I’m baaaack!!!! (Update)

[HBS60]

Hello, again, fellow Pilgrims!

Sorry I needed to take a break from these boards, it’s complicated but I have a lot to share.

For the newbies here, I did my Camino Frances between August and September, and chronicled it extensively until I got home to FL right as a hurricane was lashing the other side of the state (but still could be felt). Then we got another hurricane, this time went through Central FL where I live. That was a lot of stress and cleanup to do. But I was also drained and exhausted. It felt like I was having a Camino hangover, for a while I needed to disconnect, stopped following this and other Camino boards as I needed to “detox”. It felt like having gorged on plates and plates of food to the point I couldn’t stand the sight of it.

Finally, it started to get better, and I would scroll over my FB postings with gratitude and joy, then…how do I put this?… things have happened in my country that slammed me back to the ground.

So, I’ve made the decision to move out of my country and relocate to Spain, so I’m applying for a non-lucrative visa. The truth is that I’ve been thinking about making this move for a few years, and I finally got the message that I shouldn’t keep postponing it any more. While I could move to any number of Spanish-speaking countries, having done the Camino gave me the confidence that I can relocate successfully to Spain. Not that it will be easy, as it’s traumatic leaving the country that has been home for 40 years, leaving behind friends and family, but I know I’m not the only person in the world that has dealt with this type of situation.

I’ve met so many delightful people, Spaniards and from elsewhere, that I know that I’ll have no trouble meeting people that would support me through this transition. I met 4 Spaniards at the Camino, one in Madrid, one in Murcia, one in Seville, one in Valencia and have been in touch with them. I do not know yet where I’ll be living, probably southern Spain as I don’t like cold weather.

While I made it a point in my earlier posts that I couldn’t even think of doing other caminos, well…I might do so anyway, as I’m sure it will be therapeutic and give me the opportunity to meet new people. Having so many caminos gives me choices and flexibility. It’s not that I’m thrilled about it, but I also see its value. While I am not allowed to work with a non-lucrative visa, I’m sure I could volunteer at places like albergues. Being that I’ll be in Europe, I can also take the opportunity to travel through Europe, visit places, without having to fly across the ocean. I would also want to find an institution or teacher that can work with me in my piano technique.

I still have lots of decisions to make, like what to do my my house here in FL, what do do with my grand piano, how to figure out the finances, the bureaucratic paperwork, etc. I’m currently working with an agency that’s guiding me through the process. I’m hoping to get everything in order over the next couple of months, but who knows.

Once again, I’m grateful for the incredible support I got during my Camino, and. I look forward for more human connections.

Thanks, everybody!

Hector

 

[C clearly]

It's great to hear about your positive plans! Stay in touch!

 

[VNwalking]

Hector, wonderful to hear your plans - may they unfold smoothly!

 

[bestfootforward]

Hello, again, fellow Pilgrims!

Sorry I needed to take a break from these boards, it’s complicated but I have a lot to share.

For the newbies here, I did my Camino Frances between August and September, and chronicled it extensively until I got home to FL right as a hurricane was lashing the other side of the state (but still could be felt). Then we got another hurricane, this time went through Central FL where I live. That was a lot of stress and cleanup to do. But I was also drained and exhausted. It felt like I was having a Camino hangover, for a while I needed to disconnect, stopped following this and other Camino boards as I needed to “detox”. It felt like having gorged on plates and plates of food to the point I couldn’t stand the sight of it.

Finally, it started to get better, and I would scroll over my FB postings with gratitude and joy, then…how do I put this?… things have happened in my country that slammed me back to the ground.

So, I’ve made the decision to move out of my country and relocate to Spain, so I’m applying for a non-lucrative visa. The truth is that I’ve been thinking about making this move for a few years, and I finally got the message that I shouldn’t keep postponing it any more. While I could move to any number of Spanish-speaking countries, having done the Camino gave me the confidence that I can relocate successfully to Spain. Not that it will be easy, as it’s traumatic leaving the country that has been home for 40 years, leaving behind friends and family, but I know I’m not the only person in the world that has dealt with this type of situation.

I’ve met so many delightful people, Spaniards and from elsewhere, that I know that I’ll have no trouble meeting people that would support me through this transition. I met 4 Spaniards at the Camino, one in Madrid, one in Murcia, one in Seville, one in Valencia and have been in touch with them. I do not know yet where I’ll be living, probably southern Spain as I don’t like cold weather.

While I made it a point in my earlier posts that I couldn’t even think of doing other caminos, well…I might do so anyway, as I’m sure it will be therapeutic and give me the opportunity to meet new people. Having so many caminos gives me choices and flexibility. It’s not that I’m thrilled about it, but I also see its value. While I am not allowed to work with a non-lucrative visa, I’m sure I could volunteer at places like albergues. Being that I’ll be in Europe, I can also take the opportunity to travel through Europe, visit places, without having to fly across the ocean. I would also want to find an institution or teacher that can work with me in my piano technique.

I still have lots of decisions to make, like what to do my my house here in FL, what do do with my grand piano, how to figure out the finances, the bureaucratic paperwork, etc. I’m currently working with an agency that’s guiding me through the process. I’m hoping to get everything in order over the next couple of months, but who knows.

Once again, I’m grateful for the incredible support I got during my Camino, and. I look forward for more human connections.

Thanks, everybody!

Hector

Hello Hector!

Great to hear you're well and WOW, you sure do have a lot going on! It's fair to say your Camino has been a truly life-changing experience for you. So much achieved and so many wonderful opportunities and adventures ahead.

