After uprooting himself from the UK, expat Mark Danby has revealed that there has been one surprising upside of moving from Britain to the Costa del Sol in Spain
It’s a less stressful way to live, Mark Danby says(Image: YouTube/TapasGuy)
As Storm Chandra batters the UK with fierce winds and heavy downpours, many Brits will find themselves fantasising about relocating to warmer climes. One Briton who made the move is Mark Danby, who left his home in the UK and moved to Spain’s Costa del Sol.
However, it wasn’t the holiday destination’s blistering summers that drew Mark in, but rather its gentle, temperate winters. On his Tapas Guy channel on YouTube, he reveals that winter on the Costa del Sol is when he feels most content as an expat.
He explains: “You may be surprised to know that I moved to the Costa Del Sol because of the winter, not because of the summer.
“Winter here is when a place actually reveals whether it’s the right place to live or not, or whether it’s just a place to come for your summer holidays. Before I came here, winter meant something very, very different to me. It meant short, dark days, and cold, wet mornings.”
The milder climate in southern Spain allows Mark to genuinely savour a complete day, wandering in the winter sunshine instead of sheltering indoors from the rain. “My first winter here felt somewhat unfamiliar,” he recalled. “The beaches were quiet. Evenings were calm. For the first time in a long time, my winter days weren’t dictated by weather extremes. I didn’t realise how much I needed that until I had it.”
Mark reveals that his relocation from the UK to Spain has had an unexpectedly positive impact on his mental health. He shares: “Here in the winter, mornings can start with a walk or a drink outside, even in January.”
He elaborates: “Physically and mentally, winter has changed things for me. I get out more. I walk more. I spend more time outside. And as a result of that, I do feel generally less stressed.”
He also notes that his improved mood has boosted his productivity. However, he points out that life isn’t just easier during the Spanish winter, it’s also more affordable.
“The winter in the Costa del Sol is when it becomes financially honest,” he says. “There’s no tourists. Rents drop, sometimes significantly. Leases become available and eating out feels sustainable not just like a luxury.”
Mark admits that some eateries and pubs do shut down during the winter, resulting in slightly fewer dining options.
On the other hand, he observes, the Spanish summer also brings everything to a halt. He adds: “It becomes too hot, everything shuts down and it takes even longer to get things done.”
The rhythm of life, Mark explains, is generally more laid-back throughout the year.
Yet it’s the winter season that holds a special charm. He concludes: “The mild climate removes friction from your daily life. You don’t have to fight the weather like you do in the summer. You can actually live with it.
“When you stay through winter, something changes. You stop being a visitor. You become part of the rhythm.”