School v countryside

goodwithsaving

iksbedd wrote: »

We've viewed a house and found one we'd like to put on offer in on.....

Nothing is signed though and I'm getting nervous about the decision....

It's so hard to know what is best for our babies.... life in rat race, or life off the beaten track.

I wouldn't exactly describe N Devon as 'off the beaten track'....


I have to admit, I get a bit tired of people having the view that living in Devon, Cornwall and perhaps the Westcountry more broadly is easier and somehow more life-perfect. I have experienced both worlds in question and in the end, settled for somewhere geographically in-between. Don't get me wrong, it's a fabulous place to live and is idyllic in terms of scenery, and jobs are coming as more businesses open up in the South West but for a teenager it's hard. For juggling nurseries with employment miles away, it's hard. Many of my friends based up country had the option to return home and find decent graduate jobs, saving their wages towards houses. I didn't. I know that's the norm, but in today's world it does make it more difficult. In reality, I would love to live nearer home but the opportunities are limited.

It isn't a cheap life - there is also that falsehood. Houses are expensive in contrast to wages, petrol consumption is a little higher (hills, limited public transport options etc.) and in summer, when the tourists come prices go up in cafes etc making it more expensive to eat out.

I'm not intending to be negative, I had a brilliant childhood and was truly fortunate. However I would certainly consider whether it has to be quite such a b*gger to get to, or whether there is actually somewhere more suitable where you have more balance between worlds.

pickledonionspaceraider

iksbedd wrote: »

We've viewed a house and found one we'd like to put on offer in on.....

Nothing is signed though and I'm getting nervous about the decision....

It's so hard to know what is best for our babies.... life in rat race, or life off the beaten track.

Shoulda Woulda Coulda

Go for it. Don't let doubts now be the trigger for regrets in 20 years

You can always move again - theres nothing to stop you

harrys_nan

I was born and raised in Croydon, South London and moved away to Worcestershire before I had children. I will always think of Croydon as my home but, I thank my lucky stars I didn't live there when I became a mum.
I was so homesick when I first moved but here is now home, I did move to South Devon for about 5 years but came back to where I am now because I missed my family, but saying that I loved Devon and would have stayed if my kids and their families had moved down.
Nothing ventured nothing gained and if it came to it and it really didn't work for you, then move back

Madmel

OP, I commuted from Exeter to Barnstaple daily for a year up until I was 8.5 months pg with DD. It was ok, even in grim weather. Now the new bridge is in, it's a better journey.

We moved from Exeter to E Devon when our DDs were 7 & 5. We live in a hamlet 3 miles inland. There are no pavements here so DDs couldn't walk to school, so I took them. It worked and most of their friends went that way too. At secondary school, their friends all had phones so they communicated via social media. Because everyone came in by bus, almost all clubs ran during school hours. Now they are at uni, they are the "mysterious" ones - no buses or trains nearby, or only once an hour from a mile and a half away. At 17 they both learned to drive, something that hardly any of their London friends can do.

Yes, the broadband is crap, you have to walk, cycle or drive everywhere BUT at night, the skies are dark and you can see the Milky Way clearly. We get rabbits, pheasants and partridges in the garden. We can see the cows calving in the field behind our garden. We laugh at the piglets in the field across the road at the front. When it snows, we are stuck, but it doesn't happen often. Our farmer neighbour knocks on the door and offers us milk & veg. We know all our neighbours and help each other out. When the electricity goes off, we light a wood fire and snuggle up with lanterns.

If North Devon is what you fancy, go for it. Secondary schools can change. Try getting your DC into the local school and hopefully friends will be close by.

goodwithsaving

I have to admit, my mind is starting to change against my previous barriers and I want to move too now.


Go for it. Life's too short.

iksbedd

madmel wrote: »

op, i commuted from exeter to barnstaple daily for a year up until i was 8.5 months pg with dd. It was ok, even in grim weather. Now the new bridge is in, it's a better journey.

We moved from exeter to e devon when our dds were 7 & 5. We live in a hamlet 3 miles inland. There are no pavements here so dds couldn't walk to school, so i took them. It worked and most of their friends went that way too. At secondary school, their friends all had phones so they communicated via social media. Because everyone came in by bus, almost all clubs ran during school hours. Now they are at uni, they are the "mysterious" ones - no buses or trains nearby, or only once an hour from a mile and a half away. At 17 they both learned to drive, something that hardly any of their london friends can do.

Yes, the broadband is crap, you have to walk, cycle or drive everywhere but at night, the skies are dark and you can see the milky way clearly. We get rabbits, pheasants and partridges in the garden. We can see the cows calving in the field behind our garden. We laugh at the piglets in the field across the road at the front. When it snows, we are stuck, but it doesn't happen often. Our farmer neighbour knocks on the door and offers us milk & veg. We know all our neighbours and help each other out. When the electricity goes off, we light a wood fire and snuggle up with lanterns.

If north devon is what you fancy, go for it. Secondary schools can change. Try getting your dc into the local school and hopefully friends will be close by.

thank you!

Kim_kim

iksbedd wrote: »

Would you move your kids to a more rural, coastal area where the secondary school is slightly below average, from built up suburbia where secondary schools are just above average?

Would the freedom and clean air offset the slightly worse school setting or am I living in a dream world thinking we'd be improving their lives moving from Surrey to North Devon?

(They are 8 and 5)

There is a real lack of opportunities in coastal towns & many of them have large drug problems.
I also live in Surrey but the opposite side of it from London, so nice and rural. You could do worse than move a little further out, Surrey has lots of rural areas & great opportunities for your children when they leave education.

Kim_kim

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

As a Londoner, that's what you do!

I moved from London (inner south London, only a couple of miles from zone one). To Surrey, but the far from London side, in a little village. Handful of shops, no fast food of any nature, no train station and a bus on the hour. Some days driving to work I get delayed behind a tractor.

iksbedd

Kim_kim wrote: »

There is a real lack of opportunities in coastal towns & many of them have large drug problems.
I also live in Surrey but the opposite side of it from London, so nice and rural. You could do worse than move a little further out, Surrey has lots of rural areas & great opportunities for your children when they leave education.

Don't you feel the pressure of the "Surrey set" - the competitive nature, the keeping up appearances - it all being about finances and money....

I don't want the kids to grow up in that.

NeilCr

Just looking back last year you were considering moving back to Cheshire as you were homesick and wanted to be nearer your family. I don't normally do the "going over old posts" things but I did remember that thread

You do seem very indecisive. I sympathise greatly - so am I! I moved down here (Kent coast) from London and the whole decision making was painful in the extreme. I am now very happy and totally pleased with making the jump. I am different though as I am older, on my own and have no children. I, also, knew this area from visiting

What do your husband and children think about the idea? If they are not totally on board then that's going to make it harder. You haven't said much about their thoughts