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No Going Back ....... ???
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Charles B.
No Going Back ....... ???
Hi, there seem to be a lot of people cashing in on the relatively high value of their property in the UK at the moment, to take early retirement in the sun. My wife and I, both in our early 50’s with company pensions, are thinking of following this trend and relocating to Algarve – Carvoeiro or nearby. We were wondering what percentage of those who give up all in their home country eventually return? And what for? We have had some wonderful times in Portugal on recent holidays, but how do we know we are suited to expatriate life? If we do quit the UK, we think going back could be tricky financially, and psychologically a little painful.
Perhaps I am just thinking out loud here – and I hope that’s ok – but if anyone has any advice or a wish to share experiences, we would be very pleased to hear from you.
Thankyou, Charlie
Perhaps I am just thinking out loud here – and I hope that’s ok – but if anyone has any advice or a wish to share experiences, we would be very pleased to hear from you.
Thankyou, Charlie
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Guest
Hello Charles 
I think Bruxhina& Nightrider..Kteee or E-llen are in best position to answer that but think they would agree with me, that holidaying and being permanent resident are very different matters.
For my part,I would/could easily live in Algarve again-and Im there whenever possible now
Can I ask..whats the longest period you've spent in CVO? Think maybe Bruxhy would again agree,its best to rent for a while,then see how you feel?
If we re-locate there again,this time we would have a small flat/apartment back here in UK just in case.Speaking from experience I wouldn't want to go through the 'return to UK ' thing again with no home!
Im not being negative,just honest
But I wish you both all the best of luck if you go for it
ellie
I think Bruxhina& Nightrider..Kteee or E-llen are in best position to answer that but think they would agree with me, that holidaying and being permanent resident are very different matters.
For my part,I would/could easily live in Algarve again-and Im there whenever possible now
Can I ask..whats the longest period you've spent in CVO? Think maybe Bruxhy would again agree,its best to rent for a while,then see how you feel?
If we re-locate there again,this time we would have a small flat/apartment back here in UK just in case.Speaking from experience I wouldn't want to go through the 'return to UK ' thing again with no home!
Im not being negative,just honest
But I wish you both all the best of luck if you go for it
ellie
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Charles B.
Hello Ellie,
Thanks for your response. The longest period of time we’ve stayed in Portugal is two weeks!!! but we have visited many times, about 10 I’m not sure exactly, and we love it. To be honest, our main reason for wanting to move to Algarve, as opposed to Alentejo or further north, is because we think we are less likely to feel homesick with all you English speaking folk around.
There are many interesting points in your message, especially the one about having a flat in UK “just in case”. Nice idea but don’t know if we could afford it! And we think we want to either stay in England or do the “no going back” thing!
"“I’m not being negative, just honest”" ---- I like that, but if anyone has any bad/sad tales, to hear about it would be, for us, positive in helping us to decide.
Thanks, Charlie
Thanks for your response. The longest period of time we’ve stayed in Portugal is two weeks!!! but we have visited many times, about 10 I’m not sure exactly, and we love it. To be honest, our main reason for wanting to move to Algarve, as opposed to Alentejo or further north, is because we think we are less likely to feel homesick with all you English speaking folk around.
There are many interesting points in your message, especially the one about having a flat in UK “just in case”. Nice idea but don’t know if we could afford it! And we think we want to either stay in England or do the “no going back” thing!
"“I’m not being negative, just honest”" ---- I like that, but if anyone has any bad/sad tales, to hear about it would be, for us, positive in helping us to decide.
Thanks, Charlie
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elle
It was sad circumstances had us return to UK Charlie-we never wanted to and I /we, would never 'not have done it'!
In saying that,we did have work. You can get bored,even with wall to wall sunshine at times.Good to have some sort of occupation?
Mind you theres plenty of voluntary work to be had as Im sure those here who are involved will tell you
ellie
In saying that,we did have work. You can get bored,even with wall to wall sunshine at times.Good to have some sort of occupation?
