From Spain to the UK: Why Boredom Made Me Long for Home

A grandma who departed from the UK for Spain has disclosed that she currently feels remorseful about the decision and wants to return home As the truth of a new life overseas turns out to be "dull" with "no activities".

Joanna Vanbergen, who is 68, along with her spouse James, previously resided in Tunbridge Wells. However, they relocated to Estepona in the Costa del Sol approximately two and a half years ago.

Ms Vanbergen explained to The i Paper that her family had possessed the property in the Spanish town since 1966, and she was as familiar with the location as she was with her home in the UK, often pondering about how it would feel to live there. retire there.

When I was 10 years old, my sister, who is two decades older than me, purchased an apartment around this area, which led our family to start visiting frequently," she explained. "Afterwards, my dad also acquired a property here, followed by my spouse and me buying a flat in this region for vacations.

We subsequently exchanged the apartment for this bungalow where we currently reside, and we've been visiting frequently during our vacations.

While residing in the UK, Ms Vanbergen mentions that she used to engage in buying and selling vintage clothing and second-hand items on a freelance basis, referring to herself as a "Del Boy kind of person." Her husband, meanwhile, operated a garage door business.

The couple decided to retire to Spain As her spouse found physical labor increasingly challenging, Ms. Vanbergen mentioned that they had often pondered about how things might change. living in Spain, instead of merely vacationing there.

I was familiar with this place as intimately as my own home, which made us curious about truly residing here," she explained. "Later, another lady expressed interest in renting out our house back in the UK; thus, we resolved to take the plunge and apply for a visa to settle down in Spain.

Although Mrs. Vanbergen’s spouse is enjoying life in Spain and satisfied with his new circumstances, she finds herself uninterested and desires to go back to the United Kingdom.

Read Next: ‘We moved to Spain from UK – but now we’re back. The dream became a nightmare’

She is in Spain on a non-lucrative visa, which means she cannot work. Although she could apply to work self-employed in Spain, she explains the system means the expenses are so great, you have to earn a lot of money to make it worthwhile. “I don’t want to be doing that at my age – I just want to dabble.

Essentially, if I were employed in Spain, I'd need to make £1,000 each month as a freelancer merely to pay the bills. However, in England, you could get away with doing only a small amount of work if that’s what you desire.

Ms Vanbergen, who has two sons and three grandchildren, instead expresses that she endures monotonous days filled with boredom and struggles to find ways to occupy her time.

Although she has a fondness for Spain and resides in a charming two-bedroom cottage featuring a fenced garden and a swimming pool, she mentions that the idea of waking up daily without anything to occupy her time seems unbearable.

"I'm not much interested in gardening or homemaking, nor do I enjoy spending my days off on coffee mornings and lunches frequently, or similar activities. What matters to me is feeling productive every single day," she explained.

“I wake up each morning and think: ‘What day is it? What shall I do today?’ Sometimes, the highlight is going out to post a letter.

“I still feel like a 30-year-old inside and I consider myself to be fairly intelligent and bright. I just can’t bear the thought of having nothing to do.

“Even though Spain is very pleasant, I am sitting here bored stiff with not enough to fill my days.”

According to Ms Vanbergen, when people reside in Spain, they don't indulge in sunbathing; it’s vastly different from a short vacation. "Those who live here don't lie around in the sun," she explains. "I have several British friends living nearby and we often engage in some charitable activities. Whenever we venture outdoors together, we're constantly seeking shady spots because it gets extremely warm."

Ms. Vanbergen yearns to head back to the UK and resume her trade in vintage clothing and artifacts, as she mentions that this activity feels like "essential life" for her, and she revels in uncovering high-quality pieces to resell. She explained, "The excitement comes from seeking out and acquiring these items—I find it incredibly exhilarating."

I purchased and resold vintage women's clothing, handbags, and various trinkets, and I aspire to return to life in the UK to continue this activity. Once, I acquired two vases for €3 each at a thrift store, and these same items could fetch around £600 in England. I simply adore the excitement it brings.

As her tenant in the UK has given notice to leave, Ms Vanbergen feels it is the perfect time to become resident in the UK again. However, she says she and her husband are still in debate about it, as he does not think they will be able to afford retirement without having a rental income.

“We are only on state pensions She stated, "We aren't considered wealthy individuals." We fully own two properties: our residence in the UK and another one in Spain. However, you cannot use bricks as currency, so her spouse believes they lack the means for retirement in the UK.

Nonetheless, I am informing him that I can return to making some income, so everything will be fine.

I simply wish to return to the UK because I've come to understand that I need to be working. Forced relaxation isn't really up my alley. While Spain is wonderful for visits, it doesn’t suit my lifestyle long-term.

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