Moving out of town! Have you?

[Deleted User]

Errata wrote: »

That all sounds dreadfully familiar. I particularly remember the round trip of an hour if we fancied fish and chips and well over an hour if we fancied a chinese takeaway :eek:

It would take me an hour in total to get fish and chips so I bought the frozen battered fish and the frozen oven chips. It is all about compromise. We have been here 3 weeks today, in this tiny village and we are lovng it more and more. The self sufficiency re meeting people and doing things as a community is just outstanding and the best thing is that people tell you these things and then leave you without persuasion to attend.

We just had notice that there is bookable transport for housebound people and on the other side of the coin, it is utterly safe for cycling and yesterday I met 2 x75 year olds on bikes and they looked 10 years younger. There is NO STRESS here and I wouldn`t now go back to any other place. We LOVE it here and are well able to cope whatever the weather etc

re moving near children, well 3 years ago our dd and her family lived just 2 miles from us and they moved. Now we did the moving, aiming for somewhere in between the 2 DDs. An hour away from each

Newly_retired

When DH finally finishes work, I would like to move nearer my family. At present it is a 90 minute journey one way so I usually stay over about once a month. I would like to be available more easily sometimes to babysit, do occasional after-school care or help in a crisis whilst I'm young enough, and to have family near me when I'm older and decrepit and on my own. To me this is as important as all the other points made which I agree with eg having shop, post office, chemist , library etc within walking distance.
So can you combine the two?
I'm hoping I can, as my children both live in large villages with all facilities, near towns, in an area near where I grew up. My problem will be persuading DH to go there and when the time comes I'll be back with a new thread on that problem!!!

Errata

I've been thinking about this. Is it possible that men and women have different visions of their ideal retirement spot. Could it be that for men it's a new lease of life and time to play, whilst for women it's the same kitchen window but with a different view.

lilac_lady

Errata wrote: »

I've been thinking about this. Is it possible that men and women have different visions of their ideal retirement spot. Could it be that for men it's a new lease of life and time to play, whilst for women it's the same kitchen window but with a different view.

Not if you live on your own.

Norma_Desmond

We 'made the move' almost 6 years ago and we're still only in our (late!) thirties.

We were tired of living in a big town, albeit in the Cotswolds, and all we wanted was a slower pace of life somewhere we knew and loved from our holidays there...

Fast forward to now and we're happier than we've ever been

Our old house was a handy commute to London and we sold it at the height of the 'boom' and bought this rambling old ruin (!) overlooking the sea with just a small mortgage.

The community spirit is fantastic, the people friendly and the crime rate almost non-existant.

My elderly parents 'followed' us here - I'm an only child and they now live just 2 miles away in the next village and adore it.

The in-laws still live in the Cotswolds, a three hour drive away, but they come to stay regularly for weekends; if you live on the coast you're never lonely for long

It IS a big change in lifestyle, but it's quite comforting when the most exciting thing to happen in the village all week was a 'bit of a row' at the Gardening Club show :eek:

Savvy_Sue

Errata wrote: »

I've been thinking about this. Is it possible that men and women have different visions of their ideal retirement spot. Could it be that for men it's a new lease of life and time to play, whilst for women it's the same kitchen window but with a different view.

That may be very true: I know my dad was getting desperate to move out of the far too big house they'd downsized to about 12 years previously, while my mum was adamant that the kitchens in sheltered housing options were far too small ... Not that she ever cooks in any meaningful way these days, but it still matters to her to have a massive kitchen.

Dad wanted other people to take responsibiity for repairs, maintenance, and all the necessities of life. He wanted Mum to sit down and take things easy, at least once they were home, because they went out to some group or other nearly every day. Mum was worn out by going out all the time, but still felt there were things which had to be done at home!