Moving to Lanzarote (Part 2)

I look in on the Discover Lanzarote forum (see Links below) too from time to time. A few months ago, a business owner on that forum claimed that he worked an average of 100hrs per week, just to keep his business operating.

Assuming that this nice round number is really the case (And who am I to disbelieve the man?), this 100 hours/week equates to just over 14 hours per day, 7 days a week. Or just over 16-and-a-half hours per day, 6 days a week, if the business owner takes 1 day a week off.

Leaving aside how anyone could do this on a continual basis the point made by this workaholic is a valid one: most people have to work long hours on the island just to make a living.

Many moving to Lanzarote state that they're ready for this type of work environment. However, the reality of it only hits them after a few weeks/months of this endless toiling. It's hard going when you've only got yourself to consider, but when there's close family involved too, then the stresses can really begin to emerge.

This situation is not unique to Lanzarote. It happens everywhere. What IS different about Lanzarote though is the fact that so many ex-pats work in the bar/restaurant trade. Dealing with the public, by definition, can be stressful enough. Add to this stress the boundless supply of cheap/free booze that comes with the territory and plenty of co-workers/holidaymakers to share it with, and you've a recipe for trouble in the camp.

But that's only part of the 'Living in Lanzarote' story.

If there was a real roadmap for emigrating to the island, then it'd be a bestseller. But while general do's and dont's are very useful, such rules don't apply equally to all those who move over. Neither is it possible to completely take off the rose-tinted glasses before you arrive in Lanzarote.

To finish my rambling then, I'd say good luck to those who decide to make the move. Just be prepared for where your journey may end up taking you.