My last move - where to move to, please?

chickmug

Jennifer_Jane wrote: »

Ha! Yes, I see what you all mean. I think a re-think is in order. They are very expensive. It's the idea of not maintaining the house and garden especially in the future that appealed.

Oh well, cheaper to just go into ordinary house, I think, and text family if needs be!

Thanks
Jen

Not sure if you sit in the garden (like now it is nicer) but you will miss it?

Try and find a low maintenance house UPVC windows gutters etc? Do you have any children who can paint and decorate for you?

Good luck and hope some others may come along and help as off out now.

Jennifer_Jane

Thanks, chickmug. Yes, I had wondered if the one penny would allow CT reduction. I will investigate when I do retire (haven't yet applied for the state pension yet - have deferred).

Is WsM too 'kiss me quick' for you, and fish and chips? Yes, I would prefer something less so, but was thinking of the budget. The last time I was there it was out-of-season and it was gorgeous (no sea, of course), but I just spent an afternoon there. There are other places I could consider (but unsure which). Wells would be lovely, but expensive I think.

Just making some initial thoughts. When I looked a couple of years back, there were some lovely retirement flats in those old houses up on the hill (yes, I know - hill), but it seems prices are not as low as I thought they would be and not getting the value (on Rightmove, anyway).

I would love to hear what your friend ends up with, if you care to post - or PM me?

My alternative is to stay in Cheshire or move to Stoke-on-Trent (friends there). I am concerned about being too insular once I leave work (although all friends say you are busier once you stop work, and I do know about U3A etc, so will be busy with travel and hobbies).

Perhaps I shouldn't be fretting about things just yet!

Thanks for your posts,
Jen
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chesky369

When was the last time you went to Weston-s-mare? I think it might be a good idea to visit your relatives for a week or so and scout around from there. If you're still pretty active, I don't think there's any need to worry about not mixing with people - simply sign up to some voluntary work.

chickmug

Me again?

Perhaps you should put a post on the home buying and renting board as I think there are more post on there?

I have been to WSM in and out of season. No not keen on the 'kiss me quick' hats places but love the fish and chips.

I was forced into early retirement a year or so ago and it took me months to shake of the stress of having worked for 40 years. Even now it is very very odd.

My friend has changed his mind so many times now and is off exploring Cornwall to see if that meets with his approval!

Jennifer_Jane

chesky369 wrote: »

When was the last time you went to Weston-s-mare? I think it might be a good idea to visit your relatives for a week or so and scout around from there. If you're still pretty active, I don't think there's any need to worry about not mixing with people - simply sign up to some voluntary work.

Hi - thanks for the post. I think it was about two years ago that I was there. It was a lovely very early Spring day with glorious sunshine, and people walking on the front with smiles. Was just lovely. I wanted to check if things were really like that!

I am very active (very lazy), and am still working, and agree that there might be less stress with voluntary work but you would still have the discipline - although since I have worked out how many 'get-ups' till I retire (83), I guess I would quite like a simpler, easier life (45/46 years working). I will check out swimming pools since the one I used to go is now .... a retirement home!

Thanks for the posts, everyone. You've all been lovely and given me lots to think about - wonderful MSE!

Jen
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Jennifer_Jane

chickmug wrote: »

Me again?

Perhaps you should put a post on the home buying and renting board as I think there are more post on there?

I have been to WSM in and out of season. No not keen on the 'kiss me quick' hats places but love the fish and chips.

I was forced into early retirement a year or so ago and it took me months to shake of the stress of having worked for 40 years. Even now it is very very odd.

My friend has changed his mind so many times now and is off exploring Cornwall to see if that meets with his approval!

Special thanks to you for your help.

I will check out the other board. Thanks for everything. Yes, I wondered about shaking off the stress of working too, this will be late retirement for me, however. Our Company retires us at 62 and that was in January this year. I did try to frighten them by saying I wouldn't be leaving but I really prefer to go now.

Jen
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Errata

It's worth bearing in mind that whatever "support, care, assistance" is available now at property designed for older people things may be very different in 20 years time - just when you might need it.
In your shoes, I'd look for a property that ticked most of my boxes - you'll be very lucky to find one that ticks all of them - and as and when add on any extras I would need. For instance, call alarms can be rented from several national companies. Some kind of 'warden' will at best check a couple of times a day that you're still in the land of the living and call your doc or an ambulance if necessary. They won't do your shopping, ironing, cleaning etc you'd have to organise that yourself if you need to. So apart from the company, which you might not enjoy, there's little to be said for complexes especially for older people, in my opinion.

Did you see this link on Rightmove ? http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find/Retirement-Homesearch/New-Milton.html?locationIdentifier=BRANCH%5E12522&includeSSTC=true&_includeSSTC=on

Jennifer_Jane

Errata - thinking about this this afternoon, I'd just about come to a similar conclusion.

My fear is that being on my own, I don't want to happen what happened to my mother. She had a perforated something or other (peritoneum perhaps). This happened on the Saturday and luckily my brother went to see her on the Sunday and had a key to get into her flat. She went into hospital and died there. If my brother hadn't been going around she would have died in extreme pain on the floor in the cold. She couldn't get to her phone, she couldn't get to the door.

No-one would know for me.

So, I think that for the same price as the very high maintenance fees, I could do the call alarm thing (thanks for that idea), and actually have a cleaner and gardner come in once a month or so. I don't plan to do much in the way of ironing, and the machine does the washing (!), and I think it can all be rethought if it gets so the shopping isn't manageable.

I think the first thing is to move to somewhere cheaper and take if from there.

Regards
Jen
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Errata

I think you're right, find a place to spend the rest of your days and then organise whatever 'services' you need around that.

Get yourself an emergency call system that has a pendant that goes round your neck and you'll be fine. Info on these from Age Concern or the wonderweb. I do understand what you mean when you say there would be nobody around for you. I joke that the dog would have had three weeks worth of dinners out of me before anyone thought to call round. Only joking - my neighbour would be breaking the door down !

Jennifer_Jane

Errata wrote: »

I think you're right, find a place to spend the rest of your days and then organise whatever 'services' you need around that.

Get yourself an emergency call system that has a pendant that goes round your neck and you'll be fine. Info on these from Age Concern or the wonderweb. I do understand what you mean when you say there would be nobody around for you. I joke that the dog would have had three weeks worth of dinners out of me before anyone thought to call round. Only joking - my neighbour would be breaking the door down !

Oh yes! I hadn't thought that perhaps the neighbour would realise there was a dead body next door. Oh well...

Yes, I know what you mean about the dog.... and that you're joking, I did snort a laugh when I read that.

Thanks
Jen
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