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POLL: Has Brexit changed your mind about retiring abroad?
Thursday, November 17, 2016 @ 9:39 AM

What is it that drives someone to move abroad or retire miles away from "home". Are they fed up with their home nation? Need a change of environment? or do they need to find a cheaper place to live so they can further enjoy the rest of their years? Some say it is just down to the weather and can't take anymore grey skies and cold wet mornings, but somehow I think its more than that. In my case it was very simple I was fed up of England and wanted to expand my horizons.

Over 3 years ago I carried out a similar poll on EOS and just over 30 % (the same number that chose ‘weather’) of the voters said that they had had enough of their home country and the majority of those who commented were unanimous on one idea. They commented on the immigration problems, how saturated the NHS was and how social housing was abused and that they had had enough, the UK wasn’t what it used to be. Some even blamed the contributions to the EU as part of the reason why the UK suffered so much.

So now with Brexit becoming inevitable and an almost certain change in policy on the horizon for many of these issues, would your motivation still be the same....?

Please share your opinon and cast your vote.

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28 Comments

briando55 said:
Thursday, November 17, 2016 @ 11:05 AM

I changed my mind about retiring abroad when the Spanish developers took all my money and ran away.

Brexit is a breeze compared to the crooks around

AlanR555 said:
Thursday, November 17, 2016 @ 12:07 PM

The principal personal effect of Brexit for my plans
has been application for Irish citizenship in order to
retain my entitlement to an EU passport.

Given that several million others are eligible to take
the same route, I trust that the administrative process
will be completed in a timely manner.

Andalusguy said:
Saturday, November 19, 2016 @ 7:43 AM

I hope the results come true. Personally I would like to see all the arrogant, nationalistic and hypocritical ex-pat Brits clear out back to the UK, and rid us of the ever moaning and arrogant little Britain enclaves, which have pushed away Spanish culture in order to impose their own brand of 'Blackpool in the sun and fish n chips' mentality. It is ironic that the very reasons why (seemingly) many Brits come to live in Spain for, are subsequently replicated by the very same attitudes and behaviours of the immigrant populations in the UK. Overload on local health services, non payment of taxes, a disregard to learning the national language and failure to embrace local customs / tradirions, are all parallel symptoms of ex-pat behaviour in this host country. Yes .. time for this immigrant pestulance to go home .. saludos!

Graham Powell said:
Saturday, November 19, 2016 @ 7:59 AM

Concur with every word from Andalusguy, providing of course, we are allowed to stay here, if we are left with commited expat Brits, all contributing to "the pot", Spain will be an even better place to live!

Graham in Spain said:
Saturday, November 19, 2016 @ 8:09 AM

Totally agree with Andalusguy.

ElTorros said:
Saturday, November 19, 2016 @ 8:14 AM

Well said Andalusguy

Mebmate said:
Saturday, November 19, 2016 @ 8:32 AM

I will be retiring abroad, but Australia not Spain where
A) No inheritance tax
B) The health service is better
C) I already know the language
D) They play cricket, rugby union, rugby league
E) The inhabitants there enjoy the banter with the whinging Poms instead of the (e.g. The Spaniards) whinging about the Poms
F) etc.

But A) is the most relevant to my decision

Alison Barrass said:
Saturday, November 19, 2016 @ 8:38 AM

Completely in agreement with Andalusguy. I live in a small inland village where 90% of the small expat community think a coffee on a Sunday morning is integration. They don't shop in the village, they don't eat in the village, they don't drink in the village and some of them are playing the system, not fiscal residents, have SIP cards but no residence. Some have had visits from the police about their number of days here and hospitalization. It makes me so angry at the double standards, so much so that we no longer are a part of the "english table" as it is known to the bars.

Annie said:
Saturday, November 19, 2016 @ 9:17 AM

It must be hell in Andalusia - I don't recognise the expat attitude at all.

vickya said:
Saturday, November 19, 2016 @ 9:23 AM

I retired to Spain in 2007, bought a place at top price :(, came back to the UK in 2009 for financial and family reasons, missed grandson, and took a hit selling the place.

