La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
We have been renting our apartment on the beach here in Fuengirola for more than 11 years (it will/would be 12 in February). Stay with me. A record for us and quite a surprise. We never expected to be in the same city, let alone the same apartment this long. This blog isn’t called “Moving with Mitchell” for nothing. In our 43 years together we have lived in 22 houses and apartments. That includes 6 temporary stays while we were in transition or shopping for a rental or purchase.
The owner of our apartment drove down from Madrid Saturday morning with the sad news that she is selling in December. We wouldn’t buy it even if we could. I like her very much. She inherited this place from an aunt (who left 21 properties to her 21 nieces and nephews). Auntie had some money. Our landlady never wanted to be a landlady but was able to refinance this place during a challenging time in her life. So it was happily received. Her mortgage will be paid off in December, her life has improved, and she retired a few years ago. So, she wants to unload this responsibility from her life — although she knows we’ve been the easiest tenants she could have had. Our rent has not kept up with the market by any means, and we’re grateful for that.
Staying on the beach is very unlikely. It’s difficult to find long-term rentals and the prices are well more than double what we pay. More and more owners are opting for big money by renting out holiday apartments. As you may have heard, there are fights going on all over Spain about this. Locals can’t afford to buy or rent and have less and less options available. Besides that, it’s difficult to find unfurnished apartments on the Costa del Sol.
We don’t yet know exactly where we’ll land. It looks like it won’t be local, but within an hour or two of where we currently live. A new province? I’ll keep you posted. We both had indigestion Saturday afternoon and then got excited about all the possibilities open to us. We have already been searching online, of course, and will do some travel beginning Wednesday to explore some of our options. It’s not likely we’ll have this view in the future. And now we have to tell the cats.
Hemos estado alquilando nuestro piso en la playa aquí en Fuengirola durante más de 11 años (serán/serían 12 en febrero). Quédate conmigo. Un récord para nosotros y una gran sorpresa. Nunca esperábamos estar en la misma ciudad, y mucho menos en el mismo piso durante tanto tiempo. Este blog no se llama “Moviéndose con Mitchell” por nada. En nuestros 43 años juntos hemos vivido en 22 casas y apartamentos. Eso incluye 6 estancias temporales mientras estábamos en transición o buscando un alquiler o una compra.
La propietaria de nuestro apartamento llegó en coche desde Madrid el sábado por la mañana con la triste noticia de que va a vender en diciembre. No lo compraríamos ni aunque pudiéramos. Me gusta mucho. Heredó este lugar de una tía (que dejó 21 propiedades a sus 21 sobrinos y sobrinas). La tía tenía algo de dinero. Nuestra casera nunca quiso ser casera, pero pudo refinanciar este lugar durante un momento difícil de su vida. Así que lo recibió con alegría. Su hipoteca se pagará en diciembre, su vida ha mejorado, y se jubiló hace unos años. Así que quiere quitarse esta responsabilidad de encima, aunque sabe que hemos sido los inquilinos más fáciles que podría haber tenido. Nuestro alquiler no ha seguido el ritmo del mercado de ninguna manera, y estamos agradecidos por eso.
Quedarse en la playa es muy poco probable. Es difícil encontrar alquileres de larga duración y los precios son mucho más del doble de lo que pagamos. Cada vez más propietarios optan por gastar mucho dinero alquilando apartamentos vacacionales. Como habrás oído, hay peleas en toda España por este motivo. Los locales no pueden permitirse comprar o alquilar y cada vez tienen menos opciones disponibles. Además, es difícil encontrar apartamentos sin amueblar en la Costa del Sol.
Todavía no sabemos exactamente dónde aterrizaremos. Parece que no será cerca, pero a una o dos horas de donde vivimos actualmente. Te mantendré informado. Ambos tuvimos una indigestión el sábado por la tarde y luego nos emocionamos con todas las posibilidades que se nos abren. Por supuesto, ya hemos estado buscando en Internet y viajaremos a partir del miércoles para explorar algunas de nuestras opciones. No es probable que tengamos esta vista en el futuro. Y ahora tenemos que decírselo a los gatos.
• ¡¿Qué nos cuentas?!?
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Oh my! New adventures will be on the horizon. With extra treats the boys will be fine.
David:
OK, I’ll give them the extra treats. YOU get over here and put them in their travel cages.
Oh, my goodness! Such big news! I’m glad that you two are movers by nature, and I hope that the excitement continues 🙂
Judy C:
Sure there’s stress, but I am so excited at the possibilities.
Heavens! You will miss that view – as will your readers…
Good luck with the house-hunting! Jx
Jon:
Yes, we WILL miss this view and location on the beach, but there is so much to look forward to.
Great! A new adventure for you two world travelers! Good luck in your search for the next perfect place.
Jennifer
Jennifer:
Fortunately, we never expect perfect. But I’m excited about a change.
Boud here. Ask the cats where they want to move. They’ll probably want next door to a treat factory.
Boud:
The cats will say “Move?!? I am NOT moving!!!” They’re kind of like The Kid Brother.
Big news indeed! I’m impressed that the apartment owner drove all the way from Madrid to tell you in person. That’s classy. Good luck and have fun searching out your next place to live!
Debra:
I do like the owner and, yes, it was kind of her to give us her bad news in person. I’m excited (but am looking around at all the culling I’d better start doing).
I guess sad and happy news. You’ve been there since I was reading you. I don’t know how you do it. I’ve moved four times in my life and that was more than plenty. I don’t do well with upheaval and re-establishing myself too many times. When you move there’s so much that needs to be changed it’s not funny. But I wish you luck on where you land. I’m sure it’ll be beautiful
Incidentally….the same happened to me when I lived in Bucks County. My landlord was also selling off his properties after the pandemic….hence me being back in Harrisburg. I still miss that apartment.
