Sunshine and strolling around in shorts plays a big part of that dream as we crave the golden days and balmy nights.



France, Spain and Italy are the most favoured countries for retirees and already millions of people have followed their dream of a life of leisure.

Golf, tennis, strolling in the sunshine, or simply lazing about holds a lot of appeal for the majority of us, but will we be content when we achieve it.

Before you make any important decisions it would be advisable to take a long holiday in the country you have set your heart on, these can be quite cheap during the winter months and won't drain your resources.

Nearing the end of your holiday if you have had no cravings for home or find you have not missed your family and friends to any great extent then you have proved a point and it could be the ideal lifestyle for you.

Finance plays a big part in your plans, if you have a home to sell then due to spiralling prices in many countries like the UK you could find you have a decent nest egg after buying a cheaper property abroad.

Countries like Spain and Italy have a lower cost of living, plus the low cost of fresh fruit and vegetables and of course with the hot summers and mild winters electricity bills are very low so your standard of living could rise .which adds to a happier retirement.

?In some countries where the heat can be overpowering in mid summer you may need the benefit of air conditioning and this can be quite expensive so it must be taken into consideration.

Always think twice before diving in and buying a house straight away especially if you are unsure exactly where you want to settle. It is preferable to rent a property for a while until you are sure.

Once you have made your decision and bought your new home your first thoughts should be security, even if you have bought a newly built home change all the door locks, you never know how many people could have keys to your new home.

You may not have been much of a gardener at home but in the more pleasant climate you may find a new interest in pottering around as the garden can play a big part in your life.

What is more delightful than sitting out with a drink in the balmy evenings or having lunch on the terrace and if your garden is looking good it all adds to the enjoyment.

There are many aspects to retiring abroad that must not be ignored, health care is one of them it is important to check that you will be covered by public or private means, in many countries private health care is very expensive and you need to be aware of all it involves.

If you are moving from the UK your pension is not affected and you can receive this abroad but if you are planning on moving to certain distant countries then it can be frozen and any rises or extra benefits will not be payable so this is something else you need to check carefully.

With air fares being so cheap if your move is not too far flung then it is possible you will see friends and relations fairly often and a trip home yourself should be well within your means, this will lead to a happier time ahead as you will not have cut yourself off completely.

Another thing to think about is, although you may find a quaint old foreign villa in a rural area or a village is it for you? If you can speak the language then no problems will arise but if you don't understand a single word you could have a hard time, and what could be worse than no one to converse with apart from your partner. You enjoy each others company but now and again friendly chat with a neighbour or passer by makes life much more enjoyable.

You are probably aware that boiling water is necessary in foreign countries, when on holiday bottled water is fine but boiling your water is simple in your own home and cheaper.

Markets can be found everywhere as local farmers take their produce to be sold so it is easy to stock up every week with cheap fruit and vegetables.

Large cooked meals will become a thing of the past as lighter meals are found to be preferable in a hot climate and this will make for even more leisure time.

All I can say now is if you take the plunge have a wonderful life in your new country.