One more on the way.

Welcome Richard.

Make sure you travel around a bit and see what's available. Some people like the coastal strip, and good luck to them, but I prefer the peace and privacy of the country.

Incidentally, we live in the huerta - the irrigated agricultural area of the Vega Baja, but because all the irrigation canals near us are covered apart from the sluice gates, in twelve years we've not has a single mossie (touch wood!).

Hi Jim.

Many thanks for the welcome.

I'll probably end up a bit inland myself.  Sounds like you have found a place to suit your needs and not having a mosquito problem is, surely, a big plus.

I had a look at Huerta on the map.  There are so many places mentioned on this forum.  I'm trying to get a fix on their locations as well as their surroundings.

Should be a useful exercise for me before I actually go ; along with trying to learn a bit of Spanish, of course.

Thanks again, Jim.  I find your posts pretty helpful. (and the posts of others, of course.)

Richard

Hi Richard

Huerta isn't a proper name - it's just the name given to the flat part of the Vega Baja which is irrigated and given over to agriculture, so you won't find it named on a map.

We live between Rafal and Callosa de Segura, and from where we are we can get to many towns and lots of restaurants or shops with just a few minutes drive. For that reason, it's ideal for us, and if we want to walk anywhere it's not a struggle for us geriatrics. It's also nice and quiet.

I know there are much more scenic locations in the northern Costa Blanca, but most of the inland locations there involve much further to drive to get to places, plus they're colder in winter. If we want to go to the beach, we are only twenty minutes from Guardamar, so we have easy access to it. If my wife wants a shopping experience, there are good shopping centres at Elche and on the A7 near Murcia, both within half an hour drive. If she wants a major city, I just stick her on the train to Alicante.

Renting is a good idea, as that would give you time to have a good look around and start narrowing down your choice of areas. 

I wish you luck, and if I can be of any help, just ask.

cheers

Jim

Hi Richard. 

Welcome.  We came out to visit friends may 2016 and loved it so much we went home and put our house up for sale straight away. We moved here October of last year and haven't looked back.we are both retired. It took a lot of arranging as we had a short space of time and a dog to plan for. We contacted an estate agent before we moved and he met us the day after we arrived. We found the perfect property for us as my husband is a wheelchair user so had to have no stairs. We moved in within 6 weeks. 

I have to say I found this forum so helpful. Good luck with your move.

Josie.

Hi Josie.

Thank you for the welcome.

Wow !!! That was a quick decision you and your husband made. (wish I could be more like that.) 

You certainly come across as being very positive about the move.  Glad to hear that you found a suitable property.... and so quickly.  Yes, in a major move like that there would be numerous things to deal with but I guess things are a bit calmer now.  I'm looking forward, myself, getting the major hassles behind me.

Regards to both you and your husband.

Richard..

Hi Sandy.

Thank you for your kind wishes.

Nice to hear another positive voice.  You certainly sound like you are settling in already, making friends etc.  Yes, the forum is a great asset especially for new arrivals.  

I wish you all the best, also, in your own adventure.

Regards.

Richard.

Hi Jim.

Lol --- When you said that Huerta would not show up on the map I began to worry that ny mind was getting a bit "hazy"  - a bit before its time, might I add :-)   - and that I had only imagined seeing it on Google maps.  But I'm pleased and relieved to report that I found it again today. But Jim, it may only be a street name, I don't know. It's in the direction of Orihuela from Callosa de Segura.  I guess that means that you're safe from Google's all powerful eye, at least for the present.

From what you describe, an area like that would have some appeal for me as well.  I guess you would need a car out there but I would likely wish to be mobile myself, anyway.  I like the idea of setting off in different directions and to explore different places. I hope to join a walking group too, should there be one wherever I find myself. 

I appreciate the offer of help / advice, Jim.  I may well be very glad of that.  In fact, I'm pretty sure I will be.      

Richard.

Hi Richard.

It is a big move but I am sure you will soon feel as if you have always been here.

The Red Tape! Is a challenge but there are lots of us to help with that. 

I bought here on my own and now I have lots of friends here.

I live near Guardamar and close to Rojales.

If I can help let me know.

Judith

Richard there are many walking groups around here so that's fine.

Be careful of buying in a quiet area for many reason not least research into the Land!!! Also isolation , needing a doctor and other amenities.age creeps up on us all after retirement. If you are single like me then its good to have people around you . I am not on an urbanisation but have others close by. Facilities are generally better in an established area, and socialising is easier.

Lots of people buy out in the campo and then after 10 yes as health problems and mobility decreases they very often end up selling and moving closer to amenities.

Just giving you the other side of the coin.

Good luck in your research.

Judith