Deciding which area to live in

moneyistooshorttomention

Have been googling away as to how people decided which area to live in and only come up with American websites..no British ones at all.

So, I've sat down and made a very conscious decision about what sort of area to live in would suit me personally and then gone and visited there and decided I was correct and am buying a place there at present. I sat down and worked out what I personally need/am not bothered about in the way of facilities, size of population, prevailing lifestyle, etc, etc.

Obviously my personal ideas about what would suit me will differ to those of other people.

Equally obviously many people will decide where to live/just accept where they currently live based on things like the type of job/career they have, how close they want to be to existing family and friends, etc, etc.

We will all have our own personal ideas about what would suit us and many people will just stay exactly where they are anyway (rather than sitting down and analysing whether it suits them personally).

Though I'm living in my own home area I've never actually felt I had a "family home" unlike many people (being an Armed Forces kid that just got carted around the world regardless when I was young) so I think I probably do feel very very differently in some ways to people who weren't Armed Forces Kids and got used to just getting plonked down somewhere-or-other out of the blue and just had to get on and make the best of it regardless whether we wanted to be there or no. I fully appreciate most people won't have had some little thing in their mind of "One day I will be where I myself decide to be" because they have had different life experiences.


Anyone else ever sat down and made a very "conscious decision" about "This is the sort of person I am and what I personally want/need and so therefore that is the sort of place that will suit me personally" (rather than automatically staying where you were or moving for a job or similar) and moved there and what was your experience of it if so? Did you regret it/decide you had made absolutely the best decision ever and positively bloom/or what?

phoebe1989seb

My parents were quite old - for the time, late 1960s) when they had me and my dad (Fleet Air Arm) left the services soon after I was born and although the aircraft engineering firm he started was based in West Sussex we always lived in Hampshire. In fact my parents only ever had two marital homes and I only ever lived in one of them. Despite not having a nomadic childhood I never truly felt *at home* in my home town, yet when I grew up, went to uni (fairly locally, same county) and married we settled in my home town

Fast-forward to 2007 - DS was heading off to uni himself and DH decided he'd had enough of both his job and city life. I was up for a change - even though I'd always considered our family home to be our *forever* one, it being large enough and well-located in the centre of a buzzing community.

We were a bit crazy though and instead of basing our search upon our favourite locations, we searched for a house that fitted our idea of ideal This was a huuuuge mistake - we could have chosen virtually anywhere in the country - apart from our three ageing parents we had no other ties as DH decided to work from home in future - as we ended up not researching thoroughly and spent the next three plus years deeply regretting our decision to move 150 miles to a gorgeous period house in Essex.

In 2011 we'd totally had enough and realised our new home was making us feel ill. Don't get me wrong - you'd be hard pushed to find a prettier, more perfect house, but the area and it's inhabitants were awful

So we sold up - lost a massive pile of money, but hey-ho - and moved another 200 miles to a slightly less nice Georgian house - but with an amazing garden - in Wiltshire.

Tbh, DH is in his element - he was brought up a country boy and lives the rural way of life where we are now. I adore the garden and the house is growing on me as we get the work done - it was a total wreck - but I have to admit I still hanker for a bit of *action* Today we've been to Marlborough - about an hour from us - and have decided that's where our next move should be to. It's got everything there we need - especially as I don't drive and whilst our current location is in walking distance of the 2012 best village store, I really do need a bit more......won't be for a few years yet though

SG27

phoebe1989seb wrote: »

My parents were quite old - for the time, late 1960s) when they had me and my dad (Fleet Air Arm) left the services soon after I was born and although the aircraft engineering firm he started was based in West Sussex we always lived in Hampshire. In fact my parents only ever had two marital homes and I only ever lived in one of them. Despite not having a nomadic childhood I never truly felt *at home* in my home town, yet when I grew up, went to uni (fairly locally, same county) and married we settled in my home town

Fast-forward to 2007 - DS was heading off to uni himself and DH decided he'd had enough of both his job and city life. I was up for a change - even though I'd always considered our family home to be our *forever* one, it being large enough and well-located in the centre of a buzzing community.

We were a bit crazy though and instead of basing our search upon our favourite locations, we searched for a house that fitted our idea of ideal This was a huuuuge mistake - we could have chosen virtually anywhere in the country - apart from our three ageing parents we had no other ties as DH decided to work from home in future - as we ended up not researching thoroughly and spent the next three plus years deeply regretting our decision to move 150 miles to a gorgeous period house in Essex.

In 2011 we'd totally had enough and realised our new home was making us feel ill. Don't get me wrong - you'd be hard pushed to find a prettier, more perfect house, but the area and it's inhabitants were awful

So we sold up - lost a massive pile of money, but hey-ho - and moved another 200 miles to a slightly less nice Georgian house - but with an amazing garden - in Wiltshire.

Tbh, DH is in his element - he was brought up a country boy and lives the rural way of life where we are now. I adore the garden and the house is growing on me as we get the work done - it was a total wreck - but I have to admit I still hanker for a bit of *action* Today we've been to Marlborough - about an hour from us - and have decided that's where our next move should be to. It's got everything there we need - especially as I don't drive and whilst our current location is in walking distance of the 2012 best village store, I really do need a bit more......won't be for a few years yet though

Where abouts in essex was it?

moneyistooshorttomention

Thanks Phoebe.

Useful to know and I guess that comes down to you chose the house rather than the location at your personal Mistake Location and that may be why it didn't work out for you?