I loved being in the sun, liked the life style and people, Spanish and English. I did learn some Spanish, although had prepared by learning some before I went. I found a p/t teaching job, which meant I was part of the world of work, with benefits.

I can't go back to live for health reasons, although health care there was excellent. it would be complicated now. And I'd miss two more grandchildren!

Annie said:
Saturday, November 19, 2016 @ 9:24 AM

Why is it that the British are always criticising their own - it's something you hardly ever hear other nationalities doing. I appreciate that some areas have non-integrated pockets but that is true of the Germans, Dutch, Russian, French and Belgian (to name but a few) immigrants too.

True integration is always difficult especially given the fact that the main social dynamic, certainly where I live, is family based. I've always been impressed by how close the family ties are in Spain and the way they all tend to spend time together rather than with individual friends.

Anthomo said:
Saturday, November 19, 2016 @ 9:30 AM

Well said Andalus guy

dustyjack said:
Saturday, November 19, 2016 @ 10:03 AM

I live in a small inland town in Valencia Province, near to Gandia. I don't recognise at all what Alison says. Here we have about 20 Brits and a few others. We have no choice but to integrate even if we wanted to. We use the shops and Bars etc. I took the photographs at my Spanish neighbour's daughter's Wedding. We get along fine. There are only 2 Spanish people here who speak any English anyway so one simply gets on with it. I don't think people should generalise.

Terry Hewitt said:
Saturday, November 19, 2016 @ 10:22 AM

I have lived in Spain for 18 years and will continue to do so. Most Spanish people are very nice and friendly. We Brits need to make a greater effort to integrate into their community. Not the other way round. However British people need to realise that they do need to learn Spanish. Why should Spanish people have to learn English.? As for BREXIT I doubt if it will make the slightest difference to our living in Spain. So stop worrying and enjoy life. After all nearly everything that people worry about never happens.

Finisterre said:
Saturday, November 19, 2016 @ 11:07 AM

This debate (in a wider sense, not just on here) is why I reject the kind of patriotism that involves boasting about my country and doing others down, despite the fact that I dearly love England and always will. That kind of angry, defensive nationalism promoted by the British press has real repercussions in terms of making it a less pleasant, more hostile (to everyone) place to live... and of course, in terms of Brexit, our massive national own-goal

. I never thought Britain had a problem with immigration and I still don't; nor do I think that 'the British' are a problem in Spain, just that there are selfish, ignorant people of all nationalities amd inevitably, some are immigrants and emigrants.

Anyway, I'm happily living and working in Spain for the moment, and all I hope is that Britain doesn't continue to furiously destroy everything that makes it great solely in order to spite the poor, vulnerable and/or foreign.

Charlietwice said:
Saturday, November 19, 2016 @ 12:39 PM

Andalusguy, I agree with you in the main. I've met a few 'ex pats' with the attitude you describe but most seem to be trying to integrate. I have no problem with anyone who disagrees with me but it's the hypocritical complaints about too many immigrants in the uk being the reason to come to Spain. Quite unbelievable. Finisterre seems to have it spot on! Learning the language and integrating makes for a better experience. I've never quite got the feeling of superiority some people have purely based on the piece of dirt they were born on, which had absolutely nothing to do with themselves.

DJF42 said:
Saturday, November 19, 2016 @ 1:45 PM

Mebmate,
I wish you all the luck in the world regarding your retirement plans in Australia, however, it seems to me that you have based your decision on the culture and how much you will not have to pay.
I would have been in Australia by now if it wasn't for the fact that your state pension does not get an annual increase, (index linking) as it would in the UK.
Something to ponder?

