The Big Adventure

Watty1

ohhh downsizing talk. ohhhh

Goldiegirl

Don't worry, it's not going to happen anytime soon!


But Mr Goldie was searching for the ideal bungalow again this afternoon, but fortunately I was able to find fault with all of them!:rotfl:


Although there was one that was ALMOST ok, in Southampton - very convenient for cruises.


Although even that one wasn't perfect. The loo and the bathroom were separate, and the loo room was tiny. But the dividing wall could be knocked down...... but we're not moving so it's all hypothetical!


I hope the weather picks up, this poor weather gives Mr Goldie too much time to think! :rotfl:

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

I know what you mean. The costs and taxes associated with moving are so great that you would have to downsize significantly to make it worthwhile. Our evil plan ( not necessarily a serious one) is to sell up when this house gets too much to run, then rent. We will splurge crazily on the proceeds of the house sale and thereby avoid it going into the hands of cruel and unscrupulous care home owners. And we won't worry about how we will pay our rent!

Goldiegirl

I agree, if we ever downsized, I'd prefer it to be a major downsize, such as a flat (preferably with a balcony or small outside space). I think Mr Goldie imagines we'll always be like we are now and would like a larger garden than we have now. But we may not be able to cope with a big garden at some point in the future

But I'm thinking further ahead, about a property that would suit just one of us, when the time comes.

Moving is so expensive and stressful, so I wouldn't want to go to a bungalow and then a flat- I'd rather do it in one jump. But I'm not ready for a flat just yet. Maybe in 15 years time.

But I wouldn't mind getting my hands on some equity. I'm thinking of all the cruises I could do:rotfl:

Tilly_MFW_in_6_YRS

Hi Goldie, no clue whether this is of value but my mum (early 90s) and still mentally in good shape, has one major regret. She wishes she and dad had moved to somewhere much smaller, with a small outside space before he passed away. She wants memories of him with her. To see him sitting in his chair, potting up his favourite bright red geraniums etc.

As they didn't move, she won't leave her home until 'she's in a box'. She normally winters with us but that's as far away as she wants to go.

I might add though, that until late 70s early 80s they were both in excellent health, so on that basis you've got decades potentially before a move

Best wishes Tilly x x

Goldiegirl

Hi Tilly, I totally understand what your mum is saying - it'd be very difficult to move from the last place that you were together with your partner.


For me, it'd be a huge thing to move from this house anyway, even with Mr Goldie in tow. We've lived here for 26 years, which is more than half my life, and longer than I lived with my parents, which was 21 years.


It was a big enough step for me to sell my car that I'd had for 12 years, let alone a house I'd lived in for ever. Although I love my new car, and never think about my old car, so it shows I can move on, if everything is just right.


Mr Goldie is 9 years older than me, but he's very fit and healthy. In my mind, I think we'll stay in this house for the next 10 - 15 years. Although 2005 seems like 10 minutes ago, so even 10 years seems quite soon.


Mr Goldie kindly found me a nice apartment with a balcony and a view over the river Medway. I must admit, it was rather nice and I liked the kitchen as the units were similar to ours.


But then I got to thinking. River = flood risk. Plus it was a second floor flat and I don't fancy lugging the shopping up all those stairs.


I'm putting Mr Goldie to work in the garden tomorrow, so he'll be far to busy to be playing on the internet!

Secret_Saving_Squirrel

I do agree with Tilly that it is best to move while you are both still up to it and have the energy to find the right place and do it up to suit you, but like you, I am hoping that it will be about twenty years away from now. Fifteen at the very minimum!

However, the equity is tempting!

Karmacat

This is endlessly revolving in my mind too ... I *want* to stay in a house, with a garden, but truthfully, I can't afford it. But I *need* to retire, so I have to downsize, probably to a flat. It will have to have a balcony, and I'll guerrilla plant some stuff in the "grounds", I think ... I just don't know when it'll happen/have to happen. Two years? Five years? If I win the big premium bond, it won't happen at all

The thing that Tilly's mum is saying, my sister is saying too - about the memories of the partner. She hasn't moved away, and I don't think she ever will now - she wants the option of a normal 3 bedder for future grandchildren, and she couldn't bear to leave the house where she and her husband lived for two thirds of their life together.

Goldiegirl

I think we've put the moving thing to bed for the time being.


The flat Mr Goldie found on Rightmove was lovely, with no road between the flat and the river, so you could sit on the balcony with no vehicle noise. It was 2 bedrooms, en-suite to the main bedroom, and a garage. Plus the balcony faced west, so you'd get the sun in the afternoon and evening.


I even did a bit of research, to see what prices houses like ours are selling for. Our house style doesn't come up for sale that often but I felt that, even at the top end of the range, we wouldn't be left with as much equity as I would like. I think the flat is at a premium price, as it is so 'perfect.'


In any event, I tend to go with gut feeling on big decisions, and my gut tells me it's not the right time for us to make the move.


So far, we've been able to afford living here. But at some point some things will need renewing - for example our living room carpet is getting rather flat, and we'll have to make decisions about whether we update things here ( assuming we can afford it) or moving and freeing up needed equity.


The thing is with me, I like to feel settled in my home.... and even the thought that we MIGHT move in 10 years time is vaguely unsettling!


Anyway, I think the best thing to do is just get on with today, and trust that my gut will let me know when it's the time to move!


So, what have we been doing in the last few days?


Spending money it seems.


Since last Thursday (24th) we've spent nearly £185 on STUFF:eek:


We've bought


Aloe vera gel - I have very dry, sensitive skin and I read that pure aloe vera gel helps. My skin has improved already, so it was a good buy


4 brand new jigsaws - all very recently released of a type that is very popular. If we sell them as soon as we've done them, we'll get a good chunk of our money back


2 albums on iTunes. Now I've got my iPhone, I intend getting some albums I've been thinking about, as we'll be playing them in the car as well as indoors


Small frying pan - I've wanted a smaller frying pan since 2002 when we got our induction hob


Mr Goldie's food supplements - every time he goes to the opticians they tell him he might develop cataracts, so he likes to take an eye health supplement. My view, if he thinks it helps him, then that's all good!


Mr Goldie's razor blades - he's gotta shave!


Birthday cards




So all the above are fairly mindful purchases.


But we also spent £52 in Dobbies - we got a blueberry plant which is on the verge of yielding a big crop.... but the rest of it was spent on bits and bobs that I can't even account for 2 days later.




I'm going to try and reign ourselves in a bit for the rest of this financial month - the spending seems to have got overheated!

Karmacat

£52 has gone missing in just a few days? That's not like you, Goldie! Hope you remember where it went. I save all receipts for absolutely everything, from being self employed for so long, even personal stuff because if you're audited, there's no limit to what they might ask ... but I wouldn't otherwise! Hope you remember what it is