So, I actually quietly retired from the Ontario Public Service at the end of November. I quickly jumped on a plane and spent all of December and January in Spain and Portugal.
It gave me some time, space and perspective (read detox). I shared the news a little more widely on my socials in late January and am now getting back to blogging about my experience.
I had originally hoped to be moved to Spain by now, however the Toronto real estate market has other plans for me and a lot of other people who have invested in the condo market.
Many of you who have followed my adventures knew that I have been test driving different cities in Spain as a retirement destination. I spent the better part of December and January in Málaga in the Costa Del Sol. It is a stunning city, right on the Mediterranean and was so much fun. In my time there I gained clarity, it’s not the place for me.
It has changed a lot since the first time I visited in 2021 and many of the things I liked about it just weren’t there this time. It was chaotic over the Christmas holidays and when the cruise ships were in port. There seemed to be an edge to the people and while I made some connections I didn’t feel that I was starting to find my tribe, my community.
Sometimes not getting what you want is a wonderful stroke of luck. I did get to spend five days in Barcelona while I was there. And while it is chaotic and busy, it is beautiful, people are helpful and warm and I started to build connections. Maybe this is home?
The real estate market in Toronto, especially for the type of smaller condos that I have has taken a massive hit. Average prices are now 25 to 30% below what I paid just six years ago. This is unheard of.
In my next blog post I’ll share what’s happening in the Toronto real estate market, why I am still in Toronto (for now) and what comes next.