Mind you theres plenty of voluntary work to be had as Im sure those here who are involved will tell you
ellie
These are thoughts often in our minds as subject to councils, builders, permits etc we should have our project finished within the next 18 months.
Then it wil be decison time.
Contacts and friends who have relocated all suggest that we keep some form of " lifeboat " back in the UK for a year or two just in case we do not adjust.
It is also somewhere to go back to during the HOT , BUSY summer months for a break ( you can always rent your algarve home during high season ).
Size for Size Property in the algarve is till better value than the UK, check out the far west prices are much lower ( its where many of those we have met who now live in the main resorts want to buy their retirement homes.)
Finally don,t l take too much notice of all the negative comments you may see in this and other forums.
If it was that bad these contributors would have left long ago.
My theory is that they want to keep a good thing to themselves.
Then it wil be decison time.
Contacts and friends who have relocated all suggest that we keep some form of " lifeboat " back in the UK for a year or two just in case we do not adjust.
It is also somewhere to go back to during the HOT , BUSY summer months for a break ( you can always rent your algarve home during high season ).
Size for Size Property in the algarve is till better value than the UK, check out the far west prices are much lower ( its where many of those we have met who now live in the main resorts want to buy their retirement homes.)
Finally don,t l take too much notice of all the negative comments you may see in this and other forums.
If it was that bad these contributors would have left long ago.
My theory is that they want to keep a good thing to themselves.
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nightrider
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nightrider
Hi Charles,
Many things have to be considered before moving out of the UK and in particular to the Algarve. I.e. you have qualified doctors, teachers working as waiters. Nothing wrong working as a waiter, but that is reality here in the Algarve. Building industry well is just real and I do mean real cheap labour. Setting up yourt own business, many have failed, inclusive of members of this forum and if you don't speak Portuguese very risky.
The most important question therefore, is do you need to work to live. If you do then this must be throughly and I do mean throughly researched.
Next don't be lulled into the sweet talk of those selling properties i.e. telling you that you can have a bank roll as long as your arm i.e. that it is easy to rent your property. One of this very forum's moderators has written a very sensible posting on this very matter.
I do not wish to bombard you with Do's and Dont's all in one go.
Hopefully, Bruxinha will pick up on your posting and will also reply. I know that she has compiled a very helpful list to assist would be purchasers and is also presently writing 2 books. So I will leave any further comments that she may care to give you.
But please rest assured the Algarve can be a beautiful place to live, providing you are and with much respect fully aware of exactly what is happening around you, with regard the purchase of any property and/or land. Unfortunately, there are for sure many that have been caused shall we say unnecessary expense and very sadly heart-ache and even though many thought they were safe by using so called professionals. The complaints would appear as long as your arm.
Regards Nightrider
Many things have to be considered before moving out of the UK and in particular to the Algarve. I.e. you have qualified doctors, teachers working as waiters. Nothing wrong working as a waiter, but that is reality here in the Algarve. Building industry well is just real and I do mean real cheap labour. Setting up yourt own business, many have failed, inclusive of members of this forum and if you don't speak Portuguese very risky.
The most important question therefore, is do you need to work to live. If you do then this must be throughly and I do mean throughly researched.
Next don't be lulled into the sweet talk of those selling properties i.e. telling you that you can have a bank roll as long as your arm i.e. that it is easy to rent your property. One of this very forum's moderators has written a very sensible posting on this very matter.
I do not wish to bombard you with Do's and Dont's all in one go.
Hopefully, Bruxinha will pick up on your posting and will also reply. I know that she has compiled a very helpful list to assist would be purchasers and is also presently writing 2 books. So I will leave any further comments that she may care to give you.
But please rest assured the Algarve can be a beautiful place to live, providing you are and with much respect fully aware of exactly what is happening around you, with regard the purchase of any property and/or land. Unfortunately, there are for sure many that have been caused shall we say unnecessary expense and very sadly heart-ache and even though many thought they were safe by using so called professionals. The complaints would appear as long as your arm.
Regards Nightrider
Ok these are my thoughts and opinions.
