Locations to retire to and why?
Discussion
Taking a 'gap year' that may extend indefinitely.
We did some traveling, but for the moment are based in an apartment my wife bought as a new build (but she specc'ed it) in a beach suburb of Perth (WA) It is an interesting set up, as it is akin to a co-operative build, my wife is close friends with the developer, and we know everyone who bought a unit (16 flats in total) so it is an immediate community - the top floor of the apartments is in fact communal space. Not bored of beach life yet. Couple of offers of consulting - one looks very unlikely, other looks solid.
We did some traveling, but for the moment are based in an apartment my wife bought as a new build (but she specc'ed it) in a beach suburb of Perth (WA) It is an interesting set up, as it is akin to a co-operative build, my wife is close friends with the developer, and we know everyone who bought a unit (16 flats in total) so it is an immediate community - the top floor of the apartments is in fact communal space. Not bored of beach life yet. Couple of offers of consulting - one looks very unlikely, other looks solid.
dirky dirk said:
Wouldn't want to live with a sea view
I know that it wont get built on,
But your looking out on grey all year.
Hills have grass and frost and snow and sunsets
Sea is grey, that's it
Have you tried it?I know that it wont get built on,
But your looking out on grey all year.
Hills have grass and frost and snow and sunsets
Sea is grey, that's it
In the summer, the coast is alive with people.Seagulls, boats are always about. People swimming, kayaking etc In winter you have the noise and views of the crashing waves.
Sunrise and sunset over the the horizon of the sea is arguably better than hills.
Living by the sea is ace, closer is much better.
Edited by hyphen on Tuesday 10th December 09:20
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Have a 4 bed detached family home in West London suburbs. Really want to sell up in due course, and retire to.......a flat in Central London. Somewhere with a W1 postcode, Marylebone High St area maybe. Get rid of the car.(not very PH).
Wife not so keen on the idea!!!
Interesting that you want live closer into town Wife not so keen on the idea!!!
Good on retiring though
dirky dirk said:
Wouldn't want to live with a sea view
I know that it wont get built on,
But your looking out on grey all year.
Hills have grass and frost and snow and sunsets
Sea is grey, that's it
I don’t mind the grey sea in the winter . The changing seasons and the rough sea fascinates me. I know that it wont get built on,
But your looking out on grey all year.
Hills have grass and frost and snow and sunsets
Sea is grey, that's it
Little things please little minds I guess !
Im still a good 25 years off retirement (if Im lucky/disciplined) and quite fancy going abroad, but we are in a nice village with a good community spirit close to Cardiff and currently finishing building our forever home. I think it would be really quite hard to sell up and leave it all behind. I doubt I would be able to keep the house we are in and buy another abroad.
The other option then is to get a motorhome and spend a couple of months abroad at a time (although the wife isnt so keen on the plan yet!) Possibly getting a ferry to Santander around March time and slowly heading back toward home. Bike on the back so that I can cycle to gather bread, wine and cheese in the morning before heading back for the afternoon to chill in the sun in a comfy deck chair.
The other option then is to get a motorhome and spend a couple of months abroad at a time (although the wife isnt so keen on the plan yet!) Possibly getting a ferry to Santander around March time and slowly heading back toward home. Bike on the back so that I can cycle to gather bread, wine and cheese in the morning before heading back for the afternoon to chill in the sun in a comfy deck chair.
hyphen said:
dirky dirk said:
Wouldn't want to live with a sea view
I know that it wont get built on,
But your looking out on grey all year.
Hills have grass and frost and snow and sunsets
Sea is grey, that's it
Have you tried it?I know that it wont get built on,
But your looking out on grey all year.
Hills have grass and frost and snow and sunsets
Sea is grey, that's it
In the summer, the coast is alive with people.Seagulls, boats are always about. People swimming, kayaking etc In winter you have the noise and views of the crashing waves.
Sunrise and sunset over the the horizon of the sea is arguably better than hills.
Living by the sea is ace, closer is much better.
Edited by hyphen on Tuesday 10th December 09:20
covmutley said:
Im still a good 25 years off retirement (if Im lucky/disciplined) and quite fancy going abroad, but we are in a nice village with a good community spirit close to Cardiff and currently finishing building our forever home. I think it would be really quite hard to sell up and leave it all behind. I doubt I would be able to keep the house we are in and buy another abroad.
