For starters: You're not replying to any of my points really, but I'll go along answering to yours so you'll see we're in fact not so far in our opinions.

Before we start, one of my points is: A Visa points system will disqualify an enormous amount of Brits living abroad, thus potentially sending them back (or illegally staying).

> should he not get a pension and healthcare in Britain? If not, then why this whole EU thing? If so, then why not British pensioners in Spain, etc?

That's precisely the point. He should get a pension. He lived well through the FoM period - why do you want to kill it now? Isn't your dad proof that the EU works for the people?

> Besides, 'Old Brits living off Spanish pensions' is a bit of a tired trope —

It's not Old Brits living off Spanish pensions. They are living off their own earned pensions, what are you on about?

The "problem" is that one of the arguments against EU FoM is "all those immigrants put pressure on the NHS" - when the UK exports pensioners (more prone to use healthcare) and imports young people (less prone to use healthcare).

You know your dad is not the norm, a good example of integration. The most common thing is for the pensioners to cluster in ghettos and hardly learn the language.

But don't get me wrong; I'm not complaining, I think they should be free to live their lives as they want. Can't see a problem with them preferring to socialise with people that speaks their language and shares other cultural references. Nothing wrong with that.

> many of them get fed up after a couple to a few of years, leaving local Spaniards with cheaper housing options as they offload their failed investments before they do mave back. The ones who don't, try integrating. Sounds like a bit of a win-win for Spain?

See? This is a problem. Some of you are incapable of self-criticism. Your migration is good, everyone else's is bad. You could pretty much say the same about any EU national going to work to the UK:

"they go to work there, pay taxes, pay rent or mortgage, spend money, many of them get fed up after a couple to a few of years, leaving local Brits with cheaper housing options as they offload their failed investments (or stop renting) before they do mave back. The ones who don't, try integrating. Sounds like a bit of a win-win for the UK?"

> Laterally, in my time in the North of England and here in London, I've found that Spanish (and Italians, and French, etc) all also self-ghettoise, so as an adult I've shed the shame I once felt at the behaviour of ex-pat Brits abroad because — surprise, surprise — everyone does it.

Bingo.

The difference is though, these other people learn the language because they haven't come to the UK to retire, so they have to learn. So, forced by the circumstances, you get an extra side of integration int the UK that you don't get in Spain.

> You have your view on things — I have mine.

And they're not so different. I just find curious why people like to overlook their own issues and highlight those same issues on the other people. That's why I said "funny a Brit says that :-)".

For the record: I live in Britain and I love the country and the people. I am just worried that, in my humble opinion, they'll self harm themselves in the name of anti-immigration policies; because they've been told foreigners are bad and Brits are good - when in reality there's no difference.