Hi,
We are looking for a place to live in safety, tranquility and in harmony with nature. Our aim is to establish a retreat, in which we would be offering a range of holistic therapies... including traditional Taoist practices. Taoism is quite a controversial practice and requires an open mind, not just from the people directly involved but also the neighbours and authorities. Such an open mind is not easily found in the UK and I have some fears that the same may be true of Spain and particularly Portugal, particularly in the more rural areas... which we both prefer and need.
Graham
Nipo
Sorry you have your perceptions completely arse about tit. Reading your ideas of where you are considering I can see you have not spent any considerable time at all in Spain or the DR for sure. I lived in Spain for many years and still own property there, and in my opinion for what you require anything around the Granada, Cordoba, Sevilla region and you will be in similar company, there are loads of alternative therapists all over the region. And from there you are a short distance to Portugal or hop on the ferry over to Morocco in 25 mins. I'd suggest maybe spending a bit of time with people that make the most of an alternative lifestyle maybe they will guide you and show you if this is really what you want. I have a very good friend you can contact and organize a stay with her at her retreat,
Cortijo El Saltador - Lucainena de las Torres - Almeria - SPAIN Claudia Scholler/Cortijo El Saltador proprieter interview | View from the Pier : Travel, Photography, Discovery just drop her a line and she will do whatever she can to help you out, advise and give you her opinion. My opinion is this area has the best to offer as for meeting your needs. The locals are very much used to alternative people seeking an alternative lifestyle, a live and let live mentality is what made me buy in the region 20 years ago, but it has changed quite a lot since the good old days, and so doesn't interest me any more, but where has not changed in 20 years, it's universal I'm sure.
I can't see you settling in DR at all. It is tough, and no matter what there are few moments there is not something of stress on your mind, even the slightest, but there is always something niggling away, it depends how you handle these niggles that makes your experience. Tranquility does not scream out DR to me, it is the noisiest most disrupted place I've ever lived, harmony also doesn't scream out DR to me, too many people are in such a struggle to get by it is rare that people are not bickering somewhere about something within 50mtrs of where you are, and there is no nature so that's out completely.
Open minds in DR?? depends if you are going to be living in Campo which is almost a given if you need any kind of peace and possible tranquility. This will mean you are surrounded by those who have experienced very little that is different in life from what they know, and so controversial practices will not be understood, tolerated yes, but chances are people will just think you are a bit weird. I personally think DR is a mistake for what you are looking for. It is a place that if foreign it is always better to blend and not stand out, I've lived by a policy that any attention is negative attention in DR. Also the extreme change will take much longer to get used to, and even then you might be like the majority and end up leaving before the time you expected. Not many make the place home permanently, and there is a reason for that, it can be tough, and if you are not very well seasoned in extreme 'culture' shock then...................................
Perfect situation is build a home to have in both, you can never have enough property, then you are free to be where you want to be, when you want to be without having to consider somewhere to live. But then you have the problem of selling up if you need to, in DR that is really difficult, I know of many who have wanted to leave but are stuck as they can't sell, and can't move until they do.
So it's just my opinion, but Spain/possibly Portugal every time on this one. The DR is only a 10 hour flight away, but it can feel like you are on another planet much of the time, and not a graceful planet at that.
Good luck.