Being A Digital Nomad In Las Palmas at 62

Back in December 2021 when the pandemic was finally waning, I had an epiphany - I no longer needed to endure another dreary English winter while toiling away at my part-time desk job and doing everything remotely. The latter was the key to my freedom.

At that time, my relationship with my partner was already on the rocks. Our downfall was hastened by my ill-fated decision to agree to live together. You see, his live-in landlord presented my partner with a choice: either barricade himself in his room to shield the landlord and his wife from COVID or move in with me and cease paying rent. Despite my reservations about cohabitating with any man - no matter how much I cared for him - I reluctantly consented. But it didn't take long for the monotonous routine of our domestic life to extinguish any remaining spark between us.

That's when I stumbled upon Nomadlist, a website primarily catering to young remote workers. It was there that I discovered Las Palmas in the Gran Canaries - a city touted as safe for women, affordable and conveniently in the same time zone as the UK. Without hesitation, I hopped onto Airbnb and found a modest two-bedroom apartment in what appeared to be a central area (though, as it turned out, it wasn't quite as central as I had anticipated).

The rent was a steal at under £700 per month, so I promptly booked it for a three-month stay. And just like that, by the afternoon, I had also secured a flight. I casually informed my partner that I would be embarking on a winter getaway, inviting him to join me for a sun-soaked Christmas holiday if he fancied. Granted, I probably should have consulted him before making such arrangements, but my mind was already made up - I was going.