Everything depends on what you want from life, how old you are, whether you are single or married/partner, whether you have kids, what you like to do, whether you have to work, whether you will miss close family members, can you cope with a totally different culture and language, do you need a lot of stimulation or do you get bored easily? And 101 other factors.
Everyone is different. What is right for one person isn't necessarily right for another. I know people who have lived here for 20 years and still love it and others, who have lived here for about 5 and can't stand it and want to get back to UK, Germany, Holland asap. I have known some who find it too hot in the summer, some who have found it too damp and cold in the winter and others who think the climate is perfect. You say it is a "no going back situation". Why does it have to be so cut and dry? I am a big advocate of the rent for at least 6 months to a year idea to make sure you really can adjust. HOLIDAY IS DIFFERENT FROM LIVING!!!! Don't wish to be patronising but it is a fact that seemingly sensible, educated people forget.
I know people here who sold up lock, stock and barrell and now in hindsight wish they had kept something back in the UK. Probably a good idea, but yes, of course that depends on people's financial situation etc
Me, personally, I just fell here from outer space, well Italy actually. I didn't ever consciously decide to move here, in fact, the first time I sat down in a café in Silves I thought I could never live there, as I found it so old-fashioned and dull, but then I am a woman in my 30's, who gets bored very easily, so not such a surprise really. Nine months later I came back to visit some relatives and decided too stay for a bit to give it a chance, as I love to experience living in other places and learning languages. I have nomad genes though.
Having now adopted a dog, found myself doing all sorts of stuff, which I don't want to drop and a few other reasons, I am still here. Whilst summer is fine, winter is always difficult for me and I find I long to get away. But then that is me...if you are retired and like to sit by the fire and read books, go for walks, play golf etc you probably will be fine. Similarly, if you are late teens, early 20's and like to spend weekends at Praia da Rocha or Albufeira until the early hours and have no commitments you will probably also be fine. I have learnt Portuguese (still loads more to learn though) and tried to integrate as I always have done in other countries but that hasn't been very easy, as the Portuguese tend to stick in their family groups and are a little conservative for me in their outlook. However, I have met some fantastic German, Dutch, Belgian, French, Swiss mates, who I would never have had the pleasure of meeting if I had only stayed in the UK or Italy. Another benefit is that we are so close to Spain, I can drive over to see people there too.
So, I have tried to be honest about my feelings. There is no Utopia, or at least I haven't found mine yet. There are good things and bad in every country and unfortunately we can't put them all in one place. You only live once, so not to go for something is a shame, but also one does have to be careful and research thoroughly what you are doing, so not to get your fingers burnt.
Whatever you decide is the right thing for you I wish you the best of luck.
Everything depends on what you want from life, how old you are, whether you are single or married/partner, whether you have kids, what you like to do, whether you have to work, whether you will miss close family members, can you cope with a totally different culture and language, do you need a lot of stimulation or do you get bored easily? And 101 other factors.
Everyone is different. What is right for one person isn't necessarily right for another. I know people who have lived here for 20 years and still love it and others, who have lived here for about 5 and can't stand it and want to get back to UK, Germany, Holland asap. I have known some who find it too hot in the summer, some who have found it too damp and cold in the winter and others who think the climate is perfect. You say it is a "no going back situation". Why does it have to be so cut and dry? I am a big advocate of the rent for at least 6 months to a year idea to make sure you really can adjust. HOLIDAY IS DIFFERENT FROM LIVING!!!! Don't wish to be patronising but it is a fact that seemingly sensible, educated people forget.
I know people here who sold up lock, stock and barrell and now in hindsight wish they had kept something back in the UK. Probably a good idea, but yes, of course that depends on people's financial situation etc
Me, personally, I just fell here from outer space, well Italy actually. I didn't ever consciously decide to move here, in fact, the first time I sat down in a café in Silves I thought I could never live there, as I found it so old-fashioned and dull, but then I am a woman in my 30's, who gets bored very easily, so not such a surprise really. Nine months later I came back to visit some relatives and decided too stay for a bit to give it a chance, as I love to experience living in other places and learning languages. I have nomad genes though.