You have people assisting you with the relocation process and while it may be ardous, the result will hopefully give you what you need. And from other threads, it's clear many other non-national forum members are in Spain permanently or close to, and they'll have helpful advice. And if it's southern Spain you choose, you won't regret it. You'll be spoilt for choice with beautiful (warm) places to live. My parents moved there from Australia in the 1980s and never looked back.

It's great to see you back here, and who knows..... on a Camino or in an Albergue somewhere in Spain! Buen Camino and so much more!

 

[grdemedeiros]

Congratulations! We've been flirting with leaving our Seattle area home for Europe or Brazil for many years, and have never been able to make the leap. We wish you all the best! If you're contemplating other Europe based thru hikes there are lots of great threads here.

 

[Arctic_Alex]

(...) Not that it will be easy, as it’s traumatic leaving the country that has been home for 40 years, leaving behind friends and family, but I know I’m not the only person in the world that has dealt with this type of situation. (...)

Exciting plans!
I left my home country at the age of 45 and it was a huge change. It did not feel traumatic for me. But then again everyone is different. Wishing you success and may your dreams come true

 

[Robo]

Best Wishes and good luck with your plans Hector. Moving to a new country can be both exciting and initially a bit stressful. Particularly with all the paperwork and Logistics. But I've done it a couple of times now and have no regrets!

What an amazing experience you have ahead of you...

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Thanks for reporting back Hector.

Spain gives Puerto Ricans an easier path to citizenship so look to see if they have a residency visa for Puerto Ricans that would allow you to work.

 

[HBS60]

Thanks for reporting back Hector.

Spain gives Puerto Ricans an easier path to citizenship so look to see if they have a residency visa for Puerto Ricans that would allow you to work.

I don’t think I’ll be allowed to work on a non lucrative visa, but I do know that I can apply for Spanish Citizenship after just two years. Also, after one year I could apply for a change to a work visa if I felt so inclined and had a job offer, neither of them are true at the moment, but who knows!

 

[HBS60]

Best Wishes and good luck with your plans Hector. Moving to a new country can be both exciting and initially a bit stressful. Particularly with all the paperwork and Logistics. But I've done it a couple of times now and have no regrets!

What an amazing experience you have ahead of you...

Thanks! I’ve followed your you tube posts and wanted to thank you for how helpful they’ve been!

 

[dick bird]

My theory is that nobody does the Camino twice. Some do it once and that is enough, but a lot of us are helplessly hooked. If you walk a less followed Camino e.g. la Plata or la Lana it will give you a really good chance to sort ideas out, but even better it will be a priceless opportunity to know and understand Spain. And if you decide to be a volunteer Hospitalero, HosVol are the people to talk to.

 

[Harris]

Hello, again, fellow Pilgrims!

Sorry I needed to take a break from these boards, it’s complicated but I have a lot to share.

For the newbies here, I did my Camino Frances between August and September, and chronicled it extensively until I got home to FL right as a hurricane was lashing the other side of the state (but still could be felt). Then we got another hurricane, this time went through Central FL where I live. That was a lot of stress and cleanup to do. But I was also drained and exhausted. It felt like I was having a Camino hangover, for a while I needed to disconnect, stopped following this and other Camino boards as I needed to “detox”. It felt like having gorged on plates and plates of food to the point I couldn’t stand the sight of it.

Finally, it started to get better, and I would scroll over my FB postings with gratitude and joy, then…how do I put this?… things have happened in my country that slammed me back to the ground.

So, I’ve made the decision to move out of my country and relocate to Spain, so I’m applying for a non-lucrative visa. The truth is that I’ve been thinking about making this move for a few years, and I finally got the message that I shouldn’t keep postponing it any more. While I could move to any number of Spanish-speaking countries, having done the Camino gave me the confidence that I can relocate successfully to Spain. Not that it will be easy, as it’s traumatic leaving the country that has been home for 40 years, leaving behind friends and family, but I know I’m not the only person in the world that has dealt with this type of situation.

I’ve met so many delightful people, Spaniards and from elsewhere, that I know that I’ll have no trouble meeting people that would support me through this transition. I met 4 Spaniards at the Camino, one in Madrid, one in Murcia, one in Seville, one in Valencia and have been in touch with them. I do not know yet where I’ll be living, probably southern Spain as I don’t like cold weather.

While I made it a point in my earlier posts that I couldn’t even think of doing other caminos, well…I might do so anyway, as I’m sure it will be therapeutic and give me the opportunity to meet new people. Having so many caminos gives me choices and flexibility. It’s not that I’m thrilled about it, but I also see its value. While I am not allowed to work with a non-lucrative visa, I’m sure I could volunteer at places like albergues. Being that I’ll be in Europe, I can also take the opportunity to travel through Europe, visit places, without having to fly across the ocean. I would also want to find an institution or teacher that can work with me in my piano technique.

I still have lots of decisions to make, like what to do my my house here in FL, what do do with my grand piano, how to figure out the finances, the bureaucratic paperwork, etc. I’m currently working with an agency that’s guiding me through the process. I’m hoping to get everything in order over the next couple of months, but who knows.

Once again, I’m grateful for the incredible support I got during my Camino, and. I look forward for more human connections.

Thanks, everybody!

Hector

What a wonderful decision. I wish that I had done what you are planning twenty years ago. Keep posting.

 

[BarbaraW]

Welcome back, and good luck with your plans. One tip from a friend who made the brave decision to relocate to Spain over 20 years ago. She was solo and in her 50s. After talking to many people who'd also made the move, she chose to settle in a city rather than one of the smaller towns she'd originally thought of. Several people had told her that it might be harder to integrate in a smaller place with a more tight knit and traditional society. Granada, with its university and more cosmopolitan population, certainly worked for her.