Pro's and con's of living in "the sticks"

krustylouise

goggle wrote: »

I lived "in the sticks" as a child and it was great - but by the time me & brother got to be older it was a different story! Parents got tired of driving us somewhere for swimming lessons, scouts etc and we moved to the edge of the town when I was 12 ...
You need to think practically about life for the children as they get older - where will they go, what will they do, how will they get there?

That's exactly why I have reservations. I did think moving into this gorgeous little village would be a great idea but now the opportunity has arose I've had to think more practically about things and how it would affect our family. DD wants to move there now, but she is only 7 and doesn't realise the implications, which any 7 year old wouldn't.

RAS

It very much depends on DD really. We had to move from really rural (outside village) to a large town. Our friends stayed local but were happy until mid-teens. We all got good at walking.

The current generation moved from somewhere with buses within a mile to somewhere with one bus a week. They loved living here initially and the younger one still loves it; happy to chill out and then to meet up with mates or go for a sleep-over. The older one now hates it because of the limitiations on job opportunities and socialising.

Mojisola

krustylouise wrote: »

Commuting isn't such an issue as we both drive and there is ONE BUS A WEEK!

That's fine while you both have jobs and can afford two cars.

The other posters have given good advice but also think about how life could change - when you're a long way from anywhere and short of money or not well, it's much harder to cope than if you have a lot of amenities on your door step.

krustylouise

RAS wrote: »

It very much depends on DD really. We had to move from really rural (outside village) to a large town. Our friends stayed local but were happy until mid-teens. We all got good at walking.

The current generation moved from somewhere with buses within a mile to somewhere with one bus a week. They loved living here initially and the younger one still loves it; happy to chill out and then to meet up with mates or go for a sleep-over. The older one now hates it because of the limitiations on job opportunities and socialising.

That's the thing, I want us to become more self sufficient, hone my old style skills and enjoy the simple lifestyle, enjoy being outdoors etc. I am not the type to go out, I don't drink and genuinely would prefer being tucked up by the fire than out on the town wearing uncomfortable heels, standing waiting to be served for 15mins, being knocked into, not being able to hear the person you're with over the noise and spending £50+ on one night!

But the limitations such as no park, no soft play, etc makes me wonder whether DD would benefit or would she be bored more?

krustylouise

Mojisola wrote: »

That's fine while you both have jobs and can afford two cars.

The other posters have given good advice but also think about how life could change - when you're a long way from anywhere and short of money or not well, it's much harder to cope than if you have a lot of amenities on your door step.

That's exactly the thought that is holding me back. When this baby arrives I will quit work and become a SAHM so won't both be working then, but childcare literally would be more than my wage {in summer holidays it would cost £300 per week! I only earn £230!}

So that's food for thought also.

krustylouise

oh heck, lots of pro's and con's isn't there and alot of opinions on staying put or moving! BIG decision!

Mojisola

krustylouise wrote: »

That's the thing, I want us to become more self sufficient, hone my old style skills and enjoy the simple lifestyle, enjoy being outdoors etc.

I am not the type to go out, I don't drink and genuinely would prefer being tucked up by the fire than out on the town wearing uncomfortable heels, standing waiting to be served for 15mins, being knocked into, not being able to hear the person you're with over the noise and spending £50+ on one night!

How much can you change your life if you're both working full-time?

Don't move with the idea that everything will be 'roses round the door' - be very practical about what's possible.

If you don't want to go out for the kind of evening you describe, it doesn't matter whether you live in a city or an isolated farm - just don't go!

But the limitations such as no park, no soft play, etc makes me wonder whether DD would benefit or would she be bored more?

Have to talked to any of the parents at your child's school about what their children do for entertainment?

Gigervamp

No need for parks and softplay. How often would you take the children to softplay?

krustylouise

Mojisola wrote: »

Have to talked to any of the parents at your child's school about what their children do for entertainment?

With regards to the points you raised in your previous post - I'm not at all blind to how things will be, for the next 5 months we will both be working full time so the only thing that will change is the location of where we live.

However when I leave work I will try to hone my old style skills {wherever we live}.

I have spoken to DD's best friends Nana about what they do and she said they go for nature walks and go to the small playground, that the little girl is happy to play indoors. Their housing situation is different to ours in that there are 5 of them in their house {the young girl, her Mum, Aunt, Uncle and Nana} they all don't work full time, Nana retired, the Mum only works part time so they have more time for the young girl. There are no other children in their house.

When we have baby I will be at home {as mentioned} with young baby and DD {7} and DH will be working full time.

Mojisola

krustylouise wrote: »

I have spoken to DD's best friends Nana about what they do and she said they go for nature walks and go to the small playground, that the little girl is happy to play indoors. Their housing situation is different to ours in that there are 5 of them in their house {the young girl, her Mum, Aunt, Uncle and Nana} they all don't work full time, Nana retired, the Mum only works part time so they have more time for the young girl. There are no other children in their house.

When we have baby I will be at home {as mentioned} with young baby and DD {7} and DH will be working full time.

I would talk to a few more parents and get a feel for what village life is like.

You'll have a great opportunity while you're on maternity leave to join in and get to know people. It can make a huge difference to village life if you build up a network so that you can help others out and will have people to call on if you have a problem.