Having now adopted a dog, found myself doing all sorts of stuff, which I don't want to drop and a few other reasons, I am still here. Whilst summer is fine, winter is always difficult for me and I find I long to get away. But then that is me...if you are retired and like to sit by the fire and read books, go for walks, play golf etc you probably will be fine. Similarly, if you are late teens, early 20's and like to spend weekends at Praia da Rocha or Albufeira until the early hours and have no commitments you will probably also be fine. I have learnt Portuguese (still loads more to learn though) and tried to integrate as I always have done in other countries but that hasn't been very easy, as the Portuguese tend to stick in their family groups and are a little conservative for me in their outlook. However, I have met some fantastic German, Dutch, Belgian, French, Swiss mates, who I would never have had the pleasure of meeting if I had only stayed in the UK or Italy. Another benefit is that we are so close to Spain, I can drive over to see people there too.So, I have tried to be honest about my feelings. There is no Utopia, or at least I haven't found mine yet. There are good things and bad in every country and unfortunately we can't put them all in one place. You only live once, so not to go for something is a shame, but also one does have to be careful and research thoroughly what you are doing, so not to get your fingers burnt.
Whatever you decide is the right thing for you I wish you the best of luck.
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Charles B.
Thank you elle, tbbr, nightrider and Bruxinha,
I’m not sure I know what’s on my mind!
I would like to pick up on so many of your points but don’t know where to start! But for now I would just like to comment on:
“I know people here who sold up lock, stock and barrell and now in hindsight wish they had kept something back in the UK”
We feel that if we had something back in the UK, we would always be tourists
…………………………………………………………….. our quandary
Charlie
I’m not sure I know what’s on my mind!
I would like to pick up on so many of your points but don’t know where to start! But for now I would just like to comment on:
“I know people here who sold up lock, stock and barrell and now in hindsight wish they had kept something back in the UK”
We feel that if we had something back in the UK, we would always be tourists
…………………………………………………………….. our quandary
Charlie
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Lesley Jean
- CVO Legend
- Posts: 4118
- Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2004 4:07 pm
- Location: Somerset. and Lombos
- Contact:
This is a difficult question Charlie, as really it is a personal decision whether to 'up sticks' completely or to keep something in the UK.We have a house here in the UK and one on the Algarve, hopefully in the next year we will be selling our house here and downsizing to allow us the opportunity of coming back to the UK to see family and probably to come back during the hottest summer months, as our daughters are 21 and 24 I do not want to leave the UK without having a 'home' for them and us, one can't look into the future and see what they will be doing in say 6 years time, although our eldest has a job and lives in London, and our other daughter has yet to finish Uni and start a career I would feel that I was abandoning them if we completely sold up in the UK.
We love the fact that we have two countries which we call home, but also look forward to the time when we can spend more time in Portugal.
I don't expect this has been any help to you but thought I would give you my feelings.
Only you can decide what is best for you Charlie but you could look at the UK place as your "holiday home" and be tourists there. Lots of people do it.
I had another thought, which is unfortunately a bit of a morbid one and I don't really like to mention it but I think it is definitely something people should consider and that is, if one partner was to pass away at some stage, would the other stay on "alone" and would they feel more "secure" if they had something still where the majority of their family and friends are? Sorry just another not so pleasant thought not necessarily for you but for anyone else in a quandry.
I had another thought, which is unfortunately a bit of a morbid one and I don't really like to mention it but I think it is definitely something people should consider and that is, if one partner was to pass away at some stage, would the other stay on "alone" and would they feel more "secure" if they had something still where the majority of their family and friends are? Sorry just another not so pleasant thought not necessarily for you but for anyone else in a quandry.
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Guest
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elle
Thats not morbid Bruxhy but a very realistic thought..and one we often forget!
I know its not Algarve but a friend of a friend retired from Southern England to Scotland when they were about 60..and after 2 years the husband died suddenly and she was at a total loss with no friends and family around. It took some time for her to get money together and move back down to family in south again.
