Goldilocks Goes Town Shopping

Size and Other Considerations

A few years back we had the opportunity to spend a month in Scotland. Our Scottish friends Liz and Janice were our phenomenal tour guides. While their home is just outside of Glasgow, and we had visited Scotland before, this trip was different. We spent the majority of our time in small towns such as Campbeltown in the south, and Inverness in the northern Highlands.

Praça Marquês de Pombal, the main square in Vila Real de Santo Antonio.

If It Weren’t For the Weather

While each town and village has its own charm, perhaps my favorite was Fort Augustus, a town of just 700 residents. We stayed in the former lockkeeper’s house. I recall one day when the other three had gone off to play golf, I perched myself in a lounge chair in the front window of the second floor. From there I watched boats, large and small, pack themselves into the locks and raise or lower over the two-block area before me. I recalled fondly navigating locks when we rented a canal boat in Holland. Alone with my thoughts…it was a perfect day.

Automated now, the old lock crank stands next to Nessie.

If you have not yet spent time in Scotland, you really should. While Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Saint Andrews may be the first places you visit; take time to visit the small towns and villages that are scattered about. You will quickly learn that you cannot sit in a pub for more than 10 minutes without striking up a conversation with someone you've never met. If you return for a second night, the barman will know what you drink and start drawing a pint (Tennents, of course) as you enter. The regulars and the barman will greet you warmly, perhaps crack a well-meaning joke, and at the end of your night wish you a safe journey home.

If it were not for the weather, we could happily live in Scotland.

Size Matters

There is a reason I took you on this trip down memory lane. You see, it was then that Denise and I decided size matters. While a village of 700 would likely be too small, we dreamed of a place where shop owners waved and called to you when you walked by. A place where running into a neighbor in the square resulted in an impromptu 90-minute coffee chat. Where someone might know me well enough, and care enough, to ask why there was a cast on my right arm.

Denise walking down one of the pedestrian streets in Vila Real de Santo Antonio,

Other Considerations

In addition to size, there are of course other considerations.

• While there are certain benefits to tourism…there are also concerns. We didn’t want to be in a place like Albufeira that changes drastically in the summer months.

• There must be golf courses, including at least one within 20 minutes which we could join as members.

• While we aren’t lying on the beach type people we do enjoy walking on the beach. So ready access to the beach (preferably by foot, bike, or water taxi) is desirable.

• Despite my recent escapades, bike paths are desirable.

• When we need our city fix, we would prefer to use public transportation to get there. Ideally a train and bus station in town.

• A well-stocked, bustling Mercado is a must! Though nearly every town has one.

Vila Real de Santo Antonio checked all these boxes. It also offered other benefits we did not originally have on our list:

• 15 minutes to Spain by ferry or car. We can imagine mid-week tapas excursions.

• Wide, flatter, modern pedestrian streets…we ain’t getting any younger.

• Housing is a bit less expensive than Tavira. You know me and money.

Please Be Patient

In summary, it just felt right.

Given my arm, we didn’t play any of the golf courses (though we visited three). We ran out of time and didn’t take the 15-minute ferry ride to Ayamonte Spain…we will on our next trip. When still in the States we were interested based on the videos we had watched on YouTube. And we can report that the town evokes the same thoughts and feelings as when we watched from afar! So while we are by no means experts on this little town on the border of Spain we are enchanted.

YouTuber Veronica was kind enough to have lunch with us one day.

Will we move to Vila Real de Santo Antonio? Perhaps. (If we do I will need to abbreviate its name or these posts will be too long!) Like us, you will just need to be patient. I’m sure you can appreciate that this is a weighty decision.

Taken by our friend Eric Roth … Denise ponders our next move.