Be Honest

[gary]

I know a lot of people when they fall in love with an island they have dreams or aspirations of moving/retiring there; me being one; I cant help but say this post is truely depressing due to the realism of most people who have either lived/tried to live the dream or own a home here, and most comments are on the negative side as to residing permanently; whilst I am not judging opinions, in fact, they are extremely important, i cant help but feel saddened and confused I understand the links to home, thankfully so, but a two hour flight is not that long. Is it that pp doesnt have it all, or would the same opinions apply to all destinations?


disheartened


Gary
(can we have 1000 clones of sparky please)

 

[Smiddy]

Gary, I can't see even one negative point about PP on this thread, the threads' question was "be honest" which is what everone is doing. Think you'll find anybody who would not want to live there permantly would dearly love to spend much more time there.

 

[Belladonna]

As long as the finance and health matters are sorted out, I'm sure the next reason that stops people emigrating anywhere is family connections. Its fine being away for a couple of months, (I expect!)but any longer and I for one know that I just couldn't cope.
You do have to do a huge amount of research beforehand and be absolutely sure that your work / social life ideas will fit into where you intend to settle - at all times of the year.
We are not all totally au fait with the ways of foreign countries, and I don't relish the idea of not knowing straight away where to go to for help or assistance when things go wrong. I'm not even sure of that living here, but at least I can speak the language fluently - unless I'm connected to a "help line", but thats another problem!
It is great that ex pat areas develop and I'm sure that a lot of people find that very comforting with the inclusion of the various authorities that are bi-lingual to help. As long as they dont turn into El Dorado's!
IF I ever thought about emigrating, I would definately not burn all bridges back home. I also love the idea of waiting for something lovely to do almost as much as actually doing it, so being able to what I wanted when ever I wanted would turn me into a very spoilt person.

I may just have to rethink everthing again actually!!

 

[kate1]

If my husband can take early retirement, and when we no longer have certain family commitments, we will be there like a shot! It's been our dream now for 15 years... Personally, I look forward to the milder, quiet winters - not sure I'd want to stay in August when it is SO hot and busy - but I just find it so civilised and peaceful compared to the UK. I am very much hoping that our girls will want to move out there too when grown up - perhaps find themselves nice Mallorquin partners - after all, the Spanish make the most loyal husbands in Europe...

 

[eleanor]

I think it is perhaps easier to move when the children are younger as they will integrate more easily with the locals through school and clubs. The problem leaving it until the kids are older, say teenage, is that they already have their friends and activities. They do not rely so much on Mum or Dad and they know their own minds. I think it is much more difficult for teenage kids to make the move especially if they have a language barrier.

Over the years we have met many who have decided to move over on a permanent basis. I think it all down to timing and getting it right. I have only heard of one person return to the UK. That person was very very happy in PP but his wife was not. They came back to England and split anyway - perhaps it wasn't PP .......

 

[romanb]

We have been visiting Pollensa for over 30 years and although we would like a second home and regret not buying when we first visited and prices were considerably cheaper would not move permanantly. For the same reason as most others have said friends and family our first grandchild was born last year, we see him once or twice a week our parents most weeks as well as our friends on regular basis I know it is only a two hour flight but with time to get to airport etc it would not be the same. I do feel safe where we live and my life here is pretty special it would be too hard to leave it all behind.

 

[med777]

I love PP but I love Scotland too and just couldnt do the whole thing !
Totally envious and admire those who have, cos there is definately a special something extra when visiting out of season, sorta a wee bit closer to feeling like NOT a tourist !

Miriam

 

[Belladonna]

Anyone thinking of relocating to Mallorca, or indeed any EU country, or if you are already there, take a look at todays on-line Daily News from Majorca paper linked on the home page regarding registering at the town hall.

 

[ray]

I wanted to move ,have had property in PP for about 20years but when I moved I relocated to the old town. fantastic community,loads of fiestas, walk the streets at any time of the night no problems, have never encountered any violence. The people are relaxed about life etc.People are right though, if you want to keep,or feel the need to keep a base in the UK you dont really want to move permanently. I sold up in the UK and moved here with no job,Im not retired but I speak the language and work and enjoy the quality of life here. There are loads of young people here(no i dont include myself!) who live and work here,send their kids to the local schools etc and generally enjoy a very relaxing way of life.

 

[Yveee:)]

It says to be honest and thats what I am going to be. f the question had been asked 4 or 5 years ago my answer would be a yes. After my last experience there, im sorry to say that it would be a no. PP just is not the place it used to be in my eyes

 

[jjacks]

Honest? 15 years ago when the kids were young we would have gone like a shot. Now I don't think so. We have our first grandchild who we see every week, plus my elderly mother who lives nearby. During the bad snow that we have recently had she was housebound and relied on us to make sure she was okay. It seems the older you get, the more ties who have to the UK or am I making excuses?

