I’m a curriculum developer/course writer who telecommutes/teleworks from New Hampshire for a private non profit in Massachusetts. During a recent (telephone) meeting, I reminded my supervisor that I’d be away in Spain for several weeks. Then I added, “Ya know, I telecommute from New Hampshire and never actually come down to the campus. How about I telecommute from Spain instead?” I was (mostly) joking and figured he’d respond something to the effect of, “Ha ha, we should all be so lucky.” But he responded, “Makes no difference to me.” After picking myself up from the floor, and regaining the ability to speak, I asked him the same question in several different ways to be sure he understood what I meant. And each time he made it clear that he understood I was asking to move to Spain but keep my present job. He’s had three weeks to “sleep on it” whilst I was away. Now I’m back in the States and he still says I can move. So…. OMG… I’m moving to Spain! 😊
As for where specifically…. That remains to be determined. I simply love Sevilla, and have quite a few friends there, but the heat would kill me. The weather in A Coru?a is much more to my liking and comfort level. Plus I have some friends there as well. But the city has not won my heart. So I’m leaning towards A Coru?a province, but thinking I’ll look for a nearby city. Something on the rail line, so I can easily and frequently go into the city, as I plan to give up driving. Suggestions welcome, nay, encouraged: Please tell me where to live. 😊
I’m also curious about “older expats.” Many on the forum seem to be twenty-something and looking for fun and adventure. I’m 40 and prefer quiet charm—what some might even call “boring”. 😉
I vote for both sets of islands: las Baleares or las Canarias. Both have better heat mitigation from the ocean breezes but great all year temperatures. Both have very charming towns too.
Maybe Cadiz too? Never been but would imagine it gets cooling breezes off the Atlantic in the middle of the summer to some extent.
Lastly, I really would like to be able to hop on a train and get into the city (of A Coru?a). So I’m thinking somewhere in the province, on the rail line. Santiago de Compostela might work, but I’m not sure. I really need to look at RENFE’s services in that region….
The climate in La Coru?a is fine, you get varied weather here, it rains but summer has plenty of sun, it’s never really cold here; in the city it rarely drops below 3?C in winter and rarely exceeds 32?C. Go inland somewhat and there are greater extremes, but never gets as hot as Sevilla for example not as cold as Madrid in Winter. Santiago sometimes dips below 0?C and rains a little more than La Coru?a. The train services aren’t very good in Galicia, more people use the inter city buses, which are more frequent and faster. Living in either La Coru?a or Santiago you can do just about everything without a car. Go away from the cities though and you’ll find that a car becomes more necessary. Between the two cities, it’d be hard to choose, Santiago is compact, it’s the political and cultural centre of Galicia, the centre is well maintained and is quite cosmopolitan what with the university and all the tourists it gets for the Camino de Santiago. La coru?a is bigger and has good beaches in the city, it’s more of a commercial centre than Santiago and has a port aswell. What with the economic slowdown and the building of many new shopping centre, I have to say that the traditional centre of Coru?a (Calle Real, San Andres, Cuatro Caminos) is looking a bit shabby these days. With regards your work, the Galician cable company “R” has very good, fast internet services both in Santiago, A Coru?a and their surroundings. La Coru?a speaks mostly Castellano whilst in Santiago there are more Gallego speakers. My perspective is that I lived in the centre of Coru?a, and live now in the ‘suburbs’ about 4 miles from the centre, I’m mid 40s, married, 1 kid.
As an aside, smaller than Santiago, sleepier but close to La Coru?a you could also look at Betanzos, trains there are a disaster, but the bus service is OK. On the other side of Santiago, the city of Pontevedra looks quite nice but couldn’t really comment.
Betanzos sounds promising: Small, close to A Coru?a so that I can come into town when needed, and any place whose wikipedia entry begins with “In Roman times…” has got to be great. 😊 (My B.A. is in Latin.)
If you don’t mind a couple of follow-up questions: If I am planning to rent a flat in or near(ish) A Coru?a, what are the approximate rents and how soon should I find an agency to help me find a place? I’m hoping to move around January. Regarding “requirements”: I’ll be living alone so I don’t need a bunch of space. But I would like a second bedroom to serve as my home office. And furnished would be better than unfurnished, though it’s not absolutely essential. The only other requirement I can think of is that it’s in reasonable walking distance to a grocery store, pharmacy, and bus stop.
Lastly, if you (or anyone) happens to know of a good local agent for finding flats, it would be most appreciated. (I’m trying to minimize the requests I make of my Spanish friends as I don’t want to seem like a burden to them. And I hope I’m not turning into a burden here!)
In La Coru?a and it’s surroundings you should be able to find a 2 bed flat for 500 -550 euros per month. You’ll pay less for an older property without garage or lift , and perhaps more for larger flats or duplex. Generally there’s not alot of difference between furnished or unfurnished prices. Furnished, you go on one year contracts and will have to negotiate every year, unfurnished the best way to go is renegotiate after 5 years - it’s a one year contract automatically renewed each year with the cost of living rise added each year. The further you go from the city the cheaper it gets. If you want to be near the city, you could do alot worse than some of the suburbs here - Perillo, Santa Cristina, Arteixo, Cambre, O Burgo are a few examples, Sada is a bit further out but has a frequent bus service aswell. In Coru?a you have beaches within walking distance, the same in Perillo, Santa Cristina, Sada and `perhaps Santa Cruz or Mera. Oleiros, Betanzos, Cambre and Arteixo are more inland so you’ll need a bus to get to a beach (if it’s important).
As for agents, the local agencies can be found, for example in the phone books - http://www.paxinasgalegas.com for example. Do a search for inmobilarias Coru?a. Problem here is most don’t have web sites. Most people here, when looking for a flat, choose their area rhen look up in the windows for SE ALQUILA signs so alot of the time agents never get involved (only Gestores, who will do the contract). How is your Spanish? Up here, there isn’t too much in English. As for when, if you are looking for January, start to look in December, nobody will hold a place vacant here. From what I have seen recently, people are asking for 1 or 2 months rent as a returnable deposit, one month advance rent, then some of the agencies are asking for a bank guarantee for between 6 and 10 months rent. I’ve never had to organize one personally though.
Today? Admittedly not so good. :-( But I am well aware that this is not going to cut it. So I have contracted with a native speaker and teacher for private/one-on-one lessons with a focus on conversational skills. Lessons begin next week and I am planning on two times a week every week (plus lots of studying and practice) between now and the end of December. So hopefully by the time I move I will have mastered enough Spanish to survive. 😊
Dont forget that you still need to be legally allowed to stay in Spain for more than 3 months… Americans (if you are American) are only allowed 3 months, perhaps you are English since I saw the nice word “whilst” in your text, which means you would have no problems.
Where can I get a telecommunication job? I already live in Spain, but would be nice to work for an American or English company!
I am an American. I’m in the process of applying for a residence visa.
As for where to find such a job…. I haven’t done a job search in ages (been with my present employer for 15 years) so I’m not sure where to look or what to tell you. Only that more and more companies seem to be favoring this as an option, so… Maybe just do a job search? *shrugs apologetically*
Interesting post in that the Gibraltar based recrutiment agencies I have been registering with, and being up front about wanting a telecommute job have replied in a very negative way. Basically, ‘It doesn’t exist and you won’t get it.’ Thankfully I disagree with them, and have seen two such posts in The Sur in English recently.
Likewise, their reaction makes me more determined to succeed.
It might not be ‘easy’ (as I am sure there are 100,000 others out there who like the idea of having the office at home), but ‘Nothing is impossible’ is my motto.
