Locations to retire to and why?

[anonymous-user]

Hi GreatGranny,

I'm just outside Bourne, whereabouts are you?

We're thinking of moving around the Ilkley/Skipton area but as we want to build our own house we are being flexible and will end up wherever a good plot turns up.

We've got lots of friends and family in Yorkshire so that's our main driver but also just love the beautiful countryside and the friendly people. If I lived on the coast again it would have to be Poole or close to and that's just crazy expensive. The reason for moving in the first place was to retire and not have the huge overheads of the South Coast.

If I win the lottery though .....

[kurt535]

Pakefield/Lowestoft as a place to retire? You serious sir????

[Huntsman]

We've moved to Isle of Wight from Southampton, so only a few miles, but a complete change. Its like being on holiday everyday, both in the countryside and buy the sea.

[bad company]

GreatGranny said:

So not a fan kurt? :-)

However I do know what you mean.

I'm in a small village and we do have the same issues regarding access to services, decent shops and culture.

Also some of the older residents are unbelievable petty and ignorant.
But on the flip side we have made some great friends in the 7 years since moving here.

On the flipside again a couple of families who we were friends with have now decided to ignore us after a small disagreement which I had forgotten about but evidently they hadn't and had taken great offence at!

Not sure I would choose such a small village to retire to.

I’m with Kurt on a lot of points.

I was speaking to woman aged mid 40’s in my village just last week. The village is around 50 miles from London but she had never been. She said she would love to visit London and see the sights but a bit frightened to do so. Village mentality.

[GreatGranny]

garyhun said:

Hi GreatGranny,

I'm just outside Bourne, whereabouts are you?

We're thinking of moving around the Ilkley/Skipton area but as we want to build our own house we are being flexible and will end up wherever a good plot turns up.

We've got lots of friends and family in Yorkshire so that's our main driver but also just love the beautiful countryside and the friendly people. If I lived on the coast again it would have to be Poole or close to and that's just crazy expensive. The reason for moving in the first place was to retire and not have the huge overheads of the South Coast.

If I win the lottery though .....

We're just outside Sleaford so not that far.

Been through it a few times. Has a nice feel about it.

Funny you should mention self build, wife wants to do that when we retire but as you say, its finding the right plot.

[anonymous-user]

GreatGranny said:

We're just outside Sleaford so not that far.

Been through it a few times. Has a nice feel about it.

Funny you should mention self build, wife wants to do that when we retire but as you say, its finding the right plot.

We built our last house so got the bug now! If you can, do it, it's a wonderful experience.

[Boosted LS1]

GaryH,

I'm from Poole originally but find it heaving these days. If I retired down that way I'd probably look towards the Purbecks. Have you thought about area's outside Poole and if so which do you find appealing?

[GreatGranny]

bad company said:

I’m with Kurt on a lot of points.

I was speaking to woman aged mid 40’s in my village just last week. The village is around 50 miles from London but she had never been. She said she would love to visit London and see the sights but a bit frightened to do so. Village mentality.

I find the people born and bred locally are the worse and the 'outsiders' more adaptable and open minded.

The real locals always joke about you being an outsider even to those who have been in the village for 20 years!

However I must stress that most are really nice and friendly.
It helps that I drink in the pub regularly and go with a neighbour who was born in the next village and knows just about everyone.

[wisbech]

Looks like Bali. Wife is Indonesian, and we would want to go back/ she is starting to get homesick

I actually prefer Java or Sulawesi (Manado especially) but she is risk averse, and due to all the foreign tourists Bali has got better health care & amenities

[Fleegle]

Moved to London permanently in 1988 and now getting to the stage were I've had my fill. I'm in my early 50's but we have been discussing retirement plans for the last 18 months. It will involve relocation and as yet undecided whether to rent our current place out or sell, all depending on what the returns/new mortgage ratio is

Where? We'll be heading up North to be as close to my daughter and Grandkids as possible. A fractured marriage meant not seeing my own daughter grow up and I refuse to miss out on my grandkids growing up. The only unfortunate thing is they live in Stockton.

[GreatGranny]

wisbech said:

Looks like Bali. Wife is Indonesian, and we would want to go back/ she is starting to get homesick

I actually prefer Java or Sulawesi (Manado especially) but she is risk averse, and due to all the foreign tourists Bali has got better health care & amenities

Well that's upped the anti :-)

Would love a property abroad.
Where we holiday in Turkey (Fethye) you can pick up a 2/3 bed apartment with communial pool for £65-70k. Service charges are £20 per month. Great for the winter and guaranteed rental for the summer.

[anonymous-user]

Boosted LS1 said:

GaryH,

I'm from Poole originally but find it heaving these days. If I retired down that way I'd probably look towards the Purbecks. Have you thought about area's outside Poole and if so which do you find appealing?