CRIPPSY said:
Saturday, November 19, 2016 @ 1:50 PM

We have a place in the Castellon region We spend about 120 days a year there....I love it, and would move there full time tomorrow if the wife would, but she wont because of the grankids. We have a great little expat community for drinking and socialising. Its just as well because the Spanish are fine but we find them a little insular. In Spain its a better quality of life all round especially the health service which I would gladly pay insurance for Come on lets own up Brexit came about because its the only say the real British people have had in the past 50 years which included some kind of border control I think we'd all sooner be a foreigner in Spain than be mare a foreigner in our own country Multi-culturalism and mass immigration has ruined the British way of life Its easier to live in Spain with like minded people

Dave Hutch said:
Saturday, November 19, 2016 @ 8:23 PM

Spain is great. I have property there but would never move but integration is best when I am there.

Mark Richardson said:
Saturday, November 19, 2016 @ 10:52 PM

I have lost 70€ per Month in exchange rates since the Brexit vote.

I would love to retire to Spain as I have an apartment in Palomares, Almeria but unfortunately, I still have to work to pay the mortgage and now I have to send extra over to cover the shortfall.

El Toro said:
Sunday, November 20, 2016 @ 9:33 AM

I don'r agree with Crippsy. I have found the Spanish very embracing if you make the effort to fit and at least try to learn the lingo. Brexit was achieved on the back of massive media hype exploiting perceived fears. The UK is a

El Toro said:
Sunday, November 20, 2016 @ 9:48 AM

I don'r agree with Crippsy. I have found the Spanish very embracing if you make the effort to fit and at least try to learn the lingo. Brexit was achieved on the back of massive media hype exploiting ill perceived fears. The UK is a nation born out of immigration that shaped modern day culture as we know it today, yes it still needs to be better controlled but we should not stigmatise people with generalist prejudice nor hatred. In my experience most ex pats came out to enjoy the weather and low cost of living on pensions that benefitted from a good exchange rate. They have little interest in integration or engaging in the Spanish way of life and spend a lot of time critisising the indigenous people, their food and how they do things here. I am with the other commentators who say if you don't like it here then clear off back!

janicehill said:
Sunday, November 20, 2016 @ 8:14 PM

I love living in Spain, and would have to be dragged kicking and screaming back to the UK. Even more so since Brexit, as I've seen a side to my fellow Brits that shows I have nothing in common with them. Let them stay in their Splendid Isolation. I'll stay here in Spain thank you.

Ilovethesun said:
Monday, November 21, 2016 @ 9:25 AM

Feel like a foriegner back here in Britain, life's so much better in Spain, they don't have a care in the world, you can live far more cheaply there, the sun is shining, we are a soft touch here that's why we are overrun.

hbennett said:
Monday, November 21, 2016 @ 3:17 PM

We bought a property in Spain on a golf complex in Murcia region & plan to take Spanish residency & retire here.We have set up a golf society here & play Tuesday & Thursday each week.We have a very nice community here & it's not just Brits.Apart from English,Welsh,Scots,& Irish we also have French,Belgian,Danish,Swedes,Norwegians,Finns,Poles,Indian & last but not least Spanish.We all socialize after golf & it has developed a much closer international community. Brexit has made us even more determined to retire in Spain.
Harry.

DJF42 said:
Monday, November 21, 2016 @ 8:29 PM

Mebmate,
Another point to ponder gained from my research into emigrating to Australia 6 years ago.
As well as state pensions being frozen there is a requirment to have £250,000 free cash which has to be provable or if you have relations there already then you will only need £210,000.
Hence the reason why Australia does not such a such a bad emigration problem as the UK.
Again I wish you luck and if you have the cash well you are made

george said:
Monday, April 24, 2017 @ 11:05 AM

In answer to Andalusguy,What he has to remind himself is that the U.K is a very small island,and getting smaller every year,you cannot squeeze a quart into a pint pot,also without the retiring Brits ,Germans,and many other nationals now living in Spain and contributing to the Spanish economy,he would still be riding around on Donkeys,calling everyone Gringo,so dont knock it