THE Prepping thread - a new beginning :)

monnagran

I'm barging in again.

I can see both points of view. I am also looking for my 'end of life' home. Doesn't that sound dreary?

In my time I have owned a huge house in a big garden, a tiny listed cottage with 4x1/2 acres, my own woods and views to die for, I've then lived in three large Victorian houses with three large gardens that looked as though they hadn't seen a spade since Victoria passed away. And in each I created a garden.
Now I am looking for a modern, easily managed bungalow with a small level garden. I'm not ecstatic at the thought. I've always lived in interesting houses, but interesting involves a lot of work. Next year I will be 80 and already I cannot garden as I used to, I am very careful going up and down stairs and absolutely everything that happens in my home has to be done by me and me alone.
So, my next move will, hopefully, be my last.
I have moved, or helped to move, several 90 year-olds from a home they have lived in far too long and in each case it has been a nightmare for the person and their family. I will not inflict that scenario on my family. Hence I am wearing my brand new sensible hat and doing what I know to be the right thing, even though it is far from what I am used to.

Of course, I have to sell my beautiful 4 bedroomed, barn conversion, home by the sea first. No problem, you may think. Think again and take in the electricity sub-station attached to the garage wall. See the potential buyers pick up their skirts and take to the hills.

[Deleted User]

I hear you FUDS, and you are right in saying that we could both of us manage with far less than we think we want, that's why I'm not listening to the siren voices at either end of my wants/compromises list. I could so easily talk us in to buying this because it's the best we've seen but the voice at the other end is saying 'you know yourselves well enough that maybe it seems a good idea today BUT will you still feel that after the gloss of newness has worn off?' My middle thoughts are saying it IS a compromise and you'll be gaining things as well as losing them. I would be able to walk straight to the high street of a lovely little town via a conveniently placed footpath, BUT I'd be on a much less frequent bus service if I wanted to go to the city. Here it's one every half hour in either direction and it would be difficult to go to one every other hour in either direction. I'm listening to the voice that says don't go and buy a house just because it's got the biggest garden you've ever seen but I'm wary of that voice saying you can manage with a pocket handkerchief and you'll make it work. I'm listening to the voice saying you'd hate neighbours that close but not to the one saying you'll get used to it. It's a difficult decision on all levels and I do so take your message of making what you can afford work and being happy while you're doing it so I'm listening to you too! thank you for being the brakes and also the pusher, I'm lucky that we do have choice and I'm petrified of getting it wrong xxx.

fuddle

You're tormented. I sense it. I don't like it Lyn

I don't also appreciate monna saying the word sensible.

Kittie you're under so much pressure and also with Feng Shui. I order you to enjoy this process. It's a must!

Aging. It's a boogar!

[Deleted User]

Not tormented poppet more like demented!!! We're Ok I'm just not very good at idling along waiting for things to happen, I like organised and quick and onwards to the future and I feel a bit in limbo at the moment, it's good for my soul (yes I do have one despite all appearances to the contrary) to have to wait though isn't it?

MONNA wash your mouth girl, sensible......phewee pish!!!

[Deleted User]

I too feel tormented, a good way to describe current feelings fuddle and monna, what you said, that was such a reality check re the type of home. In the past in prepping, we have spoken about planning ahead, or maybe it was an over 50s thread but it was often mentioned, either a bungalow or a house with potential for washing facilities and a bedroom downstairs if needed, so I will be going back to those basics.

I was starting to love the idea of quirky and old but to be realistic, I am now thinking of 70s/80s to get enough garden. Often characterless houses with thin internal walls but possible to re-configure if the price is right.

I saw a special terraced house yesterday on RM, an ideal small medieval location but overhanging a narrow high street, no front parking, spaces at the back. Garden up and further up in tiers and layers, lots of wooden decking areas that looked ready to rot. Internals that were to die for, wood everywhere, old old wood, an aga, low ceilings and dark beams and what character but sigh, not for me. I even drove past it, down the very narrow street. Listed for future generations

The upside to all this upset is to be getting mentally sorted, before the spring rush

[Deleted User]

