If you are wearing my shoes.

Thumbs_Up

Murphybear said:

If you retire early you need to plan what you are going to do with your life.  You don’t want to end up at home twiddling you’re thumbs or watch tv all day

I retired early because of health issues but got better.  We moved to Devon and lived there for 14 years, we’re  now in our final place in Dorset.  This part of the country is fabulous, we’ve spent years exploring Devon, Somerset and Cornwall and are now exploring Dorset and Hampshire.  I grew up in the latter so am excited to revisit it.

We don’t have foreign holidays but there are so many beautiful  places in the U.K.

In terms of house prices Devon is a lot cheaper than Dorset or Hants particularly if you don’t want to live near the coast.  Same for Cornwall.   

I have manage without a TV licence for 15 years so i wont be going down that road.

Lets be honest I think most people would like to retire to the south west. How far away to you is the nearest accident and emergency hospital? Is your water bill expensive? Can you get easily about with your car avoiding the tourist?

middlewife

I have almost retired at 59. Just do 1 day a week for the NHS. OH is 62, plans to retire at 65 so will have 1 year 4 months to cover until he can claim his state pension, I can't get mine until 67. So like you, we are looking for a bungalow forever home. We live in South East so will downsize to free up equity and then move somewhere we actually want to live. This year and last have spent long weekends in various locations. Have a spreadsheet with things to consider like property prices, public transport, health services, U3a, men in sheds groups and walking opportunities as we both like walking and plan to get a dog. Places we are considering Buxton, Beverley, Skipton, Oswestry, Ledbury and Newark. We like a bit of history and character. Yes I would like the southwest have a son in Cornwall but can be dead in the Winter, transport poor and overrun with tourists 5 months of the year.
If you want to travel abroad, you could consider living somewhere people might want to rent for 6 months so you can travel in the Summer but spend winter here or VV.
I haven't been bored, I swim, do Tai chi class, cook, walk and have coffee with friends, volunteer at local vaccine centre and visit an elderly person once a week and sing in a community choir. Its what you make it. Never met anyone yet who's regretted early retirement.  Good luck!

Thumbs_Up

Sounds like you have a worked out detailed plan so well done you. I am some what hindered that one of my requirements is looking for a newbuild within my budget.

middlewife

You can sometimes get cheaper new builds where someone has decided to demolish and rebuild. New builds on estates can be eye watering. Maybe set up an email address just for property and register with agents to see what comes up. You would have to move fast though and it may be worth renting for 6 months to a year a) to make sure you like the area before committing and b) you can put in offers and view immediately if you're already there. Good luck, its almost become a weird hobby!

Murphybear

Thumbs_Up said:

Murphybear said:

If you retire early you need to plan what you are going to do with your life.  You don’t want to end up at home twiddling you’re thumbs or watch tv all day

I retired early because of health issues but got better.  We moved to Devon and lived there for 14 years, we’re  now in our final place in Dorset.  This part of the country is fabulous, we’ve spent years exploring Devon, Somerset and Cornwall and are now exploring Dorset and Hampshire.  I grew up in the latter so am excited to revisit it.

We don’t have foreign holidays but there are so many beautiful  places in the U.K.

In terms of house prices Devon is a lot cheaper than Dorset or Hants particularly if you don’t want to live near the coast.  Same for Cornwall.   

I have manage without a TV licence for 15 years so i wont be going down that road.

Lets be honest I think most people would like to retire to the south west. How far away to you is the nearest accident and emergency hospital? Is your water bill expensive? Can you get easily about with your car avoiding the tourist?

The RDE (Royal Devon and Exeter) is one of the best hospitals in the South West.  It has a very good reputation for Orthopaedics, think knee and hip replacements and the food is edible.  . Personal experience I’m afraid. 

Katiehound

Don't choose Louth! Public transport poor. 14 miles to nearest railway station. you really need a car if you want to get anywhere.
Perfectly formed hospital barely used: have to travel to Grimsby, Lincoln or even Grantham
Lincs County Council has just implemented a parking scheme that will kill the town centre within 6 months.

lovely countryside, not far to beach, but culturally rather sparse.

Bungalows anywhere will be dearer. new build even dearer.
 As a price guide terrace houses are around £120k
Bungalows from £210K- but not new build
Plots from £180k for detached property

marycanary

Katiehound said:

Don't choose Louth! 

You might not care for Louth but I like the town.  I don't think it is my place to tell an adult what they should or shouldn't do, only to provide suggestions. Clearly, this is another thing we disagree on.

Katiehound

marycanary said:

Katiehound said:

Don't choose Louth! 

You might not care for Louth but I like the town.  I don't think it is my place to tell an adult what they should or shouldn't do, only to provide suggestions. Clearly, this is another thing we disagree on.

Did I say I didn't care for Louth?
No
I pointed out the pitfalls especially if you don't drive.
I also provided information such as people having to travel to Grantham for (orthopaedic) operations- which is over 50 miles away and there is no public transport to get there. Whilst ELDC council tax might be one of the lowest in England that might not be the most important thing when compared with infra structure.

Hope you like the new parking in Mercer Row!
Personally I wouldn't recommend it but perhaps you know better.

Someone else suggested Newark and that would be a better choice if you are reliant on public transport & want to get to many parts of the country easily.

marycanary

Katiehound said:

marycanary said:

Katiehound said:

Don't choose Louth! 

You might not care for Louth but I like the town.  I don't think it is my place to tell an adult what they should or shouldn't do, only to provide suggestions. Clearly, this is another thing we disagree on.

Did I say I didn't care for Louth?
No

Did I say you didn't care for Louth? Read the sentence again.