The other option then is to get a motorhome and spend a couple of months abroad at a time (although the wife isnt so keen on the plan yet!) Possibly getting a ferry to Santander around March time and slowly heading back toward home. Bike on the back so that I can cycle to gather bread, wine and cheese in the morning before heading back for the afternoon to chill in the sun in a comfy deck chair.
So enjoy the nice weather living in a fibreglass box sThe other option then is to get a motorhome and spend a couple of months abroad at a time (although the wife isnt so keen on the plan yet!) Possibly getting a ferry to Santander around March time and slowly heading back toward home. Bike on the back so that I can cycle to gather bread, wine and cheese in the morning before heading back for the afternoon to chill in the sun in a comfy deck chair.
tting in a bucket and then spend 10 months a year back in the nice property infrastructure but climate of Cardiff? I think I’d rather reverse those two time exposures around!Shnozz said:
covmutley said:
Im still a good 25 years off retirement (if Im lucky/disciplined) and quite fancy going abroad, but we are in a nice village with a good community spirit close to Cardiff and currently finishing building our forever home. I think it would be really quite hard to sell up and leave it all behind. I doubt I would be able to keep the house we are in and buy another abroad.
The other option then is to get a motorhome and spend a couple of months abroad at a time (although the wife isnt so keen on the plan yet!) Possibly getting a ferry to Santander around March time and slowly heading back toward home. Bike on the back so that I can cycle to gather bread, wine and cheese in the morning before heading back for the afternoon to chill in the sun in a comfy deck chair.
So enjoy the nice weather living in a fibreglass box sThe other option then is to get a motorhome and spend a couple of months abroad at a time (although the wife isnt so keen on the plan yet!) Possibly getting a ferry to Santander around March time and slowly heading back toward home. Bike on the back so that I can cycle to gather bread, wine and cheese in the morning before heading back for the afternoon to chill in the sun in a comfy deck chair.
tting in a bucket and then spend 10 months a year back in the nice property infrastructure but climate of Cardiff? I think I’d rather reverse those two time exposures around!
anonymous said:
[redacted]
This is what Mrs DS keeps making the point about - I'd really like to live in buttfk middle-of-nowhere, but she tempers this by pointing out that you need access to medical facilities, and you may not be able to drive. That said in the current hysterical climate in 20 years not having access to transport might apply to everyone.We're lucky enough to have owned a holiday apartment in Tenerife for over 20 years now and still in our early 50's so healthy enough to enjoy walking up and down the hills but have thought about somewhere closer to the sea so a bit flatter. We intend retiring in a couple of years so the plan is to spend longer periods there, primarily the UK winter period, and summer in the UK. We're still undecided on whether living there full time is what we want.
Some friends we knew who lived there over 20 years have just returned to Sheffield due to the health worry issue, but they have never learned the lingo and have to take an interpreter with them everytime they went to the doctors/hospital. So they sold up and have moved back in the last few weeks. Personally, I'm torn on that one as the better weather must be an advantage as its drier, warmer and you can go out walking - less so in the UK. But I can see the health side too. They are 70 ish.
FFG
Some friends we knew who lived there over 20 years have just returned to Sheffield due to the health worry issue, but they have never learned the lingo and have to take an interpreter with them everytime they went to the doctors/hospital. So they sold up and have moved back in the last few weeks. Personally, I'm torn on that one as the better weather must be an advantage as its drier, warmer and you can go out walking - less so in the UK. But I can see the health side too. They are 70 ish.
FFG
Wow, saw the alerts in my inbox and thought I would update you on our situation if any interested.
We moved out of the village, partly because I was fed up of being a taxi for the kids and partly because of certain small minded petty ex. friends/neighbours who I couldn't be arsed trying to reason with.
Now kids can walk to school and to my youngest daughters part time job.
Still have a rented property in the village.
We're also in the middle of buying a flat in Cromer which may become a retirement home but in the meantime will holiday let it and use it when it's not let.
Still would like to have a place abroad for the winter so may sell up main house when kids have left and buy in Tenerife which we do like.
