South Africa

Most of my blogs are created as a web page, not with frequent updates...more as one long post which most likely will never change. So I'm using this one as most blogs are....journals. Sooo.....

Right now dh and I are thoroughly researching a relocation to South Africa. Reasons are on the SA blog but to restate them....the climate, the high standard of living using the British Pound, the landscape, the people, a different type of adventure - wildlife, the food/wine, my long-standing love of African art.... and last but not least a great house with a swimming pool and a maid.

I've been reading with trepidation the personal accounts of violent crime and it has scared the shit out of me! So many personal accounts of expats who live there are positive as well. So I'm on the fence about this. May not have to decide anyway. Still trying to get clarification on whether we'd qualify for a retirement visa. Having one pension (so far) which is guaranteed and is in pounds sterling puts us solidly in the upper income brackets in SA. I've been bombarding their Home Affairs office with emails asking to clarify the requirements.

Our first idea was a house on the coast as we both love the ocean. But visions of high security apparatus we saw during our beach trip left me less than anxious to do this. The place we enjoyed the most, and felt the safest, was Clarens in the Eastern Free State. Clarens is in a mountainous area and is surrounded by a breathtaking landscape. It's an artsy tourist- attracting town which is just charming. Not at all a tacky-tourist type of town. Chains stores, shops and restaurants/fast food are not allowed. Browsing the real estate sites online has produced some options we'd be thrilled with. Prices are easily within our range.

My blog on our trip to South Africa.......