Help with making a decision

Have you tried some long stays, 90 days at a time? Don't move unless you are really sure. If you do, make sure note a one way ticket. 

Firstly, book a holiday visit to Estepona or another area that looks interesting to you. Then consider these things:

1. Are your passport/s UK or EU? The residence requirements are different - all the other questions are affected by this.

2. Will you retire or want to work? This will decide the type of visa you may need.

3. Will you want to drive in Spain? You may need to take a Spanish driving test.

4. Do you want a mainly ex-pat area, or more Spanish? Are you prepared to learn the language?

5. Do you have pets you want to keep with you?

If this makes you feel a bit wobbly, would you be better buying a holiday home and just spending up to 3 months at a time here?  You will still need to visit, perhaps rent for a while to get a flavour of how it feels to live here. 

Get a notebook and start planning; there is help to be had, but only you can choose how or where you live.

Hi Min, 

It is never an easy decision, and needs common sense.

Firstly, David said, come out for 3 months and rent an apartment. 

The thing is that moving to Spain is not the end of the world, you can always go back to UK. If you enjoy your 3 months and go back to UK, the return may well reinforce your desire to move her, as it does with a lot of us.

Then come out for another 3 months and start making plans.

If you do not give it a try, you may well regret it for the rest of your life. If you give it a try and it does not work out, you will have had an experience to remember.

Thankyou for taking the time to reply to me. 

==. I’m retired.
==. I’m thinking it will be so expensive to come out for 3 months. 
== if anyone knows a good deal for me  

Would it be handy to do anything in advance of moving ?

+= I would like a ex pat area.
=+ Would you know of any area so I could look at rents their ?

Perhaps I could find someone I could contact  

You did not say much in your original post which said  'I really want to follow my dreams from many years and move out to Spain' 

You mentioned retired, were you planning to sell a property and  move here?. Do you have an income like a private pension over and above the state one? How familiar are you with the region?  Do you drive or will you be dependant on public transport? Do you speak Spanish or have any existing friends here?  Now UK not in the EU it's moving to is foreign country, most will advise to dip your feet in the water for 90 days first, you shout be able to find a short term rental off peak from October which is the nicest time here. (You can look on Airbnb)  You might find reading the local newspaper in English useful, there is a new addition each week, lots of information and classifieds down load the full paper as a PDF.  

https://www.surinenglish.com/

Hi Min,

Like you I want to retire to Estepona and I'm planning a 2 week holiday for September (I don't have the dates yet as I am waiting for my new passport, and cannot book until it has arrived)

I lived and worked in San Pedro for a short time about 19/20 years ago (needed to return to London beacuse of family) and always said I would return. I last visited Estepona about 3 years ago, just as covid arrived.

I do have one friend who lives in Duquesa - he is originally from Liverpool and I will be meeting up with him so he can help me with all the information i need to finally make up my mind. If all goes well I will apply for the Non - Lucrative Visa.

I live in Putney, London, if you would like to chat or meet up in the UK or Estepona, we could visit some places together.

Regards

Ela Hudson 

 "! live in Putney,"

How wonderful Ela you have a wonderful day, are you really sure you want to live in Spain? back to what I said "you should dip your feat in the water and go for a long stay first".