Pension stuff, how's it all looking ? HAve you prepared ?

[Wreckless Rat]

That's good, cos I don't give a toss what you think of what I think. Personally, I wouldn't bother, but that's me, not you. If you are happy, that's all that counts in your life, not mine.

fwiw - I think you have retirement right. You are happy and enjoying it, best of luck to you. I don't think it would be for me, but that's the beauty of the free world, we can all choose lives that suit us.

[cheb]

One other reason expats stick together, at least from moving and watching up here for 30 years, is that most people already have their network in place. If you don't bring something useful or interesting then why do they need you. Especially if you arrive with a dumb and know it already attitude. Those who stay blend in after a while, those who don't blend in tend to leave after a few years. Turn up with a bit of humility and don't bang on about your mainland ways and you'll likely do fine.

An example up here is the weather, the locals don't tie down garden sheds, caravans, oil tanks for fun. If you don't then there's a good possibility it'll blow away and be damaged, it's not all Mairi Hedderwick.

Added. Frankly, I don't care how you behave as long as it doesn't affect me and mine. Just don't ask for sympathy when you, as a competent adult, have fucked up predictably badly. For some reason the Dutch have long been a significant group of ex-pats up here, I don't know why.

[Taipan]

Most days I have a full English in a UK bar and don't give a flying fuck if somebody in the UK doesn't like that.

If out for breakfast, I'd probably choose the same as not keen on continental breakfasts or those sickly churros and hot chocolate. That said, years ago, we used to stay on a predominantly Spanish campsite and noticed a lot of Spanish families used to have boiled eggs, frankfurters, tomatoes and these cheap non iced cupcakes for brekkie. Dunno if that was a Catalan thing or something?

[Noggin]

Part of the reason I don't 'fit' with the other expats up here is that I'm not the same. All the expats in resort are families with kids. When we all get together for a good amount of time the conversation is about kids (and all things connected) so I have nothing to offer and can't join in

I have a lot more in common with the seasonaires (despite the usually huge age gap!!)

But I do prefer to meet with French locals when possible as I've chosen to live here so integration is 100% part of that for me


That's not to say I don't crave a decent cheddar sometimes or a nice bacon butty

[Yambo]

I don't really fit in with most of the ex-pats here - I believe I'm 'standoffish' to a fair few of them. Some of them do not like my sense of humour. Meh.

But I try and get on with everyone and will at least pass the time of day with them. To the locals I'm often referred to as 'the Englishman who speaks Turkish' which is very much a compliment as most of the Brits can't get past "Good morning, please and thank you" and many struggle with "Thank you." They, the locals are always very interested in how much my pension pays monthly (I get 3 but they don't need to know that) and it's considerably better than a Turkish pension but not as good as some of the other Brits' will be. I tell them I can't give an accurate figure because the exchange rate changes too much. I think they just want to know to justify getting me to do jobs for them "for a beer". None have ever asked me for money but a few have asked me in the past if I was OK for it.

I think it's good to be comfortable money wise in retirement and it's certainly cheaper to live here than other places we'd considered earlier but top of the list for reasons to come here was the people - not the ex-pats, there weren't too many back in 2006. Turks are very friendly, helpful and hospitable. Try to speak their language, understand the cultural differences (and don't judge) and don't try to make them British and you'll get on great. I think it's a great place to retire to (but don't come to this village, there's already too many old giffer Brits here!

[Noggin]

I do whatever I do, regardless of where I live, and I find likeminded souls that enjoy the same things as I do to be friends with, I don't give a monkeys where they're from originally.

This bit intrigues me (in my life!!).

I meet various people over a winter and as we get towards spring we start talking about plans for the summer. What I've found over the years is that the people I get on best with for a winter and just seem to be friends easily, well, they are nearly always bikers!!! We don't find that out until spring because we talk about snow and snowsports to start with. Summer stuff comes up in Feb/March and that's when I find out that my friends are usually bikers!!

It's kind of cool that like minded people do tend to find each other. Even when we don't know we are like minded!! LOL

[Mr Moofo]

I struggle with this side of living abroad. Why do the Brits all stick together so much?

Without being horrible it's not much different for Ex-pats who come to the UK in large numbers. Be that Asian, Polish etc. In general people stick to what they know when they can.

True true, fair call. It's not that i won't speak to Brits, that would be silly. It's not that i wouldn't go to Brit bars to watch MotoGP or football... but if you go somewhere you've got to immerse yourself in the culture, the language etc.

Weeksy,
I think you are coming at things from a sensible approach - certainly buggering off to warmer climates in winter has a real appeal - esp now it has been pissing down in Sussex for about the last 3 months , we are lockdown, and it is miserable! Going for a few months vs going permanently is a big step ( I had no choice).
The negative of two bases is that you will never really be at "home" in either... and so you won't really commit twosome of the important stuff.

The internet / social media etc has made staying in contact with people far easier . Sky and digital TV means you can watch TV from around the world. (German TV was truly awful)

Fitting in with the locals is harder than you would expect - even if you get a basic command of the language, you may never become one of them. If you have shared interested ( I motorcycled and MTBed with some Swiss) it helps but you will never be intimated until you have been there 20 plus years. It does depend on where you are - the French can be very sniffy, the Swiss definitely are - the German's not so ...
And depending on their ability, they may well always talk to you in English!

