SKI-er or Sk-ater. We know how to enjoy ourselves

tanith

Errata wrote: »

Would a caravan near the coast be a solution?

We have toyed with that idea and I think I will sway more towards that than a complete move . That way I keep my options open as it were... but it won't solve the problem of no downstairs bathroom , lots to consider ..

Newly_retired

My thoughts exactly. A downstairs bathroom and the possibility of a downstairs bedroom for when we reach that stage. Even more, I want to move out of this house so that DH is forced to clear out some of his stuff. His father died within 3 months of retirement, his brother at 51. I dread the thought of being left with 2 rooms , a basement and a garage full of his stuff, let alone tha fact that we struggle to accommodate visitors other than one grandchild.
Just being looking at a 2 bed bungalow and it is far too small. We each need our own space.

tanith

Newly_retired wrote: »

My thoughts exactly. A downstairs bathroom and the possibility of a downstairs bedroom for when we reach that stage. Even more, I want to move out of this house so that DH is forced to clear out some of his stuff. His father died within 3 months of retirement, his brother at 51. I dread the thought of being left with 2 rooms , a basement and a garage full of his stuff, let alone tha fact that we struggle to accommodate visitors other than one grandchild.
Just being looking at a 2 bed bungalow and it is far too small. We each need our own space.

This house is just about perfect for us and my brother lives just down the road, kids within 10mins walk , we have one spare room for grandkids or son when he deigns to visit the UK:rotfl:and we do have room to build on the side another room/bedroom and bathroom on the ground floor but our mortgage finishes when OH retires in 3/4yrs and we wouldn't be able to afford to borrow money for an extension and pay it back once both of us are retired so a bit stuck really.. I have raging O/A so fully expect to not be able to get upstairs at some point in the future hopefully thats 20yrs down the line..:rotfl:

iris

We decided to move 10 years ago from our cottage in Devon. We bought a 3 bedroomed detached bungalow in Lincolnshire (much cheaper area) and banked the difference:j which has enabled us to do lots of travelling and buy a new car.

Our bungalow really came into its own when OH needed a hip replacement 4 years ago. I dread to think how we would have managed the stairs in the Devon cottage.

We have never regretted moving to a bungalow. The one we chose has easy access for a wheel chair should it ever become necessary and we also have a conservatory, which is lovely.

Our garden is very manageable and is all on one level with a couple of raised beds for vegetables etc and also a couple of sitting areas. We also have a garage for all the usual tools and paint etc.

I would recommend a bungalow to anyone thinking of moving over the age of 60.

Savvy_Sue

The only thing to say about moving to the seaside is that you need to spend time there in and out of season before you 'commit'. I'd say that even for a caravan!

What looks idyllic in this weather may not be so appealing in a westerly gale and driving rain that's gone on for a week.

But you've obviously thought of that.

As for moving, if you're going to do it, I'd say the sooner the better, while you're still able to get out and about fairly freely, so you can build up your networks of friends and neighbours. Before you really need them ...

pollypenny

Agree absolutely about a bungalow! I hate the word, though - sounds old!

Although we live in a market town, when we wanted to move we found that the town itself was actually quite small, giving us a choice of about three properties. We bought this big bungalow, plenty big enough for a family.

Now I am so glad. I make sure I do my Tai Chi 'bungalow legs exercises' though.

Savvy_Sue

Of course another point is that stairlifts can be installed in houses, IF they are otherwise 'sensible'.

I kid you not, after seeing our present house once, I thought to myself "it's got really wide doorways, the staircase is really wide, I could stay in that house FOR EVER, even if I needed a wheelchair." And I was only in my 40s then!

But we had had a ghastly time, had sold our house but been gazumped on our purchase, had school places for the boys and commitments in our new area, and the estate agent was trying to tell me that the houses we'd been looking at (in the area we wanted to live in) would not hold their value as well as a house he wanted us to look at (not quite in the area we wanted to live in). And I looked at him and said "You know, I don't CARE about it holding its value, because it will not be my problem! Whatever we buy, they will take me out of it IN A BOX!"

Actually we are considering downsizing, because whereas there were 6 of us here there are now only 2 for most of the time: one boy has moved out, two are at Uni, and the chap we bought with is slowly moving on. We just don't feel we can downsize by that much as long as the boys are coming home for holidays: we'd still need at least four decent sized bedrooms, so it makes more sense to me to hang on for a few more years and then do the job properly, for good!

But then I hate moving house. And it will take a few more years to persuade DH that he really doesn't need to take his now 30 year old Maths text books with him ...

pollypenny

I am trying to get Oh to get rid of very tool he's had since he was an apprentice at 15!

I have just thrown a set of Guardian booklets on WW11! He'd hidden them! As if we haven't got enough books, videos and DVDS.

donny-gal

Lol - We bought a bungalow when we first got married,and over time have made it "old age proof" and easy maintenance, we do have gardens front and back, the at the front we have built beds and filled them with evergreens and heathers, so it looks great all the time, and we just have to tidy it up a couple of times a year. At the back, we have a small garden, as we added a 21' x 8' conservatory several years ago, and I persuaded DH in the end we did not need a shed full of tools for a postage stamp of grass, so took it up and edged the borders with a patio and gravel for the rest, again it is tidy up a couple of times a year, and potter when we want. All windows, doors, fascia, gutters, etc., are all upvc, so no outside painting.

The same in Spain, we have made it "leaveable" and just have cacti and succulents in pots. We have a upstairs bedroom/ensuite and a downstairs bedroom/bathroom, so if necessary can manage there easily by moving downstairs. Not sure how long we will keep Spain, no plans at the moment, and are still enjoying it. Also still enjoying out time in our touring caravan, when we are in the UK, been to just outside York, Lincoln and Peterborough over the last 3 weekends, one at home this weekend, then over Easter we will be just outside Kings Lynn for a longer break. Also in the calendar at Sedgefield, North Yorks, for a Medevil Festival, and then Wiltshire, before off back to Spain in June for a short break
DG

pollypenny

Just booked to see DS. Not too sure about Florida in August, though!