Hi, as ive probably already mentioned over and over again in my threads, i was born in Tenerife, and i live in england and ive been here since i was 2, and im thinking about going back permanently (or at least for the foreseeable future). Im 32 now. I have no idea how many other people there are like me. When i was 4 or 5 i lived there for about 9 months and i loved it, but we came back suddenly.

When i moved to england it was very hard for me and at first i hated it, and i cursed the english. But i love you all now, however lately ive been very dissatisfied with my life in general (but some of its down to me, ie laziness, becoming stagnant, that kind of thing) and i dont find this country very inspiring, for various reasons. Its partly my fault but being here doesnt help. But obviously ive learned the language and i know the country well, and its pretty much all i know (almost). Thats the dilemma.

Im thinking that if i go back and i live there, things will improve, but at the same time i dont want to have a fantasy about everything becoming better just because im in a different location. I keep asking myself, what if i go there and settle, and then everything carries on just the same but with better weather? Thats something i really dont want to happen, which is one reason why i dont want to rush into any final decision. I want to go over it until im sure of what i want to do.

There are a lot of things to think about but to put it into proportion right now my biggest concern is about the live music scene over there. What i really would like is to be able to meet musicians and make even just a bit of money playing gigs, preferably original stuff. I play mainly funk but im not sure if this would go down well.

Im trying to be as realistic as possible and i want to consider everything negative as well as positive.

I wont bore you with any more long paragraphs about my situation and all the issues involved in deciding what to do, so instead ill bore you with a list of things that ive been thinking about, which i made and im working on, and then you can get a picture of whats what (its a very long list) :



Reasons to move :

Excellent weather
Beautiful country
Laid back lifestyle
Healthier lifestyle
Community spirit (among expats / locals)
Lively scene
Three cultures (locals, expats, tourists)
Learn more spanish
Learn about where i come from
Change of scenery, hopefully ill change
The challenge of a life change, becoming a better person, bring out the best in me, force me to change and achieve things



Downsides to living there :

Paperwork, procedures
Beurocratic people can be snooty
Scams, untrustworthy people, being ripped off
Low wages
Not much opportunity to form a band, get somewhere in music



Reasons to leave this s***hole :

S****y weather, not inspiring
Dreary surroundings, not inspiring
Stressful lifestyle
F****d up attitude of people (ie "what are you staring at" mentality, not all of you are like that but its common, im talking about the yoof)
F****d up attitude of people in authority or control over me
High cost of living
Too many rules and laws
I feel stagnant, been here too long, i need a big change and a challenge, nothings happening



Good things about this s******e :

I fully understand the language
I fully understand the culture
I fully understand how things work here
It feels like its not secluded as a country
Although its hard, it is possible to do something in music




Things that i have in my favour :

Relatives
I was born there, no problems living there at all
Cheap flights back here if necessary, and somewhere to come back to, i can come back any time
No commitments either there or here
I can speak spanish
Ive lived there / been there before, im somewhat familiar to an extent (i have a head start)

Im good at research / finding info
Im good at getting to know new people

I can play guitar
Experience in bars and restaurants
I can speak english



Issues & challenges :

Limited spanish
Nervous / panic
Being intimidated by spanish people (language / misunderstandings, not knowing whats what, being out of touch etc)
Being alone, coping
Not knowing how things are over there (culture / system)
"Home"sickness
Either quiet spanish culture, or, tourist culture, or busy urban spanish culture (ie santa cruz) - what id like is a good mixture within one area


Tieing up loose ends here (job, flat, keeping stuff at mums place if nec)
A lot of stuff to take with me (guitars, computer)
Staying somewhere until i find the right place
Taking my stuff there
Moving from there to the right place
Finding a job
Learning how things work out there, where things are, how to go about getting things done
Paperwork, procedures
Finding work
Finding accommodation
Earing good money (working part time so i can focus on my music)
Finding a good location

Meeting people
Getting contacts
Enjoying life, doing new things, travelling around the island
Career, music

Becoming a better person for the experience, challenge, growing up

How often would i come here, and for how long, and for what





Everyday practicalities of life :

Being able to work, ID, whatever

Electricity
Gas
Water
Phone
Internet
Mobile

Doctor
Hospitals
Dentist
Police

Bank
Post office

Working hours
Tax

Travel

Shopping

Getting a ticket back here
Airport, coming here

Benefits (hopefully never necessary)