Ex-pats - kind of hard to avoid them because you have touch points and shared frustrations - and you can get pissed and speak the same language still. CH was a strange place - people were ex pat for a) Money b) career c) running from something. And you need to avoid a) as they are bores c) because they are a little odd.
Mixing with them will happen - and it can be very useful. Some will have been there long term - so they will have local contracts for most things. Just avoid the weirdos and the mad women ...

You have to learn the language - just just hello, goodbye, two beers and "will you sleep with me". Getting to know the locals is a ball-ache - we did in our village in CH. But you realise that the culture is very different - they were brash about money, rude about foreigners , hated the blacks, and had a really small world outlook - but they could also be very generous in trying to help out: if it suited them.

And ultimately, if you are going to stay , you have to let go of your past norms. My sister has been in Oz for 26 years , has finally developed an Aussie twang, but always compares everything in Oz to a rose tinted / chocolate box view of the UK.

Most controversial point: Being an ex-pat / foreign dweller makes you realise that the UK is actually a pretty good place. It is multi cultural, lost of different influences and cuisines, spontaneous, creative, irreverent, innovative. Sure - there are some issue, but then everywhere has issues ... I have done my time in CH and Germany. I loved it and I am glad of the experience - but I am now happy living where I do (but can afford to do so, which may be an issue)

[Noggin]

It's kind of cool that like minded people do tend to find each other. Even when we don't know we are like minded!! LOL

We're all the same animals, I've lived and worked all over the world and most people are pretty similar give or take a few cultural things.

People that work in or visit certain resorts are bound to like similar things, all the people I know that ski are also at least moderately interested in things with engines. I'm not into skiing but it's a hobby with a buzz, and people that are into buzzy things often like other buzzy things, so I bet I'd probably have enough in common with them to be friends.

Yup - not sure why it surprises me when I find out but whilst I get on with most people who are into snowsports, the ones I get on best with are bikers too
I just found it really interesting

This particular area is a haven for dangerous sports, so most people like the adrenaline rush/buzzy things. Which means we are generally of a similar mindset! LOL

[Noggin]

Most controversial point: Being and ex-pat / foreign dweller makes you realise that the UK is actually a pretty good place. It is multi cultural, lost of different influences and cuisines, spontaneous, creative, irreverent, innovative. Sure - there are some issue, but then everywhere has issues ... I have done my time in CH and Germany. I loved it and I am glad of the experience - but I am now happy living where I do (but can afford to do so, which may be an issue)

I don't think that goes for everyone - depending on where in the UK you started from!!

I wouldn't ever want to go back to live and certainly don't have rose tinted glasses about it. But then whilst it's taken a couple of years (after a few more winters) in general the French up here are kind, helpful and welcoming.

The thought of going back to Bristol, or even the west country, fills me with dread! Maybe because I mostly worked in pubs I didn't see the best side!!

I love going back to see friends but each visit, mixing with the general public, makes me more certain I will stay here!!

[JackyJoll]

That^. And to my shame I've never learned to speak Gaelic, I've tried many times but languages aren't my strong point.

And that’s not going to be an easy one to learn.

And- it must be pretty easy to get off with not speaking it, even in the Utter Hebrides.

[gremlin]

The thought of going to Bristol fills me with dread!

That's not exclusively an ex-pat thing.

[cheb]

That^. And to my shame I've never learned to speak Gaelic, I've tried many times but languages aren't my strong point.

And that’s not going to be an easy one to learn.

And- it must be pretty easy to get off with not speaking it, even in the Utter Hebrides.

It is, and I'm lazy. An early realisation was that the older islanders spoke English peculiarly, that's because it was their second language.

[Bigyin]

I never understood why people dont want to speak the language of the country they are living in... Brits get frustrated by people who come here who cant from what i have seen.

I speak a little French and German from when i was at school and a little Spanish picked up from when one of my mates was married to a girl from Lanzarote. Only ever used it a little on holiday and when i got lost briefly in Germany a few years ago, filled up with petrol in a small village and the woman at the till gabbered at me in full speed German and i had to apologise and tell her, in my schoolboy German, that i was sorry but i only spoke a little German. Her reply was to speak a lot slower, gave me a big smile and said "Ah but you speak German"

I was already looking at a Potuguese phrases ready for Portimao

As for Weeksy's plan to live winter in the sunshine and summer in UK the change in Brexit would allow a 90 day stay before leaving to a non EU country and back again. I know a lot of the Brit ex pats in Turkey would take the boat across to Kos from Bodrum to get a passport exit stamp and then return again the same day. Would that be dealt with by applying for Spanish citizenship to get dual nationality ?

[Noggin]

I never understood why people dont want to speak the language of the country they are living in... Brits get frustrated by people who come here who cant from what i have seen.

