Where to Retire To ?

itzmee

Eye2013 wrote: »

I'm just planning my early retirement strategy, and wondered what other people's recommendations / ideas were for the best places to retire to (Realistic please, not fantasies!) ? I'm probably looking at semi retirement first working say 3 days a week if possible.


My options seem to be :-


1. Cornwall / Devon - Great countryside, beaches, nice people ? (don't know anyone down there)


2. Midlands (Birmingham area) - Nice beer, down to earth people, friends about. Cheap to live. Miserable weather, boring countryside.


3. Surrey - Where I live now. Close to London, south coast, south downs etc. People not too friendly. Expensive, but good prospects of part time work.


4. Abroad - Possibly France / Spain - Would need to learn the lingo, potentially very cheap to buy property, lots of possibilities but limited ideas.

I live in the Midlands and would disagree that people are friendly. I think they're extremely ignorant, and my DH, who has lived all over (army brat) agrees. My neighbours didn't mutter a word to me until 6 weeks after I had moved in and even now 8 years later, hardly bother. I spent a couple of years living in the south east around 20 years ago and found people very friendly, which I thought was a bit odd. In fact some even commented on how 'offish' I was as I didn't smile at them, or say hello in the corridor at work. I was so used to large city living where we all ignore each other and didn't realise that not everyone was like that!

gadgetmind

itzmee wrote: »

I was so used to large city living where we all ignore each other

That's not how things are in the large city I live in. I've always known all of my neighbours, often help them out during emergencies (or non emergencies with a lot of the older ones!) and people say "Good morning" to strangers in the street.

And I don't think that this is rare or unusual.

Davef_2

gadgetmind wrote: »

My wife is from Wales, Tredegar to be precise. Good luck convincing me that Wales is more developed because I've been there!

Funny that. My Dad lives in Wales (not by choice) and we always joke it's like going back in time as we cross the border from England into Wales.

He doesn't live in the tourist area so we don't find the locals very friendly or helpful either

bigadaj

Davef wrote: »

Funny that. My Dad lives in Wales (not by choice) and we always joke it's like going back in time as we cross the border from England into Wales.

He doesn't live in the tourist area so we don't find the locals very friendly or helpful either

Well if he's been kidnapped you should be doing something about it!

Triumph13

Eye2013 wrote: »

I'm just planning my early retirement strategy, and wondered what other people's recommendations / ideas were for the best places to retire to (Realistic please, not fantasies!) ?

Just to throw a random idea into the mix, would you consider renting out your house? Put it up for 6 month lets and if you get a tenant then head off somewhere else for six months. There are lots of interesting parts of the world where you could find a six month rental for a lot less than you'd get on a house in Surrey. Malaysia, Thailand, Ecuador, rural France,
If you find a place you love you can always sell up in the UK and move there permanently, if not then you still have your house to come back to and you can try somewhere else next time you get a tenant.

Davef_2

Davef wrote: »

Funny that. My Dad lives in Wales (not by choice) and we always joke it's like going back in time as we cross the border from England into Wales.

He doesn't live in the tourist area so we don't find the locals very friendly or helpful either

bigadaj wrote: »

Well if he's been kidnapped you should be doing something about it!

He lives with my sisters and her family so when they moved to Wales he didn't have much choice

harrys_nan

I vote for Torbay, includes Brixham, Paignton and Torquay, Haven't yet met anyone horrible lol, loads of places to visit, we go everywhere on the bus, even to Dawish, Newton Abbott etc. Weather is awful at the moment tho :mad: Lovely walks, brilliant views. House prices to suit everyone.
The only drawback for me is the fact I do not drive and sometimes you do need a car here, my partner does, it's just I like my independence. Also there is a lot of people living to very good ages, must be the fresh air,
Holiday makers to me are not a problem, I used to visit here so how can I moan.
We also have a lot of students from over seas, they can be a bit rude, but not aggressive.
We are halfway between Brixham and Paignton and have smashing neighbours a good mix from all areas in the uk

gadgetmind

harrys_nan wrote: »

We also have a lot of students from over seas, they can be a bit rude, but not aggressive.

You have to be careful when trying to judge whether someone from a different culture is being rude or respectful. There are many countries that we could visit where we'd cause offence (ranging from "Hmmm, he was a bit off" to "OMFG! What's he doing!") even when we were trying to be friendly and on our best behaviour.

bigadaj

gadgetmind wrote: »

You have to be careful when trying to judge whether someone from a different culture is being rude or respectful. There are many countries that we could visit where we'd cause offence (ranging from "Hmmm, he was a bit off" to "OMFG! What's he doing!") even when we were trying to be friendly and on our best behaviour.

That's very true, and non Europeans are often more forgiving than the other way around.

I was in Istanbul a few years ago and visiting the blue mosque and sat down, unfortunately with legs stretched out rather than crossed and the soles of my feet directed towards the mihrab, so from an Islamic perspective deeply disrespectful. A guide pointed this out to me and I did apologise but they took no great insult from it, though the guide was also trying to sell his tour so wouldn't have wanted to annoy a potential customer I suppose.

harrys_nan

gadgetmind wrote: »

You have to be careful when trying to judge whether someone from a different culture is being rude or respectful. There are many countries that we could visit where we'd cause offence (ranging from "Hmmm, he was a bit off" to "OMFG! What's he doing!") even when we were trying to be friendly and on our best behaviour.

please don't take my words out of context, nothing at all was meant by it, ok I guess other countries don't do things as we do, like queuing, nothing nasty was meant at all. There are rude ppl in all walks of life