Diary of one family's emigration to Fuerteventura

Making the decision.

So last year was a busy year for our family. In April, having sold our first house we moved into a bigger family home. In May we welcomed a new additon to the family, Madison. Various events then led to the decision that brings me to be writing this now. I sold my business, a small hairdressers around the corner from our new house. We decided to sell because the stress of running a business,where the income is sometimes unreliable, coupled with having two small children became too much and we decided we'd be better off if I was employed.

So when Maddie was 6 months old I went back to full time work and to avoid massive child care bills we worked our shifts around each other so there was nearly always one of us at home for the school run and looking after the baby. The only problem with this plan was that our marriage was conducted over the phone. Stressed phonecalls several times a day would ensure that children were collected on time, shopping was done and chores were carried out. Our lives ran with military precision but that was all there was to it.

There was no spare cash for family days out or a week away from it all and our family life began to really suffer. And with bills and costs rising there would be even less. There was no quality of life at all.

My husband and I had a very rare night out with some friends in May of this year. Nothing particularly out of the ordinary happened, but after that night out we decided to move away from the UK. We watched the behaviour of other people that night and talked a lot about the quality of life we had. The next day after more talking we decided we'd had enough of life here and were going to move away. I know that sounds like we took the decision so lightly, but it's something we've talked about doing since we met, life had just got in the way of us doing anything about our dream. Now we felt that life was giving us no choice but to try.

So we started by looking up what is needed to move abroad and looked into varius different places. I have a friend who lives in Marbella so spoke to her for advice and also a good friend who lives on Fuerteventura. Initially I was just after information and advice and luck would have it that my friend, Zoe, was over in the UK for a couple of weeks so she came and stayed with us and we discussed the pros and cons. Speaking to somebody who lives on the island and is making a success of things made the decision easier! Also I'd worked on the island for a summer a few years ago, before marriage and children so it seemed very natural to go back there. Of course the climate and laid back way of life are also a major factor!

So the decision was made, and so far that has been the easy bit. Now to get organised!

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Diary of one family's emigration to Fuerteventura

Making the decision.

Personal Perspectives