The Edcawber Principle

greent

edinburgher wrote: »

Does anyone else ever daydream about a lifestyle they'd rather have? I was thinking yesterday that I could be quite happy pottering about somewhere sunny with cheap local foods, plenty to read and a bit less stress. Some very nice 2 bedroom houses for about £100k on our favourite Greek island....

Yes - we keep looking at villas in Portugal - not the flashier tourist-y ones by the coast, but more 'family homes' and inland a bit. Still need a decent size (4 children, after all) but nothing too flash. A decent plot for a few fruit trees and some veg, some sun and pottering around in the garden/ the local market... sounds lovely. And can get all of that for somewhat cheaper than our house is worth...

Sigh...... One day......

VDOT47

I always think about how nice it would be to be retired, pottering around, reading, travelling etc. In fact, it is one of the three main drivers behind my desire to be mortgage free by 55 (the others are to save interest and, in the short term, to allow us to move house sooner) - then I realise that I am wishing my life away and try to force myself to enjoy the here and now!

slowlyfading

edinburgher wrote: »

Does anyone else ever daydream about a lifestyle they'd rather have? I was thinking yesterday that I could be quite happy pottering about somewhere sunny with cheap local foods, plenty to read and a bit less stress. Some very nice 2 bedroom houses for about £100k on our favourite Greek island....

Every day at the moment

AlexLK

I often think about moving away from the Peak District to a country house with land in either the Lincolnshire Wolds or Cornwall. No desire to move abroad but a small house / apartment in the South of France would be nice. Used to crave finding something I wanted to do with my life but now enjoy working in property, so would carry on with that. Not really a lifestyle change, I don't suppose but I do think about a change of scenery.

beanielou

Maybe I am unusual in liking where I am.
I just would like it to be warmer :rotfl:
I love love love Provence.
The smell of lavander.
The rose................

shangaijimmy

Give it another 2-3 weeks and when my horrendous hayfever month kicks in and i'll be dreaming of living by the sea...again...!

edinburgher

It is lovely to hear about other people's daydreams - keep plodding friends :coffee:

Have I ever mentioned my lawn?

It is a constant source of shame and I have decided to do something about it this summer. I did not realise just how much paraphernalia was required to bring a poor condition lawn back to life :eek:

After a splurge of purchases, Am@zon voucher shuffles and research, I think I've ordered everything I need. £63.83 paid off of a CC, with £11.95 to follow (and a thoroughly decimated Home Maintenance budget). I had to buy a 10kg bag of grass seed :rotfl:

themadvix

We're always dreaming of living somewhere else (in the UK).... but largely because we intend to do something about it! Although hanging around on here, especially with Tilly and GG, one does start to yearn for somewhere warmer, more Mediterranean! :rotfl:

edinburgher

Just bought a hose

Ok, so there may be one more purchase, but I can't find a deal online (looking for a weed grabber)...

Edit: found one with great reviews for less than half price of the one with the naff TV adverts. I'm actually done now, cannot believe I've spent over £100 on gardening stuff :eek:

Karmacat

My ideal retirement had so much travel in it ... I met a guy in his 60s, during a time when I had a couple of months free to travel around Europe. He was living in a hostel type place in Iraklion. And I seriously thought, about ten years ago, of renting out wherever I lived in the UK and swanning about in a steel Dutch barge, only becoming stationary once again when I couldn't hack living on board any more. Visited Iraklion later on, on another trip, and had a beautiful studio room, own bathroom, roof terrace, solid wood, marble everywhere. Admittedly 3 of us stayed there - it was cheaper than the youth hostel. Restaurant right on the harbour that cooked beautifully fresh fish.
/ends the book before it begins.