I wrote down all my "must-haves" and then "optional extras" about location and then went through the list to see what location matched as far as possible to those two lists. I know no location will exactly totally match every single requirement I have and there are trade-offs to make and hence decided which things I cant live without and which are things I can work around.

The house itself was/is very secondary to that, but in the event fits a lot of the House Itself points I have in mind and can be adapted enough to fit some of the ones it doesn't match that well. I've had to do some compromises on the house itself, but it won't match up badly once I've finished it and I think it's the best house I can get short of having a good bit more money available to choose with.

EDIT: Just googled to see which might be that "best village store" and thought "Yep food is a very important consideration to me". That was one of my "must haves" actually. I've found somewhere where I can buy the basics I myself require foodwise, but its not great on places to eat out. Decided that its no longer that important to have a good choice of places to eat out (been there/done that and, as long as I can get a decent choice of ingredients, I prefer to do my own these days).

Wellieboot

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

So, I've sat down and made a very conscious decision about what sort of area to live in would suit me personally and then gone and visited there and decided I was correct and am buying a place there at present. I sat down and worked out what I personally need/am not bothered about in the way of facilities, size of population, prevailing lifestyle, etc, etc.

This is EXACTLY what I have just done too - hopefully completing in the middle of August - and am as certain as I can be that this is the right decision for me. Time will tell if it was the right decision in the long term and I too would love to hear about other's experiences of making a deliberate choice to move somewhere new (not because of work, family etc).

Interestingly, I moved a lot in my early years too (not armed forces, but quite a few moves to different parts of the country in my formative years). I have continued to move around a lot as an adult and, now approaching my 40th birthday, this is the first time I have decided to make a deliberate choice and consciously settle somewhere for (hopefully) more than a few years. I do not know the area (Stroud) but researched it a lot and have visited and stayed a few times in the last few months. My choice is based entirely on how I want to live, not proximity to work, family etc. Luckily I work for myself so am in a fortunate position of being able to choose
I'm very excited about the chance to put down roots, get involved in my local community and have a house and garden of my own that I intend to live in for a good few years and put my own stamp on
Sorry cos this post is more about me than anything that might be helpful to you, It's just interesting to hear of someone doing something very similar!
Wishing you the best of luck and it'd be great to hear back in a while to hear how you're getting on...

phoebe1989seb

SG27 wrote: »

Where abouts in essex was it?

Hey SG27 - it was between Colchester & Clacton-on-Sea

phoebe1989seb

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Thanks Phoebe.

EDIT: Just googled to see which might be that "best village store" and thought "Yep food is a very important consideration to me". That was one of my "must haves" actually. I've found somewhere where I can buy the basics I myself require foodwise, but its not great on places to eat out. Decided that its no longer that important to have a good choice of places to eat out (been there/done that and, as long as I can get a decent choice of ingredients, I prefer to do my own these days).

I'm sure you found it, but if not it's Ludwell Village Stores DH describes it as a 'mini Waitrose'

gazter

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Have been googling away as to how people decided which area to live in and only come up with American websites..no British ones at all.



Anyone else ever sat down and made a very "conscious decision" about "This is the sort of person I am and what I personally want/need and so therefore that is the sort of place that will suit me personally" (rather than automatically staying where you were or moving for a job or similar) and moved there and what was your experience of it if so? Did you regret it/decide you had made absolutely the best decision ever and positively bloom/or what?

Most people do think strongly about an area. They often skirt around the issue when what they are using to determine an area they want.

One of the biggest, and not mentioned at all on here, is the ethnic and religious make up. This group only ever makes reference when using safe terms to speak derogatorily about a group of people they wouldnt want to live near, the safe term is 'number of england flags'.

ACG

Probably not to the same degree but i do see where you are coming from...
I was born in a rough part or Manchester. My mum made a conscious decision to get out of that area when i was a couple of years old, i was then brought up in an ok part of Manchester - not great but an improvement.

As ive got a little bit older (from 25 onwards - im now 29) i realised that actually where i was isnt a great place and not one i would want my kids being brought up.

I have moved only 5 miles up the road, but its a completely different area. My gf can go to the shops without having to keep her head down when walking past a group a scallies etc. There are 3 parks within 2 minutes walk and woodland within 5-10 minutes. Pubs i can go in without wondering what reprobates will be walking in asking "dyouno ooiam." (Do you know who i am).

My ultimate aim is to get another 5-10 miles up the road and to be in a much nicer area, but the price is beyond what i can afford at the minute.

The downside to what i want is that all of the bars/pubs and clubs i used to go to are now an absolute ball ache to get back from after a night out. I no longer have take aways i can order from at 2am and my mates arnt round the corner, but i think as i start to settle down a bit more the first 2 i can deal with easier than the last.

Im not sure if that helps or i have just babbled on but i think ultimately what im working towards is ensuring when i do have a family im comfortable financially and im in as best an area as i can be but within 15 minutes or so of friends/family.

Moonraker71

I have to agree the area surrounding Marlborough is sort of a dream destination for me, despite the lack of a station. Here's an interesting project for you Phoebe1989Seb: http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-26879025.html Just dropped £250,00 in one fell swoop. That's if I don't beat you too it when I win the lottery

moneyistooshorttomention

Wellieboot and ACG

That is precisely the point. That is to hear exactly what people have chosen for themselves personally and how it worked out for them. So thanks for that.:T

I'll be getting ready access to a cheaper supermarket on moving...but I figure that "flasher" shopping facilities will be more than replaced by choice of locally-produced foodstuffs and what I will be able to grow myself...and there's always shopping by post via www.amazon.co.uk.. Crosses fingers that the local health food store won't shut, but if it does then there's always Suma by post.