 

[debz1]

Not excuses at all jjacks. We have similar ties as you..and all our friends..and the cat!!

We would certainly like to spend longer periods in PP but view it, certainly at the moment, as our haven that we can escape to when we like... even just for a few days to get away from it all

Wish I could go tomorrow 'tho

 

[eleanor]

It says to be honest and thats what I am going to be. f the question had been asked 4 or 5 years ago my answer would be a yes. After my last experience there, im sorry to say that it would be a no. PP just is not the place it used to be in my eyes

I have noticed that in various posts people have stated that PP is just not the same anymore. The place itself is just as lovely as it has ever been so what is it that has changed?

With the risk of getting myself into lots of trouble here and certainly not meaning to offend but I wonder if perhaps it has become 'too British'?

Yvee, you refer to 4-5 years ago - it was around that time that many Germans moved on and more British arrived. We have been in PP for many many years and to be honest I liked the mix of nationalities.

This is just a thought. I just wonder why so many say it has changed.

 

[Alcanada]

Eleanor you may be right about it being "too British" these days. I've been going to PP since 1985 and when my wife and I first went out there the place was full of Spanish, Germans, French and of course British. It seemed a magical place, very relaxed but with a certain amount of class. It was brimming with interesting restaurants and didn't have too many fast food joints. But of course the world was very different then and the local currency was the Peseta so everything was seriously cheap - and Puerto Pollensa hadn't really been discovered by that many people.

Well a few years ago it was discovered by the British holiday maker and these days the punters are mostly British. Recession kicked in recently and in season I suspect there aren't enough people out there to make the whole place work. To be honest I don't like it as much, whether that's a cause and effect of it becoming more British I don't know. And being British myself I feel extremely hypocritical even thinking it might be, but there it is. We own a flat in the area and still go out and enjoy ourselves, but it's not the same for us and having had a quick visit last weekend it was seriously depressing, the place looked awfully run down and in a far worse state than when I was out there in February 2008. Sorry people....

 

[Smiddy]

Not a comment on the previous posts, but i can see the way this thread will head, lets not start another round of PP bashing, please! It's been done to death. Let's not forget in life nothing stays the same.

 

[eleanor]

I certainly has no intention of PP bashing! I simply asked a question based on someone's comment! You might note that I actually said 'the place is just as lovely as it has ever been'. I actually referred to the mix of nationalities in PP and asked a question based on that.
We have been in PP for many many years and have seen many changes. I agree that in life nothing stays the same. To comment on change does not have to be seen as negative many positive things have happened over the years too!!

 

[El Gordo]

Too quick to take offence in my opinion.

I seem to remember comments when BK opened where Motos Formentor was that this is the beginning of the end.

Certainly "British" type businesses seem to have flourished along the front. However, they may not be "British" but younger locals with a more modern approach to marketing their businesses to a younger clientèle.

I think we are getting old is the problem!!

I think we could all do with supporting the things we like in PP and voting with our feet for the things we don't like!! This occurs naturally!! I cant see myself frequenting places I don't like. nuff said!

 

[Alcanada]

I don't think you can address a topic such as the one in this thread unless you give an honest assessment of what you think of PP these days. It may well be related to my age but there are aspects of the way it has been developed that don't suit my eye, and the number of fast food joints and the arrival of theme bars aren't really to my taste. It also seems less cared for and more untidy to me.

I do pick and chose where I go when in town and still like the place but just not as much as I did - still love the old town of Pollenca as much as ever though.

 

[eleanor]

Your opinion noted, GL!

I don't think younger locals are using a modern approach to market to younger clientele. I think they are marketing to a British market. I think the majority do support things they like in PP. That is why there are so many positive comments relating to various things on this forum - restaurants is a really good example.
I also think that supporting PP is evident from answers given to new forum people requesting
information of all sorts. The answers are quick in coming and positive as well as welcoming. This is supporting PP. The fact that things which upset members or places where a good service has not been forthcoming is again mentioned on this forum. That too can be positive as I believe you are right people will then have the option of voting with their feet. Again this is helping to support PP in as much as people will decide to give them a miss. That will allow these places to evaluate and make a decision to either go away or improve.

 

[romanb]

I agree with totally Alcanda , why is it everytime something negative is mentioned it has comments such as the one made by Smiddy, surely everyone is entitled to say what they feel be it positive or negative.