With the amount of people leaving Spain its hard to see how someone new can make a go of it unless you have got a lot of things in place.
You may not need to work but if you do look out as there is not a lot around. So this first think I would say you need is a job or some sort of income.
Finding a place to stay is easy and cheap so no problem there.
As for the children into school I am not sure on that one so will leave someone else to answer.

Many thanks Dawn for your input. I am hoping that I shall have a source of income to support my family, but I fully appreciate your point! I have had some emails giving me some info about schooling and some activities (thank you for those), but more on those subjects would always be welcome. Best regards, Steve

hi steve i will send you an email with more info and good luck it is hard but anyone willing to put the effort in can make it work

Hi Quesada Mover
I do agree with dawn up to a point but im a glass half full gal. The experience will be wonderful, the children will end up bi lingual and thats gotta be great for their future. You might have to be like lots of other folk and diversify with a little bit of this and that to make ends meet but there of lots of fly boys anf girls on quesada all doing a bit of moonlighting so im sure youll manage to make a euro or two (lol). If youve got a good work ethic and an open mind youll be fine.

"Carpe Diem" thats my motto, I wish you well in all you do

good luck !!!

Hi Debby, my plans are once settled to work from home as a massage therapist and Nutritionist. As I will be for the most part alone, I would love to make friends in the quesada area. Debby you seem like a very positive sunny sort of person who it would be great to know. My e mail address is [email protected]

hi pamela i would definately say quesada its a much nicer in my opinion place to live and if you wished to work in torre its only a few mins drive but the earming potential has to be worked for secret it to not think things will just happen you have to make them happen but yes quesada is a must i live two mins away and i love the area xxx let me know your plans pam xxxxx

Hiya, try before you buy mate. It's not for everyone but if you are adaptable it's great ! On a scale of 1-10 it's a 7-8 i reckon but that's better than a 4 in the UK ... 10 years and staying !

Hi again all!!
Thanks again for all of the 'input', both positive and 'cautious'! I would like to think that my glass is half full, especially with such an opportunity. My friend that may come out with me is a care worker. She has worked both in homes and in the community. Are there any vacancies out there for this type of work, or will she need to look at changing her work?
Many thanks again, Steve

Hi Steve
our neighbour on quesada had an "at home nurse" i think we would call that a carer or a home help as she did not take care of him in a medical sense but she would cook him a meal, clean house etc etc. I have a feeling this was through a private company however as there is a huge percentage of elderly and retired on quesada I am sure there will be aneed for a carer service to a greater or lesser degree, good luck

Hello. We currently live in Quesada with a nearly 3 year old, having moved to spain with a 15 year old about 7 years ago. What I can tell you without a doubt, is that every thing you need is here. There is a very established and sizeable english speaking community and in most cases lack of Spanish is easily overcome. There are dance classes, clubs, sports and more for the kids - mostly english run and usually within walking distance to most houses in Quesada.

Once you get to a place you can find the exact locations and best places you want - but the schools are generally fantastic and they all have a foreign students programme - my 15 year old learned the Valencian language and passed with very good marks, in her first year here.

In such a well established expat community there isnt much you will lack for or not be able to find, as long as you have the get up and go to get it, as , unlike the UK here things take a bit longer and are a bit more challenging, but oh so very very much more rewarding!

Hi again ALL!!
Many thanks again for the posts and emails that I have recieved. The majority are very positive and encouraging! :-) I am now trying to think of other things that I will need to 'arrange' out there. So I would appreciate it if I could be further advised about the situation with registering with a doctor and dentist. I am on medication (for pain relief) and need to be sure that I can still get the medicines that I need to take. Also, that I have somewhere to take my girls, should they fall ill (thankfully, that does not happen very often!). Many thanks in advance for the help that I will recieve and also for the help that I have recieved. Best regards, Steve

Hi, there is a new surgery on Dona Pepa close to the Gama supermarket, only been open a year or so, so you cant miss it, you should be able to register in there. They do speak some english. There are a number of dentists in quesada too, most people I know go to the english dentist in Calle Los Arcos in Quesada itself. Dental treatment (for adults) is extremely expensive here though. Have you thought about what health insurance you might have. Once registered on the Padron at Rojales town hall, you can get a temporary SIP card from the desk downstairs in the lobby which gets you to see a doctor. I cant tell you how to register as my translator did it while I wasn't present. Hope this helps, and good luck

Hi Steve, make sure you have recent European health cards when you arrive, you cannot get any medical treatment without them. They cannot be expired or old, so apply for new ones, google it, its very easy to get them and its fast.

Once you have an address with a lease or proof of ownership, you go to the town council in Rojales. They speak very good english - you will go upstairs with your lease and passport or mortgage papers - and you get a "padron" you then go downstairs at the SIP card desk and ask for 6 month health cards. You will get all the information you need to go to the medical center in Quesada (Dona Pepa). Both receptionists speak very good english, and if the doctor cannot understand you, they ask someone to translate. Simply bring a script or box of what you are on and why, and the doctors here will do you a 6 month script.

MAS im sure the intended recipient of your message will be delighted with such sound and succinct advice from your good - self. Its always good to see folk helping each other.

kind regards

I am a Uk pensioner but will be coming from SA so only have an old health card, how do I get a new health card please?

Pamela, you have to have a UK address to obtain an EHIC card, which will get you a 6 month SIP card. I don't know how you could get one otherwise.

Hi Pamela

You will need someone's address in the UK that doesn't mind receiving the cards for you if you do not have your own uk address. If you check on the European Health Card website there may be a circumstance for you that allows it to be sent elsewhere, they are probably the best people to contact should you not have a UK address you can get the posted to. Do you mean South Africa? De Jager is a popular name back home

Hi Mas and other person that replied to me. Thanks very much! Yes I mean South Africa, I emigrated here from the Uk 18 years ago and married a SA man, hence the name. I do have a good friend I stay with in the UK, plus my son has a flat there, either of them would allow me to use their address.I will check out the web site, thanks again. Pam.