I like the idea of being a 'tourist' to UK instead!..an old lady I knew in Carvoeiro(in her 80s)and had lived there for about 30 years..still came back to UK each summer for her 'holidays'!
nite ellieX
I know its not Algarve but a friend of a friend retired from Southern England to Scotland when they were about 60..and after 2 years the husband died suddenly and she was at a total loss with no friends and family around. It took some time for her to get money together and move back down to family in south again.
I like the idea of being a 'tourist' to UK instead!..an old lady I knew in Carvoeiro(in her 80s)and had lived there for about 30 years..still came back to UK each summer for her 'holidays'!nite ellieX
Hi Charles, don't have much to add to what has already been said, we were frequent visitors to Carvoeiro for 18+ years and planned for some time to retire here. We took early retirement and complete with our two pooches made our home here two years ago. Everyone of course has their own priorities, ours was to integrate as much as possible, I attended Portuguese language classes for some time before we came to live here - and while living here too- still not brilliant but I get by and learning every day! It is important to get as much information as possible and plan your move, not that you can plan for every eventuality but at least come prepared. We have family in the UK who visit us regularly and we them and a big bonus for us is that we have family here too. We have not regretted coming here, as we've made so many friends and we didn't want too cozy a retirement, a challenge here and there keeps you on your toes! Whether it is forever .... don't know.... but it's good for now and of course like anywhere no matter how well you think you know an area it is always very different being resident. Good luck Charles in whatever you decide is the right move for you.
Whether it is forever .... don't know.... but it's good for now and of course like anywhere no matter how well you think you know an area it is always very different being resident. Good luck Charles in whatever you decide is the right move for you.-
Thunderbolt
- CVO Master
- Posts: 1025
- Joined: Sun Sep 05, 2004 9:16 am
- Location: Carvoeiro
Hi Charles,
I am also one of those people who visited the Algarve for many years (we had a holiday home in Carvoeiro) before deciding that I wanted to move over here. I am in my early 30's and I left England, my job, my house (which I still have at the moment) and my friends.
I moved over in the winter because I wanted to know if I would like living in a touristic village during the quiet months or if I would find it difficult.
For me, everything has worked out for the best. I found a job that I love, really good friends and my quality of life has improved.
But I do agree that it is a good idea to maybe try it out for a few months first before deciding for sure that this is where you want to be, especially if there is more than one person involved. My position on that was that I was single and if it didn't work out it would only affect me.
As all the others have pointed out, it is obviously a personal opinion whether you will like it here or not but why not try it out.
Yes, it's very different to the UK but it's not that alien. Once you get to grips with how the system works (s-low-ly) and kick back and relax, you'll probably find that it's a lovely place to be.
I'm very happy here and I have no intention of moving back to the UK and I hope that whichever decision you make, it will be the right one.
As for people making "negative" comments according to tbbr, I think it's only cautionary comments. A lot of people think that moving to somewhere they love to holiday in will be a dream come true but there are a lot of different things to consider.
Good luck!
I am also one of those people who visited the Algarve for many years (we had a holiday home in Carvoeiro) before deciding that I wanted to move over here. I am in my early 30's and I left England, my job, my house (which I still have at the moment) and my friends.
I moved over in the winter because I wanted to know if I would like living in a touristic village during the quiet months or if I would find it difficult.
For me, everything has worked out for the best. I found a job that I love, really good friends and my quality of life has improved.
But I do agree that it is a good idea to maybe try it out for a few months first before deciding for sure that this is where you want to be, especially if there is more than one person involved. My position on that was that I was single and if it didn't work out it would only affect me.
As all the others have pointed out, it is obviously a personal opinion whether you will like it here or not but why not try it out.
Yes, it's very different to the UK but it's not that alien. Once you get to grips with how the system works (s-low-ly) and kick back and relax, you'll probably find that it's a lovely place to be.
I'm very happy here and I have no intention of moving back to the UK and I hope that whichever decision you make, it will be the right one.
As for people making "negative" comments according to tbbr, I think it's only cautionary comments. A lot of people think that moving to somewhere they love to holiday in will be a dream come true but there are a lot of different things to consider.
Good luck!