I speak a little French and German from when i was at school and a little Spanish picked up from when one of my mates was married to a girl from Lanzarote. Only ever used it a little on holiday and when i got lost briefly in Germany a few years ago, filled up with petrol in a small village and the woman at the till gabbered at me in full speed German and i had to apologise and tell her, in my schoolboy German, that i was sorry but i only spoke a little German. Her reply was to speak a lot slower, gave me a big smile and said "Ah but you speak German"

I was already looking at a Potuguese phrases ready for Portimao

As for Weeksy's plan to live winter in the sunshine and summer in UK the change in Brexit would allow a 90 day stay before leaving to a non EU country and back again. I know a lot of the Brit ex pats in Turkey would take the boat across to Kos from Bodrum to get a passport exit stamp and then return again the same day. Would that be dealt with by applying for Spanish citizenship to get dual nationality ?

I think it's 90 days in 180. But crossing the border and back might work for a winter stay!!

[Noggin]

The thought of going to Bristol fills me with dread!

That's not exclusively an ex-pat thing.

Fair enough

I think I was in a particularly 'anti' area - anti foreigners (especially blacks), anti different, anti anything that didn't look or sound or have the same views as they did!!! It did seem to be similar in other areas that I'd lived in the west country too Sad, cos I grew up in Somerset and loved it there

[Yorick]

I never understood why people dont want to speak the language of the country they are living in... Brits get frustrated by people who come here who cant from what i have seen.

I speak a little French and German from when i was at school and a little Spanish picked up from when one of my mates was married to a girl from Lanzarote. Only ever used it a little on holiday and when i got lost briefly in Germany a few years ago, filled up with petrol in a small village and the woman at the till gabbered at me in full speed German and i had to apologise and tell her, in my schoolboy German, that i was sorry but i only spoke a little German. Her reply was to speak a lot slower, gave me a big smile and said "Ah but you speak German"

I was already looking at a Potuguese phrases ready for Portimao

As for Weeksy's plan to live winter in the sunshine and summer in UK the change in Brexit would allow a 90 day stay before leaving to a non EU country and back again. I know a lot of the Brit ex pats in Turkey would take the boat across to Kos from Bodrum to get a passport exit stamp and then return again the same day. Would that be dealt with by applying for Spanish citizenship to get dual nationality ?

It's almost impossible to get citizenship. Maybe you meant residencia? To get that you need a full time residency and you lose NHS treatment. Until pension age.

[Yorick]

I never understood why people dont want to speak the language of the country they are living in... Brits get frustrated by people who come here who cant from what i have seen.

I speak a little French and German from when i was at school and a little Spanish picked up from when one of my mates was married to a girl from Lanzarote. Only ever used it a little on holiday and when i got lost briefly in Germany a few years ago, filled up with petrol in a small village and the woman at the till gabbered at me in full speed German and i had to apologise and tell her, in my schoolboy German, that i was sorry but i only spoke a little German. Her reply was to speak a lot slower, gave me a big smile and said "Ah but you speak German"

I was already looking at a Potuguese phrases ready for Portimao

As for Weeksy's plan to live winter in the sunshine and summer in UK the change in Brexit would allow a 90 day stay before leaving to a non EU country and back again. I know a lot of the Brit ex pats in Turkey would take the boat across to Kos from Bodrum to get a passport exit stamp and then return again the same day. Would that be dealt with by applying for Spanish citizenship to get dual nationality ?

I think it's 90 days in 180. But crossing the border and back might work for a winter stay!!

Not any more

[Noggin]

I never understood why people dont want to speak the language of the country they are living in... Brits get frustrated by people who come here who cant from what i have seen.

I speak a little French and German from when i was at school and a little Spanish picked up from when one of my mates was married to a girl from Lanzarote. Only ever used it a little on holiday and when i got lost briefly in Germany a few years ago, filled up with petrol in a small village and the woman at the till gabbered at me in full speed German and i had to apologise and tell her, in my schoolboy German, that i was sorry but i only spoke a little German. Her reply was to speak a lot slower, gave me a big smile and said "Ah but you speak German"

I was already looking at a Potuguese phrases ready for Portimao

As for Weeksy's plan to live winter in the sunshine and summer in UK the change in Brexit would allow a 90 day stay before leaving to a non EU country and back again. I know a lot of the Brit ex pats in Turkey would take the boat across to Kos from Bodrum to get a passport exit stamp and then return again the same day. Would that be dealt with by applying for Spanish citizenship to get dual nationality ?

I think it's 90 days in 180. But crossing the border and back might work for a winter stay!!

Not any more

I did wonder - thought it wasn't possible due to things I've heard here for season workers but didn't want to say no as wasn't sure!

[Bigyin]

It's almost impossible to get citizenship. Maybe you meant residencia? To get that you need a full time residency and you lose NHS treatment. Until pension age.

I only said citizenship as a generalisation as he mentioned Spain but he could end up with Southern France/Italy/Croatia and each will have their own processes and rules and some will be easier than others. I know the Turkish one is difficult but not impossible hence why lots of Brits did the crossing every 3 months to allow them to stay all year round as it was the easier option

[weeksy]

Wouldn't be an issue as we'd come back for Xmas with the family anyhow.