Local bars
post office
internet cafes
off licenses / places to get cigarettes
bus stops
computer shops
supermarkets / markets
parks
library
bookshops



Other things :

Improve spanish (read stuff, listen to stuff)
Learn about history, culture, everything that i know about england but for Tenerife
Get contacts before i go (ie forums)

Hi Leafer. Only you can make this decision, and there's plenty on the forum for you to read through to help you get there

__________________

Janet Anscombe Associates
The Tenerife Experts
for anyone living in or moving to Tenerife
Visit our website www.janetanscombe.com

wow, what an introduction good luck on your decision

__________________
apartment to rent Los Cristianos http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/ren...istianos/55589

Wow @leafer that is one well thought-out post!

Ask loads of questions here - lots of English bods that can help you sort the pros and cons of practical Tenerife living.

Any decision you make is probably reversable at age 32..

__________________

Are you about to become a British expat?

Or are you seeking re-entry to your own culture?

If you are not sure, a few suggestions:

#Get together as much money as you possibly can and then double it.Try and aim for a year's basic living costs in the pocket before you leave.

#Assume that the Tenerife relatives will expect you to have "made good" and therefore to be much better off than them..Glean as much info about relatives from your parents as possible (including the secrets in the closet!) so you are not embarrassed. Be very polite and respectful to older Tenerife relatives, and don't be impatient.Let them take their time to understand you and vice versa.

#Have an exit/UK ( or other) re-entry strategy in case it just doesn't work out

#Have a good look around in the North: La Laguna is the student town and might be more fun, and more creative if you want to pursue music.Might also be easier to get the Spanish up to scratch quickly at comparatively low cost. But don't expect to make money.

#Maybe this is really your "gap year", rather than a "resettlement" move.So be relaxed about it and go with the flow.

You won't ever regret understanding more about your background, even if you eventually decide that you've now moved on.

Im not british, i was born there and im considering living there. Im not sure if i can see myself living there for good, maybe i will, maybe not. All i know is that i need a change, and Tenerife is a good idea for many reasons and it would kill a lot of birds with one stone. I dont mind if i live there for a few years and then go somewhere else, or if i do live there for good. Thats something that i would have to decide as time goes on. But thinking about it, it seems to me that it could work, as long as i do it right. Right now the 2 main things keeping me here is that im used to living here, and the fact that there is a music scene.

As for money, i dont have much and i dont have the means to raise much, but im not bothered about that. If i do go, i would of course take as much as possible. I dont think thats a major issue though, as long as i can make money there. Besides many people just make a move like this and do ok. And i do need a challenge.

As for relatives, there are literally 4 that i know. I wouldnt want to get in contact with them until im established there first, and i certainly wouldnt want to rely on them for anything, although it might be an option to live with my aunt in Los Cristianos until i find somewhere. The reason i would hesitate to get in contact with them is a strange one. Whenever im there we dont talk (im talking about my cousins). Im too embarassed to say much, and apparently so are they. It would just be weird. Maybe after my spanish improves.

I dont have any commitments here and i can always come back, there arent any problems in that respect, as long as i always keep aside the cost of a flight.

It didnt occur to me that La Laguna could be an option creative wise. Ill look into that. In fact i might like that as i was born in Santa Cruz which is just down the road and ive always wanted to get to know the place. So far all i know is the bus station, and thats no good really is it. I would have thought that in the university there are many people who can speak some english.

As for my spanish, yo hablo muy bien pero hace tanto tiempo que hay muchas palabras que no entiendo pero yo no creo que es un problema aprender. In other words i have a big head start on anyone who doesnt know much spanish.

Hey i could really do with some help in deciding whether to move to Tenerife. Ive been reading the threads, and ive been doing my own research, as well as a lot of thinking.

Yes i know that only i can make the decision and im not asking anyone to do it for me, but i do need someone to talk to about it, because im stuck. Think of it as counselling.

If anyone is willing to help, id appreciate it.

Hi Leafar

I think you need to forget that you are "Not British" and just go and live in Tenerife for a while. You will never miss out because you have youth on your side.

ps see my other post

Youth on my side? Glad to hear it. I read your other post, i appreciate your honesty.