Hi Phil I think you are doing the right thing by trying things out first, and certainly I'd endorse every bit of advice offered above. It's a good life here, winter or summer, but the Fethiye area is a very nice bubble in Turkey, but you should not assume the rest of Turkey is like it. There are frustrations here, but you need to learn to 'roll with the blows' of dealing with bureacracy, quirks in turkish culture, and people trying to turn you over on prices and money in general. Keep your wits about you, a good guide is would you be willing to do something in the UK that you might be asked to do in Turkey, especially by nice barmen, gardeners or their families!!