Firstly, don't ever call me an ex pat. That term annoys the shit out me as it implies we Briton's are more superior to anybody else. I'm an immigrant to Spain.
Secondly, I have no blinkers on regarding the problems Spain has. They have plenty. It is not Utopia by any stretch of the imagination.
Thirdly, I'm not fully retired and prior to moving here, I didn't live in an unpleasant area of a bad place. I lived in Moseley and for 5 years prior to that, I lived in Essex in a 4 bedroom, detached house in a nicer area of Basildon.
Lastly, not once in my original post did I imply or suggest Spain is in any way superior to England.
However, it is more law abiding by and large. That is probably because there is far more respect for the forces of law and order here. The fact that they are armed may have something to do with that.
Thatcher started the ball rolling in creating a selfish society in Britain. A "*uck you Jack, I'm alright" mentality. That has only got worse in the last 40 years in my opinion.
Brexit and now Covid has only reinforced that opinion I have of my homeland. I fear Britain is in for a bleak future under the Government you now have but at no point did I say that Spain or anywhere, are better places than Britain.
I don't speak enough Spanish or have a good enough knowledge of Spanish politics to pontificate that Spain is better than Britain.
But, I do see enough television from home to make me believe I'm better of out of it if only for the cost of living, the weather and the more laid back lifestyle.