Mistress Borghese:
I didn’t remember that was what happened to you. You were in that apartment a long, long time!
Mistress Borghese:
I can’t believe we have been in one place for so long. I love moving. The problem now is when we worked, SG’s work always paid for it (mine did once). It’s a bit more painful now. We’re considering some very cool and beautiful places. Will keep you posted.
Wow. Big news. Exciting and nerve-wracking, all at the same time. As one who moved frequently from an early age (starting at age 2 on the SS United States to the UK) and who enjoys the process (well, some of it), I certainly hope that the excitement of finding and exploring a new place (with less annoying neighbors and plaid-challenged touristas) outweighs any drama of the move.
Can only imagine that your buddies at Mesón Salvador (not to mention all your friends) are going to miss getting the chance to see you on a regular basis–as you will miss them. But hope the search for a new place goes well and brings you some peace and happiness in the long run. xx
Mary
Mary:
So much change coming, but I’m already excited about the possibilities.
I have a feeling you two will do well with this new challenge. I look forward to seeing where it takes you. Literally!
Kelly:
We’re researching some interesting options and will soon start visiting and exploring. It’s going to happen quickly.
Well! That is certainly big news. I don’t suppose you’d want to move to North Florida would you? Oh, of course not. But I surely would love to have you guys as neighbors. What a dream that would be! Seriously, I would not advise anyone to move to Florida in the current political and environmental messes we’re in.
I think that although change is hard, this is obviously the sort of change that you and SG revel in. Or at least, know how to do quite well. I hope the search for a new place to be is fun and exciting for you both.
Moonsigh
Ms. Moonsigh:
Uh, Florida? Sorry, no. Although the idea of being YOUR neighbor is sweet! I LOVE this kind of change and we’ve done it so many times that we tend to fall right into our roles. We love chatting about the possibilities, narrowing them down, and then doing the deed. SG will have his 19th nervous breakdown some time during the process and I’ll just be a happy little moron (with a light supply of Xanax).
All will be well.
MM
Ms. Moonsigh:
And if not, we’ll work it out!
I’ve no doubt that wherever you land you meet loads of new fabulous folks, with amazing places to dine and walk and shop, and a spot The Boys will adore!
That’s me, Bob, up there!
Bob:
I expect the change to be interesting and exciting. I expect the cats to come along clawing and screaming. But they’ll adjust.
So, after you’ve moved on to an exciting new location, who is going to take care of those dangerous plants … the ones that almost took your eye out?
Shirley:
I hope we can take at least some. It all depends on what kind of space and exposure we find.
Wherever you end up I’ll still come to this blog, scenic pictures or not.
Kirk:
Wherever we end up, I promise there will always be scenic pictures. We’re considering some interesting places.
Oh wow. Yep, I have heard about how locals can’t afford housing. Good luck with the move!
tobyo:
The housing situation in these tourist towns and cities is hideous. We’re fortunate to not be working and to have more options.
Best of luck with the search! I know moving can be stressful, even if one is used to it.
Walt the Fourth:
Oh, yeah, there’s a lot of stress. But I DO love it.
I’m glad I don’t have to be there when you tell Dudo and Moose. A move will come as quite a shock to them. This change will be an adventure for you and all of your faithful readers.
Love,
Janie
janiejunebug:
Dudo and Moose are NOT going to be happy about this.
You only need to find one place – and don’t tell the cats – they might want MORE treats!
sillygirl:
No treats in the world would be enough for these two cats to feel less anxious about moving. Drugs?
Drugs it is!
sillygirl:
Drugs can be so helpful!
Oh my, moving not a prospect that is easy. We too have moved a lot in our lives and most recently 2 months ago. Still settling into our new apartment. I wish you happy wandering and courage to find a suitable place for you. Maybe a new vista is not a bad idea in the end. I remember visiting Granada and falling in love with it. Best wishes.
Laurent:
And the very hot Córdoba is a great city otherwise. A lot of choices aways from the Coast.
Wow, you have a lot going on! Exciting and scary at the same time. By reading your post, I am guessing you and SG are hoping to stay in Spain?
Michael:
Leaving Spain is not in the realm of possibility. This is our permanent home now. We’re looking at cities within two hours of where we are now.
Have you ever thought about the Barcelona area? I say that because that’s the only place in Spain that I’ve ever been, and I loved it.
Michael:
Thanks. Yes, we considered it. Same problems on that coast as this one with lack of reasonably priced, unfurnished places.
Well, good luck to you! Another adventure and a continuation of the appropriate title for your blog!
Michael:
Yes. I am SO excited. We’ve been here 11 years and in my entire life I had never lived anywhere for 11 years.
Well, that’s both exciting and unnerving, isn’t it? I’m sure you’ll have some agita while finding another place to live, but how great it will be to settle in someplace else and have new surroundings. I know the Meson Salvador guys will be bummed, though!
Steve:
I told José, owner of Mesón Salvador, this morning. Poor guy. We’ll be there tonight for dinner with a friend. I’m seriously enjoying this distraction.
Well guys, that’s going to be quit a stressfull period the next half year; wishing you all the luck that’s needed ;-!
Jan from Perth:
Right now, I’m enjoying myself. I love to move and change. And it’s a great distraction from my health and being inside my head too much. Thanks!
Oops, anonymous was Jan from Perth!
Oops, Anonymus was Jan from Perth.
Finding a new home can be both exciting and terrifying. Good luck!
Sassybear:
For me, it’s only exciting. Thanks!