About Anciana

Currently Lives:

Citizen of:

Some Forum Posts:

Spain: Retirement in Spain/in our 60's/from US:

Ok, Kathi. I guess I am not typical, as I was born and bred in Europe and moved to the USA in my late 30s. I took an early retirement at 60 and decided to go back to Europe. I started in my home country of Sweden and after less than three months went to Almunecar, a picturesque pueblo blanco (white village) on Granada's coast. I liked it there: a happy blend of charming old Spain and modern global expat destination. I enjoyed it very much, but in less than a year my daughter suddenly got seriously ill while going through a divorce, so I decided to go back to States to be near her. She got well in about another year, but I got an offer of an assignment in Puerto Rico, so I unretired for several years and moved to that tropical part of USA. I love tropics. A couple of years later got tempted with another assignment, to Belize, so I went there. First fairly recently I decided to retire again and again came to Europe, planning on spending summers in Sweden and winters in Spain. I probably should mention that I had many shorter and a few longer overseas assignments as part of my professional life, so I am used to living in different countries, speaking different languages (I am fluent in five, but conversant in a few more), accustomed to various customs, habits, lifestyles. Thus no culture shock anywhere, no fears, just excitement, though there are always some minor annoyances, like the infamous Spanish bureaucracy. Budget: I am fairly flexible and Spain is relatively inexpensive comparing to Sweden, which is one of highest cost of living countries in the world - on average 30% cheaper. I do enjoy EU health care and the humane cost of it - but that applies to EU citizens. non EU citizens need health insurance. A minus with Spain for Americans is an inconvenient tax treaty, while neighboring Portugal offers now 10 years of tax freedom, which makes more and more people move there from Spain - and other places.

Spain: Spain:

The warmest place in Spain: undoubtedly the Canary Islads, which are off the coast of Africa, but belong to Spain. Sunny and dry and much less temperature differential than in continental Spain.

Spain: Retired expats from US?:

When I lived in Almunecar on Granada's coast some years ago there was an American International Club, which had a host of activities both local and within the whole Costa del Sol. Less than half of the members were Americans, though, but the people and the atmosphere were great. I am sure it still exists and perhaps they can give you info on similar club in Barca, if there is one. Good luck. P.S. I am Swedish American and I'll be returning to Spain in October, but to Costa Blanca this time.

Date Joined:

2/9/2015

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4

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