offer of a fixed job that could not be done by a Spaniard. As for pros and cons, everyone has their own idea of living the dream and what is wonderful for some would be a nightmare for others and it would all come down to where you live and what you want out of life. My advice would be to come over for 3 months and rent a property during that time or come over for several extended holidays over the whole year to see what it's like when the sun isn't out and it's cold and wet (this winter was the coldest and wettest for years and with the costs for heating through the roof!). If you're not 100% certain now, then don't take the risk!

Thankyou. Good for thought.

We love it to, we haven’t moved but purchased almost three years ago. My husband is 60 with Parkinson’s and other illnesses too. Its sure is better here but we won’t be making the move too much red tape now since brexi

Hi, some people have the misconception that ex Pat's just sunbathing then go to the bar, theres plenty of activitys  walking, hiking, cycling, sociol clubs, groups, and for arthritis the sun in the winter would definitely help, we had some rain but also lots of sunny days and it wasnt freezing. For health benefits its definitely worth the move. 

Renting for an extended period is good advice. We live in Los Alcazares and there is a Monday coffee meeting, mainly Brits, where you can learn a lot from people who have bags of experience of life in Spain and maybe make friends at the same time.

It is cool in winter (10°) so you need some form of heating, and it gets very hot in the high season so air conditioning (40°).

For me one big downside is the Spanish beaurocracy. Everything seems a struggle to complete and has only got worse thanks to Brexit. There are compensations and overall, it's a good lifestyle.

Good luck. Jeff

Thanks Jeff. I am working on him lol

The politics of Spain has ruined the plans of many people to re locate here, yes Brexit is a great reason, but when you speak to the owners of cafes, bars, etc , in Benidorm, they all say the same, Spain could alter the rules to help,  but not interested, they have altered a few, but only those that earn Spain instant tax income, so now many Brits will not come.

Plenty of other places to re locate to, Spain will die out for the Brits, and it will cost Spain dearly.