Interestingly I have been away for 2 and a half years now. We went back down to see friends a month or so ago and were quite shocked at how busy and congested it seemed - I guess we got used to it when we lived there. I appreciate a more peaceful existence these days I guess

I agree with the Purbecks - it's stunning over there and the beaches, especially around Studland with the Bankes Arms and Pig close by, are a great place to spend a day.

[8-P]

My boss lives in Mudeford(Dorset)on the coast, there is a lot of beige there and prices are going sky high. Home to the most expensive beach hut in the UK too.

[anonymous-user]

8-P said:

My boss lives in Mudeford(Dorset)on the coast, there is a lot of beige there and prices are going sky high. Home to the most expensive beach hut in the UK too.

Mudeford has always had crazy high beach hut prices and houses in general if you have sea views. It's a gorgeous part of the coast!

[malks222]

I'm with you on wanting to retire in the city more than the countryside.

in fact I actually think I already own my retirement property!! I have a main door flat in a nice part of Edinburgh city centre:

- only 7/8 steps to get in/ out of the flat
- shops/ amenities near by
- lots going on round about- everything a nice city has to offer
- no garden to worry about
- lots of green space/ parks close by
- lots of restaurants/ cafes within walking distance
- great public transport- busses/ trams/ trains/ airport on hand

Now I'd love to supplement this with a property in a ski resort in the alps, for both summer and winter use! as people mentioned go out and have extended times skiing, not having to worry about skiing every day, could pick and choose a few hours each day with nice lunches etc..... also I love the alps in the summer, all the greenery, walks, cycling, swimming lakes......

Damn I need to get my head down for the next 20years to make this happen and be retiring by 55. its do-able...... but I need to get saving!

[Hitch]

I find it quite strange that people move when they retire. It means you turn up knowing nobody and without any mechanism to get you into the community.

We're considering a place as a holiday-let-into-retirement-home so that we have time to build our local network. I'd choose somewhere that has (and is likely to retain) a sense of permanent community as so many of the top coastal villages are now majority lock-and-leave and are very quiet out of season.

[GreatGranny]

Hitch said:

I find it quite strange that people move when they retire. It means you turn up knowing nobody and without any mechanism to get you into the community.

We're considering a place as a holiday-let-into-retirement-home so that we have time to build our local network. I'd choose somewhere that has (and is likely to retain) a sense of permanent community as so many of the top coastal villages are now majority lock-and-leave and are very quiet out of season.

I do understand this and you have a point.
You need to be quite outgoing and willing to build new relationships in your new community.

We did this in our present village when we moved in 7 years ago but did have the advantage of my wife's family living nearby.

There are always ways to involve yourself in the local community.

My wife has joined a book club and local singing group.
I drink in the local :-)
I also coach hockey at the local club and my son plays for the local football team.
We have also met friends through school events.

I realise that without the kids it will be harder but there's always ways to meet new people.

[Sway]

GreatGranny said:

wisbech said:

Looks like Bali. Wife is Indonesian, and we would want to go back/ she is starting to get homesick

I actually prefer Java or Sulawesi (Manado especially) but she is risk averse, and due to all the foreign tourists Bali has got better health care & amenities

Well that's upped the anti :-)

Would love a property abroad.
Where we holiday in Turkey (Fethye) you can pick up a 2/3 bed apartment with communial pool for £65-70k. Service charges are £20 per month. Great for the winter and guaranteed rental for the summer.

The very last thing I'd do is retire too far away - unless I can have a massive sum in the bank...

I've gone through a nightmare supporting my other half with her brother. Retired to Vietnam, fk all in the bank - massive stroke, with no health insurance. Absolute fking nightmare.

Buy a place for £70k, live it up for a few years, then what? Any health issues and any savings will disappear very quickly, and then you're properly stuck - nowhere near enough cash to get back and under the NHS.

Just the medevac for BiL was £65k...

[worsy]

Shropshire, especially the North. Close to Liverpool/Birmingham/Manchester/Chester/Shrewsbury for culture/shopping. North and Mid Wales on doorstep plus Shropshire has some pretty magnificent scenery too.Housing is inexpensive, a pint around £3, life is as slow/fast as you wish to make it.

[kurt535]

Hitch said:

I find it quite strange that people move when they retire. It means you turn up knowing nobody and without any mechanism to get you into the community.

We're considering a place as a holiday-let-into-retirement-home so that we have time to build our local network. I'd choose somewhere that has (and is likely to retain) a sense of permanent community as so many of the top coastal villages are now majority lock-and-leave and are very quiet out of season.

I knew a retired RAF pilo a number of years agot; he reached 55, upped from family home in Saffron Walden to middle of nowheresville in Wales, then sadly got diagnosed with dementia disease. Available care in their region was poor to zero meaning wife had to become primary carer. After a number of hard years, he obviously died. now house is impossible to sell and wife couldn't afford to return to Saffron Walden in her latter years....