MOVING TO ALMERIA

Absolutely correct.

Nice to see Cons as well as Pros.

Then there's Brexit, the £/ €, the bureaucracy, (which may well get worse after Brexit ),'the language/ cost of interpreters, etc, etc.

We rate Spain as our home & have been here for 15yrs. but retain a home on UK and travel extensively.

My wife undertook 3 yrs of research before she moved to Spain. She had a property, a vehicle & a job. She then acquired me which was just as well as she lost her employment, which she no longer needed.

No one seems to plan for worse case scenarios.

Best Wishes,

Dr. Bob and Sandra

Mojacar Playa and Puerto Lumbreras.

Well we must have been in two different villages.

1. We have a medical centre in Terreros, also in Pulpi, 10 mins drive away.

2. We have a fantastic hospital in Huercal Overa 30 mins drive away.

3. If you were on holidays you could have used your European Helath card for an emergency in any of these places.

4. In all the time we have lived here we have never had the water cut off. That was possibly a fault of the villa/owner.

5. We have a residential home in Pulpi.

6. Every home needs heating in the winter, we don't get anything below 1 degree, and modern air conditioning is very economical.

6. I agree the area might not be for everyone but don't slate it because it wasn't for you.

7. Bob, your wife is more tolerant than mine. I read out what you said about her acquiring you just in time as she lost her job. You do know women are allowed to vote now 😂😂😂

Now I will take a dip in my pool and admire the view of the mountains. Have a lovely afternoon.

Hi again,

Sandra has to be tolerant to put up with me!!!!!!, but maybe I should have phrased it better.

Best Wishes,

Bob

One degree below may not sound much but the houses are only single properties and the cold enters as heat inside leaves quickly.

The medical centre in san juan is not open all the time in fact closed more often than not .

The new hospital at Heurcol Overa has more difficulty getting nurses and doctors there than the uk does.

You are there and by default will stick up for it BUT l say anybody thinking of moving there needs to do much research as possible.

And you are right the area is not for everyone especially the beaches nearby where hundreds of campers vans park and no doubt dump their sewerage in the nearby woods .

It was like taking a step back in time ,the TV programmes are making it look very nice with very selective camera filming, 

Sorry with that attitude you will never survive here

SURVIVAL BEING THE OPERATIVE WORD DOWN THERE ,

I wouldn’t normally weigh in on a discussion such as this; everyone has their opinion and is entitled to it.

But I find myself in agreement with Sportscar - attitude is everything.  We had a friend visit from overseas recently .... the things I found charming, quaint, uniquely Spanish .... he couldn’t handle.  The lack of lane discipline or use of indicators on roundabouts, cars just stopping in the middle of the road and the driver nipping into the shops, or just stopping to chat to a friend .... and so on and so forth.  He also commented on “the language barrier”

What language barrier? It’s Spain.  The language is Spanish, ergo we learn the language!! But I digress.  Spain is not for everyone, it is mind-numbingly bureaucratic, and don’t expect things to happen in a hurry ....

But you’ll find “bad” in every country and let’s be honest, UK has its challenges, which is why a good proportion of us are here!! But the good in Spain far far outweighs the bad, with a much less stressful way of life, fabulous weather and very mild winters - well certainly here in Vera (New Years day saw me sitting on the deck in shorts and shirtless ... can’t quite remember the last time I was able to do THAT in UK on NYD!!)

Plus to my mind (AND THIS IS MY OPINION!!!!) the people maketh the country, and I love the Spanish.  I love their directness, laissez faire attitude, their sense of fun and joy and the endless fiestas..... for all those that say “BUT BUT BUT THE SPANISH ARE .....” this is what I have found - my interactions have all been overwhelmingly positive, from shops through Ayuntamiento, Correos, Extranjeros and the the customers at the bar I work.

Look, this is rambling a bit (ok, a lot!!) but what I’m trying to say is that it is easy to see the negative, to take everything that happens as “bad” and be disheartened, but to provide balance, if you come here with an open mind, accept Spain as it IS, not as you would want it to be, accept the people as they are and try to integrate, you really will have a fabulous time.

There WILL be rough times - but like I said, the good here far far far outweighs the bad.  Spain is our home; we don’t maintain a house anywhere else in the world nor do we intend to.  This is where we want to be, permanently.

To Raygil - I am truly sorry that your experience was not a positive one - perhaps in another area, who knows?

To others considering Spain - do not be put off.  Atiitude is everything, it’s a beautiful place with beautiful people and if you allow it, you really will enjoy life here

Saludos, Darío

Well said Dario :)

As factual & erudite as ever.

Bob and Sandra