I just want a big enough house to be comfortable in, a loo on each floor, either a woodstove in place or the open fireplace there to let us install one and enough garden to have some veg at home, the tender ones that need all the attention, watering and TLC. He Who Knows wants a shop for everyday things like bread, milk, papers etc. within walking distance and busses within easy reach. It doesn't seem greedy as a wish list but the garden is the most important part, not a huge one but not a tiny one either. Somewhere there is the house that will do, we just have to find it.

zeupater

MrsLurcherwalker wrote: »

I just want a big enough house to be comfortable in, a loo on each floor, either a woodstove in place or the open fireplace there to let us install one and enough garden to have some veg at home, the tender ones that need all the attention, watering and TLC. He Who Knows wants a shop for everyday things like bread, milk, papers etc. within walking distance and busses within easy reach. It doesn't seem greedy as a wish list but the garden is the most important part, not a huge one but not a tiny one either. Somewhere there is the house that will do, we just have to find it.

Hi

Been thinking about a number of recent posts and thought of some input ...

We have a pretty large garden with a veg patch (not far from the size of an allotment!) & greenhouse down in one corner. A few years ago we went through a phase of growing much more produce than we do now, but most of the space and hard-work went into bulk veg that was readily available from local (trusted) sources, so we simply changed to concentrate on the 'luxury'/'expensive' things which would make a difference ... we still grow potatoes, carrots, onions etc, but not rows & rows of them, but there's far more herbs, garlic, tomatoes, peppers etc & the garden's now filled with various fruits ... effectively a move from 'bulk' to 'flavour', it's far easier & much more satisfying! ...

Also, don't forget the borders, they can be quite interesting when incorporating fruit & veg into the scheme!

HTH
Z

[Deleted User]

Hi Zeupater, we've gradually been slowing down with what we grow over the years and deciding that some things have priority over others. We've always had allotments since we first met, even before we got married we had an allotment! We both like the pottering, He Who Knows is really an outdoors person and my concern with a tiny patch is that he will feel 'cabined, cribbed, confined' without his refuge of a decent garden shed and workshop to go to when he hasn't anything jobwise elsewhere. It's not a mancave but he does like to potter, chopping kindling, potting up seedlings, etc. and I'd so hate for him not to have that available. We don't do flowers other than the odd row of sweet Williams or helichrysums on the allotment for picking for the house. All our borders are full of strawberries, fruit trees and an asparagus bed, it's such a good way of life I'm loath to give it up. Having said that we could cope with double cropping in a smaller garden if only we could find one not too small.

monnagran

Lyn, I am inclined to encourage you to follow your heart. OK, you may find that at some stage along the way your garden may be too much to manage, but you are young enough to get many more years of happiness and fulfilment from your lifestyle. I have in mind my own father who was one of the 90 year-olds I referred to as moving into a bungalow after a lifetime of cultivating a 1 acre of garden. In his new small garden we installed a heated greenhouse and he contentedly grew all his own vegetables and his show crysanthemums for another 5 years.
If you have another 20 years in your new home it has to be right for you and HWK. Take your time, the house for you is out there somewhere.
For me, I am about 10 years older than you and completely on my own so I do need to prepare for the rest of my life in those circumstances.

Fuddle, 'sensible' is my middle name. Didn't you know that?

[Deleted User]

I already downsized my allotment a lot and everything I grow is what I want to eat. The plants I would want to grow in a decent garden would be gooseberries, blackcurrants, raspberries if enough room and a couple of apple trees, not too tall, M26 rootstocks. I say this because I can get very nice fresh organic veg delivered from a county organic farm. I have tested and they passed, so I could do without veg as long as I have a greenhouse and a space for salad crops.

Along with my garden needs, I have cycling needs and need to be safe from traffic and able to ride along lanes which pass through the local protected moor areas. I have that now, where I live but moving just over a mile would give me lots more routes.

Buses are a huge problem, mrsLW, local buses have been cut down to the bare bone, maybe 2 a day at most. I am prepared to put up with that, to pay for taxis to stations for trains and buses, if I ever cannot drive. I am content and don`t yearn for town visits. A local shop is important as is an active village hall community and both are in that same area as is the doctors surgery with pharmacy on the same site

So I look at rightmove several times a day, even though I set up alerts and I get postcodes and browse sold properties, often with links to photos and I wail over the ones that went before I knew I was moving but I know that there will be more, in good time. Market info is very useful and will often give the previously sold price of a property, showing how optimistic some people are by adding a great amount on since then