We moved out of the village, partly because I was fed up of being a taxi for the kids and partly because of certain small minded petty ex. friends/neighbours who I couldn't be arsed trying to reason with.
Now kids can walk to school and to my youngest daughters part time job.
Still have a rented property in the village.
We're also in the middle of buying a flat in Cromer which may become a retirement home but in the meantime will holiday let it and use it when it's not let.
Still would like to have a place abroad for the winter so may sell up main house when kids have left and buy in Tenerife which we do like.
FlipFlopGriff said:
We're lucky enough to have owned a holiday apartment in Tenerife for over 20 years now and still in our early 50's so healthy enough to enjoy walking up and down the hills but have thought about somewhere closer to the sea so a bit flatter. We intend retiring in a couple of years so the plan is to spend longer periods there, primarily the UK winter period, and summer in the UK. We're still undecided on whether living there full time is what we want.
Some friends we knew who lived there over 20 years have just returned to Sheffield due to the health worry issue, but they have never learned the lingo and have to take an interpreter with them everytime they went to the doctors/hospital. So they sold up and have moved back in the last few weeks. Personally, I'm torn on that one as the better weather must be an advantage as its drier, warmer and you can go out walking - less so in the UK. But I can see the health side too. They are 70 ish.
FFG
Great post I love Tenerife as many others do. Probably for the climate mainly but there always seems to be something going on/to do.Some friends we knew who lived there over 20 years have just returned to Sheffield due to the health worry issue, but they have never learned the lingo and have to take an interpreter with them everytime they went to the doctors/hospital. So they sold up and have moved back in the last few weeks. Personally, I'm torn on that one as the better weather must be an advantage as its drier, warmer and you can go out walking - less so in the UK. But I can see the health side too. They are 70 ish.
FFG
It seems the only thing the UK has going for it is the "free" healthcare.
The thing about being by the sea is not only the view, but it's often set up for retirement. I often go to Bexhill - a slightly boring town and run down in places. But I can see why people retire there - as well as a sports centre there are bowls clubs, petanque on the seafront, a sailing club, a rowing club, you can cycle for miles along the front, as well as plenty of cafes etc which act as social hubs. All of which you can walk to.
Friends of mine, mostly +- 70, live in and around a small village near me. Summer is beautiful but for 5 months it's very cold - usually 2c lower than town according to my car, and damp. No mains gas, so it's oil, which is expensive and you might get it stolen. The small shop closes Saturday lunchtime but thankfully there's still a pub. You have to drive everywhere.
OK not everywhere is like this but I can see why people choose the coast. There are some beautiful days out of season when it's quiet. But I think the most important advantage is it's easier to stay active and in contact with other people.
For me, anything below 10c and I ache a lot. I can't see that getting better so if I could, I'd spend Summer here and Winter somewhere moderately warm.
Friends of mine, mostly +- 70, live in and around a small village near me. Summer is beautiful but for 5 months it's very cold - usually 2c lower than town according to my car, and damp. No mains gas, so it's oil, which is expensive and you might get it stolen. The small shop closes Saturday lunchtime but thankfully there's still a pub. You have to drive everywhere.
OK not everywhere is like this but I can see why people choose the coast. There are some beautiful days out of season when it's quiet. But I think the most important advantage is it's easier to stay active and in contact with other people.
For me, anything below 10c and I ache a lot. I can't see that getting better so if I could, I'd spend Summer here and Winter somewhere moderately warm.
hyphen said:
Have you tried it?
In the summer, the coast is alive with people.Seagulls, boats are always about. People swimming, kayaking etc In winter you have the noise and views of the crashing waves.
Sunrise and sunset over the the horizon of the sea is arguably better than hills.
Living by the sea is ace, closer is much better.
Seagulls. In the summer, the coast is alive with people.Seagulls, boats are always about. People swimming, kayaking etc In winter you have the noise and views of the crashing waves.
Sunrise and sunset over the the horizon of the sea is arguably better than hills.
Living by the sea is ace, closer is much better.
Edited by hyphen on Tuesday 10th December 09:20
speedyguy said:
Great post I love Tenerife as many others do. Probably for the climate mainly but there always seems to be something going on/to do.
It seems the only thing the UK has going for it is the "free" healthcare.
