| When you are planning and working towards your | | | | into town to have a look around the shops and have |
| new life in Spain, you think that it is going to be | | | | a brunch out. The longer you stay in, the more |
| enough to have the dream magazine lifestyle but | | | | difficult it becomes to get out. Just because you live |
| that's not enough. You still need to get out and do | | | | in a paradise location, it doesn't mean that you |
| things. Sometimes we need a change of surroundings | | | | shouldn't visit other places both nearby and far away. |
| even from paradise. | | | | Instead of inviting friends over, you can go out and |
| I see it all the time, people move out to Spain to | | | | meet them in restaurants and bars. It's good to get |
| their dream home which invariably turns into their | | | | out and get away even if it's only to come back and |
| prison. They have everything that they think they | | | | appreciate your home. |
| need in terms of leisure time such as a swimming | | | | If you live on an urbanisation, you might have |
| pool, barbeque, hot tubs and barely venture out | | | | everything that you think you need, access to the |
| beyond their comfort zone. This is particularly true of | | | | beach, paddle/tennis court, gardens and a swimming |
| those with those who have taken on too much | | | | pool. Why would you ever want to leave somewhere |
| financially. | | | | that most people only dream of and are lucky to |
| It's a similar picture to the one that you see in the | | | | experience for a couple of weeks every year? But |
| UK where they have bitten off more than they can | | | | get too comfortable and you are actually living in an |
| chew and are forced to stay at home every | | | | open prison. Although, it's nice to have the |
| weekend living on a budget and counting pennies just | | | | conveniences of these facilities at hand, it's also good |
| to afford the dream home. They are determined to | | | | practise to get out once in a while and experience |
| get their money's worth so they hang around the | | | | new surroundings. |
| house to justify their expense. They fall into the | | | | Similarly, it can get a little claustrophobic spending all |
| English man's home is their castle trap but this time in | | | | your outdoor leisure time around your darling |
| the sun. Once satellite television is installed and they | | | | neighbours so sometimes it does you and them good |
| are finally connected to Telefonica and the internet | | | | to distance yourself from them and the surrounding |
| they are quite happy to kiss goodbye to their | | | | area. It is usually when the weather heats up that |
| recently acquired social life. | | | | neighbours start to irritate each other. This is a cue |
| People with children equip their gardens with | | | | to get away from the urbanisation and take a |
| playhouses, swings and slides and they no longer | | | | holiday. If you are in Southern Spain, you only need |
| need to take their children to the park. But children | | | | to drive for a couple of hours to experience a |
| like to go to the park even if it's just to watch other | | | | complete change of scenery or even try a different |
| children play. It's good for them to know that other | | | | country with Portugal on our doorstep. |
| children exist out there and important that they mix. | | | | That's part of the reason for living in Spain, to enjoy |
| And if you are new to Spain, how are you and your | | | | new experiences and discover another country. This |
| children going to make friends if you don't leave your | | | | is especially important for those who have come to |
| home? | | | | live in Spain on a temporary basis. The point is you |
| Okay you can sit back and enjoy a glass of wine or | | | | have to make the most of your time that you are |
| an ice cream from the comfort of your sun lounger | | | | here and don't get trapped into thinking that the villa |
| in the garden but isn't it nice to get out in the | | | | and pool is what it is all about. Although this is enough |
| evening for a stroll and a drink outside a bar? The | | | | for some people, most people need a little more |
| more you stay in , the more you miss out on what's | | | | variety. You won't find the variety until you step |
| going on in the area. Likewise, its lovely having | | | | outside your front door. |
| breakfast on your terrace but it's also good to get | | | | |