Ten years ago we made the decision that was to change our lives forever. It was now or never; if our courage failed us now, it would be never. So we went for it; husband and I both took early retirement from our jobs and announce to friends and family that we were upping sticks and moving from our suburban semi-detached to start a new life on Spain´s glorious Costa Blanca.
The reaction was the same from almost everybody. A gasp of “Oh, you lucky things!” was followed by a more cautious; “But what are you going to do with yourselves all day? You´ll be ever so bored when the novelty wears off.” A few, less polite folk simply doubted our sanity, and warned us we would be back within a year. Perhaps we are lucky. The novelty has never worn off. We find as much excitement in each new day as we did on that very first day we stepped off the ´plane into glorious sunshine.
Because this is the reality of the dream. We wanted no more than what virtually every wanna be ex-pat dreams of; like most people, our ambitions were modest. We wanted a new life in the sun, without the restrictions of work and weather. We had no ambitions to buy a house with a garden big enough to start a zoo in the back yard. We didn´t even want to start up a Bed and Breakfast business. We just wanted to be happy in our retirement, in our new life. In our own little corner of paradise. And these memories are a reflection of that dream; the dream that came true.
And for those we left behind in the UK, and especially those friends and colleagues who doubted our sanity a decade ago, I can only suggest that they take a look at this gentle amble through our lives. At memories of lions kept as guard dogs; of stolen electric meters and intransigent officials. Stories of forest fires and fiestas. Of wild boars and lollipops. And, of course, that pesky vulture on Paco´s roof….
And a special “thank you” to the many kind people who have contacted me after reading my “how to” guides on moving here (“Dreaming of Moving to the Costa Blanca?” Volumes 1 and 2) asking what it is really like to actually live here on the Costa Blanca. It was their curiosity that prompted this book; for this is perhaps the most popular question I have received, from readers as far afield as the USA and Canada and the Philippines (not to mention West Yorkshire!); the information on how to do it is great, but what´s it like? Really?
Enquire within…..
The reaction was the same from almost everybody. A gasp of “Oh, you lucky things!” was followed by a more cautious; “But what are you going to do with yourselves all day? You´ll be ever so bored when the novelty wears off.” A few, less polite folk simply doubted our sanity, and warned us we would be back within a year. Perhaps we are lucky. The novelty has never worn off. We find as much excitement in each new day as we did on that very first day we stepped off the ´plane into glorious sunshine.
Because this is the reality of the dream. We wanted no more than what virtually every wanna be ex-pat dreams of; like most people, our ambitions were modest. We wanted a new life in the sun, without the restrictions of work and weather. We had no ambitions to buy a house with a garden big enough to start a zoo in the back yard. We didn´t even want to start up a Bed and Breakfast business. We just wanted to be happy in our retirement, in our new life. In our own little corner of paradise. And these memories are a reflection of that dream; the dream that came true.
And for those we left behind in the UK, and especially those friends and colleagues who doubted our sanity a decade ago, I can only suggest that they take a look at this gentle amble through our lives. At memories of lions kept as guard dogs; of stolen electric meters and intransigent officials. Stories of forest fires and fiestas. Of wild boars and lollipops. And, of course, that pesky vulture on Paco´s roof….
And a special “thank you” to the many kind people who have contacted me after reading my “how to” guides on moving here (“Dreaming of Moving to the Costa Blanca?” Volumes 1 and 2) asking what it is really like to actually live here on the Costa Blanca. It was their curiosity that prompted this book; for this is perhaps the most popular question I have received, from readers as far afield as the USA and Canada and the Philippines (not to mention West Yorkshire!); the information on how to do it is great, but what´s it like? Really?
Enquire within…..
