Live Stoner Chat Retirement to Spain.

[Feenix]

Hello Old Stoners and all stoners. For years my wife and I had planned to retire to Mexico from the US. We had made preparations to use every advantage including an "Anchor Baby" . (Before you shake your heads in confusion, it brings big advantages in owning instead of leasing and in regards to health care.)
Our choice of location has always been the beautiful old colonial town of Merida on the Yucatan to be close to our beloved fishing and diving. However, once the drug cartels started dropping bodies all over the country, we deemed it too dangerous and have to change plans. Sure there are other Central and South American countries, but the political climate, past and present, leaves something to be desired in most of them and the rest lose the financial advantage due to their long time popularity. Costa Rica is a good example of being priced out.
So,
Since I have an up coming trip to Malaga and points beyond planned anyhow, we decided to take a serious look at Spain.

I would appreciate any tidbits on the where and how, pros and cons, do's and don'ts of expatriating to there. Anything that may save me some of the limited time I will have on the initial trip, and to adapt my itinerary towards that goal.. Thank you.

 

[9bear]

Hello Old Stoners and all stoners. For years my wife and I had planned to retire to Mexico from the US. We had made preparations to use every advantage including an "Anchor Baby" . (Before you shake your heads in confusion, it brings big advantages in owning instead of leasing and in regards to health care.)
Our choice of location has always been the beautiful old colonial town of Merida on the Yucatan to be close to our beloved fishing and diving. However, once the drug cartels started dropping bodies all over the country, we deemed it too dangerous and have to change plans. Sure there are other Central and South American countries, but the political climate, past and present, leaves something to be desired in most of them and the rest lose the financial advantage due to their long time popularity. Costa Rica is a good example of being priced out.
So,
Since I have an up coming trip to Malaga and points beyond planned anyhow, we decided to take a serious look at Spain.

I would appreciate any tidbits on the where and how, pros and cons, do's and don'ts of expatriating to there. Anything that may save me some of the limited time I will have on the initial trip, and to adapt my itinerary towards that goal.. Thank you.

Hey Feenix I just read this and have nothing to offer but maybe Mossy will hire you and the wife as farm hands and you could build a little cottage on a piece of Mossy's farm .

 

[Feenix]

Hey Feenix I just read this and have nothing to offer but maybe Mossy will hire you and the wife as farm hands and you could build a little cottage on a piece of Mossy's farm .

Thanks 9Bear. I'm hoping that she has some words of wisdom for me.
Not being one to horn in on others action. I would definitely see that she has our number in case they ever need help with trimming but I try to never go anywhere private unless invited. I wouldn't just drop in even if I knew where they were.
I hope to meet folks at Spannibus that I have communicated with, but it won't be me who breaks the anonymity. I'm content for folks to say later, Who was that nice man? He sure smoked a lot of weed.

 

[Mossy]

Since I have an up coming trip to Malaga and points beyond planned anyhow, we decided to take a serious look at Spain.

I would appreciate any tidbits on the where and how, pros and cons, do's and don'ts of expatriating to there. Anything that may save me some of the limited time I will have on the initial trip, and to adapt my itinerary towards that goal.. Thank you.

Spain is like what the UK was 20 years ago..good and bad points.....so it will be like 40 years back in the US.
Temperature wise..think Florida.
Lots of older/retired expats from most of Europe coming for the warm weather.
It is a lot more chilled than the UK as far as rat race goes.
Cost of living is cheaper than the UK...and because of the weather..some of the best things in life like sun and sea are free.

Biggest problem is unemployment...but if you are retired you won't be looking for work...

The other thing..Muddy looked at spending a couple of years either in spain or Portugal..but he said the health care/insurance costs were Stupid expensive...

I'm not great at geography..but I Think Malaga is a good few hours south of us..if you Like exploring other countries..I'd be looking at the north of Spain..near the French border.
Not because one of the regions there has just legalised canna.....but because if you base up there..you can Drive to the rest of Europe. France/Germany/Holland/Italy..all within driving distances....skiing over the French border.

When do you Go..?

 

[Feenix]

Spain is like what the UK was 20 years ago..good and bad points.....so it will be like 40 years back in the US.
Temperature wise..think Florida.
Lots of older/retired expats from most of Europe coming for the warm weather.
It is a lot more chilled than the UK as far as rat race goes.
Cost of living is cheaper than the UK...and because of the weather..some of the best things in life like sun and sea are free.

Biggest problem is unemployment...but if you are retired you won't be looking for work...

The other thing..Muddy looked at spending a couple of years either in spain or Portugal..but he said the health care/insurance costs were Stupid expensive...

I'm not great at geography..but I Think Malaga is a good few hours south of us..if you Like exploring other countries..I'd be looking at the north of Spain..near the French border.
Not because one of the regions there has just legalised canna.....but because if you base up there..you can Drive to the rest of Europe. France/Germany/Holland/Italy..all within driving distances....skiing over the French border.

When do you Go..?

Thank you Mossy.
I'm leaving here on June 17th so I will be settled in for the 19th opening day. From Malaga I'll go to Barcelona to spend a day looking at the Gaudy Cathedral after that, Bilbao is on my list of must do just to see some old friends but looking at the sat map tells me that we would like it anywhere from there to the border along the coast. We aren't interested in urban living. A 10 acre leasehold with a home or even a cabin would be good. Bigger would be better.
I'm sure that the legalized districts land and home prices have been effected just like here in the states. But I'll look at it.

How is the Banking? Do they offer mortgages to foreigners?

 

[late]

I've never been there, but there are thriving expat communities on the coast in Turkey. Setting the politics aside, one of my big regrets is I never got the chance to go there.

 

[Feenix]

I've never been there, but there are thriving expat communities on the coast in Turkey. Setting the politics aside, one of my big regrets is I never got the chance to go there.

I'm a yank and don't want to get near anywhere there is conflict or those involved in the wars. I can imagine there are places that we definitely wouldn't be welcome. Even among American expats if they support the wars. By November, I will have had a snoot full of politics. The outcome won't be the driving factor of whether we expat or not, but may determine how soon. Things are getting very bizarre over here.

 

[Feenix]

Hello late, good to meet you. Thanks for dropping in. Putting politics aside these days can get you killed in some places. Turkey is a beautiful country in places, so I hear. But Language aside, I have some Spanish and my wife is fluent. I don't want any part of the wars or those who wage them.
My plans for Mexico had nothing to do with anything other than the economics. It was nothing to do with politics or nations. I was never big on borders. Not many of them offshore where I played. Today I'm not so sure. It is getting very bizarre here.

 

[Mossy]

https://www.kyero.com/en/property/3327999-country-house-for-sale-asco

 

[Mossy]

I'm leaving here on June 17th so I will be settled in for the 19th opening day.

Ah..here in time for the good weather..you will See it at it's best.

From Malaga I'll go to Barcelona to spend a day looking at the Gaudy Cathedral after that,

Beware pickpockets..apparently Barcelona is the worst place in Spain.

looking at the sat map tells me that we would like it anywhere from there to the border along the coast. We aren't interested in urban living. A 10 acre leasehold with a home or even a cabin would be good. Bigger would be better.

12 acres too big...?...

https://www.kyero.com/en/property/3295981-country-house-for-sale-miravet

Just get yourself a large static caravan or cabin like ours to live in while you take your time doing the house up..

How is the Banking? Do they offer mortgages to foreigners?

Yeah..geared up for it..

Turkey is a beautiful country in places,

Yeah..but unfortunately in a pivotal position for the middle east trouble.
Especially when they are willy waving with Putin.