Inspiration!

This lovely couple arrived in Spain on Saturday.  Their circumstances, although very different from ours, are not that dissimilar to our own.  It is always good to meet  new friends in Spain.  We have so many already, it was just a bonus stumbling aacross these two, after a few drinks in our local square.  They don't live too far away from us, and it was great to be invited back to theirs for drinks after Zest closed.  Natalee and I stayed for a good few hours, chatting away, finally getting home at 4am.    These two are an inspiration for many reasons.  They have made it to Spain, with their daughter Lexi.  They, like us all, have bothered to try and make something of their lives.  Good luck to them!

I always enjoy speaking to Pete.  He is naturally cheerful and happy and always puts a smile on my face.  I offer him a Mojito cigarette every day, which he is fascinated with, clicking away for the desired taste.  We generally, always pass the time of day and have time for a quick chat!

Pete had just finished work and as it happens, I had a little more time on my hands than usual.  I have always said, that everyone has a story to tell, Pete is no exception.  He has lived in Spain for about thirty years, having moved here, because of stress.  This man had made a lot of money, certainly more than I have ever dreamed of having, but during  the process of making it, he became ill.   Coming to Spain for him should have been temporary, instead he spent a life time, living and working here.  He knew no Spanish when he came and now speaks it perfectly, showing that a new life is possible for all of us.

We both swapped stories, offering an explanation, as to what exactly had happened in our lives, to make us, upsticks and leave.  My story is completely different to his, yet for some reason, we are both living in this place, having turned up after terrible times. He was a success in every sense of the word, achieving everything I would have loved to.  I am at the beginning of my journey, with a Euro in my pocket, yet I am sat, talking to a man, who quite frankly, is an inspiration.

Pete is an artist, who spends his time doing the things he wants to do, rather than the things, he was required to do, in the past.  This person has grafted and worked hard, when people like me, were partying too much.  He was a forward thinker, when I was negative, looking back at past mistakes, but most of all he was a success, when in life, I was a failure.  When someone explains how they 'did it', it really does seem simple. Had I been a little more canny in life, given away a lot less and concentrated on building a future, I could have been where he is today, but then not everyone has my story to tell.

When I explained to Pete, what exactually happened to me, he seemed a little gobsmacke. Although, like everyone, when one explains the true nature of what occurred, he didn't actually seem that surprised.  Pete has really been the first person, I have ever spoken to about the last five years of my life, apart from those who were there, suffering with us, during our final year in  The UK.  Some times you have to trust your own instincts and if you trust someone, you have to go with it.

Like Pete and myself, most people I have met in Gran Alacant have a story to tell.  GA is full of colourful, some eccentric, warm characters.  In fact Pete told me there are over one hundred nationalities, living here, in this Urbanization of ten thousand people. It really is like a small town.  Everone knows everyone else and everyone, goes out of their way to help others, who are finding adjusting to life in Spain difficult.  Pete was full of advice and encouragement, even after the story I told him.  He is a very positive man, because that is what Spain does to you.  It really does make one feel exhillerated, even after the most traumatic of times.

I love to meet new people.  At the moment, new people are coming in to Gran Alacant all the time.  The summer season has started, and finally I am seeing coach after coach of holiday makers arriving for the summer.  These people are here long term.  Two or three months at a time, is not unsual and I am relishing meeting such a melting pot of people.  When one lives in this place, which is a tourist trap, one can not help but feel happy, everyday.  After all people who are here, indeed anywhere, on holiday, generally, in the main, are joyful to be on vacation.

Pete told me on Sunday, about the old Gran Alacant,  The area used to be mountainous and used for goat farming.  Masa, one of the large builders of homes in Spain, bought all the land, which at the time, was practically worthless and turned it into the large sprawling urbanization it is today.  Literally they made money out of thin air.  These are all facts, about the area I call home. I want to know, as much as I can about this place. I really am not like most people.  I need and have questions for everything.  I like to learn!  

We spoke about the Euro Referendum, The Royal Family, Homosexuality, Sociopathy, art and most interestingly about the psychology of those from different Nations, that live and make up the population of Gran Alacant.  The regimented Germans, the expressive Spanish and the harsh Norweigens.  We said nothing derogetory towards any one group, at all, we saved that for charities and their failure, abuse and treatment of vulnerable people.  Pete said he felt we had made the right decision in coming to Spain.  He agreed there was no point in fighting against ruthless people, who try at any cost to protect themselves, but he also said my story has to be told, something I am working on, every day.

The expat community, also became a topic for discussion.  I have said it before and will say it again, they have been instrumental in our success or failure in Spain.  Pete used to live in a more rural location, but moved to an urbanixation, because, like us all, he needed interaction.  He had made many Spanish friends, but they were still, just not able to offer the synergy, that we all need as human beings.  The expat community, go a long way to solve these problems.  We both agreed that the advice given by people sat drinking in squares all day, was probably not the best advice to take.  Within five years, Pete deviated from the local British Community and forged his own way in Spain.  Each person is of course different.  I enjoy my interaction with British people and always listen to good advice, no matter who it is from.  There is a first time for everything as they say, but I am listening and acting as and when I can!

Finally we spoke about relationships.  The most important factor at play, between couples who move here, is the make or break nature of their lives together.  Pete remarked at how many relationships, not least his own, had broken down, within the first six months of moving to spain.  It seems that the newness of it all makes for new starts in every respect.  Like Pete, I tend to think, what will be, will be.  If you are supposed to stay with your partner forever, you will, otherwise it will fail, no matter what.