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www.nadfas.org.uk NADFAS REVIEW / WINTER 2016 29 Image: Shutterstock.Moving to a new community is always a daunting prospect, even if there are a few friends or family members nearby. It can be diffi cult to get to know neighbours, especially if they are at work most of the time; for retired people without local work colleagues to interact with, the situation can be even trickier.This is where membership of NADFAS can make a real difference. The monthly lectures, combined with a programme of other events including courses, tours and special interest days, not only provide a structure to those important fi rst weeks and months in a new location, but also lead to lasting friendships and interests. This is perhaps especially important for people retiring abroad – when time in the UK may have been taken up with work and family, it can be especially diffi cult to deal with the amount of free time now on offer.“Local societies, clubs and associations can become a lifeline, particularly when you are settling overseas,” comments Jason Porter, Business Development Director at Blevins Franks Financial Management Ltd. It provides international tax and wealth management services to UK expatriates in France, Spain, Malta, Cyprus and Portugal, so is familiar with this scenario. “We have certainly found that our clients who have an interest in arts and culture have found their membership of NADFAS to be of huge benefi t to them, in fulfi lling their dual needs for creative stimulation and friendship with like-minded individuals.”As well as over 370 Societies in the UK, NADFAS has a network of Societies across Europe and New Zealand offering many options for people interested in the arts, both here and abroad.• Marina Alta DFAS (in Javea, Spain) will be opening on January 19, 2017. For details of Societies in Europe and New Zealand, see www.nadfas.org.uk. For details of affi liated organisation ADFAS in Australia, see www.adfas.org.au. ■Finding friendshipJoining a NADFAS Society offers a fun and interesting way to make friends in a new community – and this is especially true when moving abroad