We're out tomorrow until the new year. Yes the climate is great but its all about lifesyle and being outisde in the fresh air. The kids play outside with simple items, not sat behind a computer in their bedroom but the climate lends itself to this and its great to see. Food is generally simple but very tasty and I love fish which isn't easy to get in the UK unless its battered The most difficult thing if we were there longer is to stay off the alcohol as its so cheap - both in the supermarket and bars in the main. There's a good spattering of brits but its easy to avoid them if you want and plenty of activities to get involved in. Most of the pro cycle teams are out in the winter traiing as its dry, warm and there are plenty of hills for altitude training. If you want snow there some up Teide now and its around freezing point, if you want rain I can find you some on the island and if you want sun there's plenty of it. Its a 4 hour flight so easy to get to and from, although flight prices have gone up a lot recently. Currently its 25C in the day and around 18 at night so very pleasant, and even in the summer peak its generally just above 30 and mid 20's at night, so not too hot, although the sun is very intense. Also a dry heat (humity aroud 55-60%) as opposed to 90+ here at the moment. We've both had sinusitus for nearly 3 weeks and feel crap so hopefully some heat will flush it out. We also hate Xmas and all the commercialisation and panic shopping so glad to get away from that.It seems the only thing the UK has going for it is the "free" healthcare.
Just hope any Brexit deal doesn't reduce the period you can be out the country in a 12 month period.
FFG
Very jealous.
Friends of ours bought a small flat over there about 5 years ago and they go as much as they can.
Their kids are 16+ so take their mates out there in the school hols.
We've been a few times and love it.
You can pick up a 1 bed apartment right on the coast for less than £110k or £120-130 for a 2 bed.
They holiday let theirs when not there and it easily covers the service charge plus some pocket money.
Think they only charge £35/night.
An ex pat in their block does holiday cleaning and (unofficial) lifts from the airport for a few owners.
Friends of ours bought a small flat over there about 5 years ago and they go as much as they can.
Their kids are 16+ so take their mates out there in the school hols.
We've been a few times and love it.
You can pick up a 1 bed apartment right on the coast for less than £110k or £120-130 for a 2 bed.
They holiday let theirs when not there and it easily covers the service charge plus some pocket money.
Think they only charge £35/night.
An ex pat in their block does holiday cleaning and (unofficial) lifts from the airport for a few owners.
FlipFlopGriff said:
We're out tomorrow until the new year. Yes the climate is great but its all about lifesyle and being outisde in the fresh air. The kids play outside with simple items, not sat behind a computer in their bedroom but the climate lends itself to this and its great to see. Food is generally simple but very tasty and I love fish which isn't easy to get in the UK unless its battered The most difficult thing if we were there longer is to stay off the alcohol as its so cheap - both in the supermarket and bars in the main. There's a good spattering of brits but its easy to avoid them if you want and plenty of activities to get involved in. Most of the pro cycle teams are out in the winter traiing as its dry, warm and there are plenty of hills for altitude training. If you want snow there some up Teide now and its around freezing point, if you want rain I can find you some on the island and if you want sun there's plenty of it. Its a 4 hour flight so easy to get to and from, although flight prices have gone up a lot recently. Currently its 25C in the day and around 18 at night so very pleasant, and even in the summer peak its generally just above 30 and mid 20's at night, so not too hot, although the sun is very intense. Also a dry heat (humity aroud 55-60%) as opposed to 90+ here at the moment. We've both had sinusitus for nearly 3 weeks and feel crap so hopefully some heat will flush it out. We also hate Xmas and all the commercialisation and panic shopping so glad to get away from that.
Just hope any Brexit deal doesn't reduce the period you can be out the country in a 12 month period.
FFG
Sounds good FFG. Wonder what has made the flight prices increase so much? Just hope any Brexit deal doesn't reduce the period you can be out the country in a 12 month period.
FFG
I am off to my home in Spain on Thursday and although not as warm as the Canaries, much of what you say resonates. Back in the UK to see family over Xmas and then back to Spain for New Year. Although I am a long way away from retirement at 41, I do enjoy spending time between the two countries, with the emphasis being on Spain in Winter and UK in the midst of summer. Being able to have a degree of reliance on the weather makes a big difference to outside activities.
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