Perfect place to retire to?

Perfect place to retire to?

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Discussion

LosingGrip

7,806 posts

158 months

Wednesday 8th January 2020
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ARHarh said:
Shropshire, North Wales border. Already made the choice and done it.
North Wales for me. Been there twice and love it. I don't think it will ever happen though.

I'd move there for work if I could as well.

Robertj21a

16,475 posts

104 months

Wednesday 8th January 2020
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LosingGrip said:
North Wales for me. Been there twice and love it. I don't think it will ever happen though.

I'd move there for work if I could as well.
North Wales can be wonderful, or terrible - the weather has a lot to do with that......

Kermit power

28,634 posts

212 months

Wednesday 8th January 2020
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bloomen said:
Kermit power said:
there were a vast number of people who'd retired out there from the UK, enjoyed the first few years of their retirement, and then become increasingly desperate and miserable as they'd grown older and more frail, because they didn't have access to the same sort of healthcare they would on the NHS (which is doubtless going to become a problem again with Brexit) and couldn't afford to move back home, because they'd sold up here thinking they could always sell up and move back, only to find that English property prices had way outstripped French ones, and they could no longer afford anything back home.
I've known lots of British immigrants in France. I've never heard one saying the standard of health provision was lower than the UK. Perhaps it depends on registering yourself correctly which I'm sure a lot didn't bother doing. It's also about family and familiarity of course.

I'd say the majority have marooned themselves getting starry eyed about French property and will be stuck there for life. Many of them are in rustic houses without foundations that enjoy splitting down the middle when it gets seriously dry. And they never quite got around to 'finishing them' in the first place.

A few have done it properly and become French citizens but the majority are in limbo and will remain there.
For the part in bold, bear in mind that I was living there in the early 80s, so long before the introduction of EHIC and reciprocal healthcare cover. Back then, if you were not a French citizen, you paid for healthcare cover, and it could of course be horrendously expensive! We knew people who were being faced with having to sell up and move back to a grotty little flat in the UK when they'd moved out from a nice semi just because they couldn't afford the ongoing health costs and had to come back for the NHS.

It is to be hoped that we'll manage to negotiate to stay within the EHIC system after Brexit, but I sure as hell wouldn't be making any decisions until that's absolutely guaranteed.

bloomen

6,848 posts

158 months

Wednesday 8th January 2020
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Kermit power said:
For the part in bold, bear in mind that I was living there in the early 80s, so long before the introduction of EHIC and reciprocal healthcare cover. Back then, if you were not a French citizen, you paid for healthcare cover, and it could of course be horrendously expensive! We knew people who were being faced with having to sell up and move back to a grotty little flat in the UK when they'd moved out from a nice semi just because they couldn't afford the ongoing health costs and had to come back for the NHS.
I know someone in the last 10 years or so living there who had a huge car crash and wound up with a bill for tens of thousands. She didn't bother sorting out anything so didn't have the local medical insurance or travel insurance or an EHIC card. Not too bright.

The only sensible thing to do is go full French citizen which isn't too bad if you're over 60 and have been there for long enough. Still quite a lengthy process though.

Pat H

8,056 posts

255 months

Wednesday 8th January 2020
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TwigtheWonderkid said:
Wacky Racer said:
God's own country, North Yorkshire, around Pickering.

The North York Moors railway

Fish & chips at The Magpie in Whitby

Bracing Scarborough seafront.

What's not to like?
The locals.
The in-laws have a cottage in Whitby and I've always found the natives very friendly.

I would add fantastic roads, proximity to York and decent beer to Wacky's list.

It's also nice to be on the coast, but by gum it gets cold in Whitby.



I presently live on the other side of the country in Southport, which seems to be God's waiting room for upper class scousers.

10 minutes walk from the beach, half an hour from the bright lights in Liverpool and the IOM ferry, an hour from either the Lake District or North Wales. Also seem to get far less rain than when I lived inland.

If I had to stay here, then I would be perfectly happy. But English winters are such a drag.


mikeiow

5,286 posts

129 months

Wednesday 8th January 2020
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SpartacusF said:
Well, 24h later and I am overwhelmed - thank you all. Lots have similar needs - access to countryside, friendly natives and low traffic. Portugal wasn't on my radar but is now, I'll go and explore.

Not many have mentioned the US, put off by the cost of healthcare it seems. Let's say that isn't an issue and I can get coverage, where is 'quality' living?
I've worked for US companies for over 25 years, & have travelled about through at least 40 states over the years (from working on a travelling State Fair aged 18 to Miami for a conference last summer!).
TBH, I wouldn't want to retire there. Aside from the horrendous healthcare costs, I find it too much of a country on several levels. Hate the gun culture too....

However.

If I had to, I would consider the North Carolina area. Plenty of sports - access to coast, access to mountains, people relatively normal. Easy hop back to the UK if needed.
SanFran is a fab place to visit, but traffic is horrendous....
Anything too North can get too cold.
Quite like Wyoming, Colorado or Idaho if you want space & don't need coastline on the doorstep (although clearly some of my visits were 10s of years ago, & places change!).
If you were into campervan travel, there is quite a scene for those - winter in the south ("snowbirds"), summer more northerly. Stumbled upon http://www.cross-country-trips.com years ago - there's a family with a GREAT sense for travel (Stateside!)

GetCarter said:
NW Highlands. And before you say it rains all the time: http://www.stevecarter.com/gallery1/MyFaves.htm

It ain't warm though!
Some great pics: would love a bolt-hole up there (& wife is from Fife, so surely we'd be natives!), but doubt it will happen now. Maybe I could stretch to a bothy....but owning a 'holiday place' on the IOW, I am very aware of the efforts needed to upkeep such places....

irocfan

40,152 posts

189 months

Wednesday 8th January 2020
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GetCarter said:
NW Highlands. And before you say it rains all the time: http://www.stevecarter.com/gallery1/MyFaves.htm
those are some lovely picture there chap! thumbup

Randy Winkman

16,016 posts

188 months

Wednesday 8th January 2020
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Sorry if this point has been addressed already in this thread; when people think of a good place to retire to, do they mean that it would be a good place to live until they die? Or to live for a few years and then go somewhere else? A good place to live when you are in your late 50s and 60s might not be so good when you have arthritis and dementia. A happy thought, I know. smile

irocfan

40,152 posts

189 months

Wednesday 8th January 2020
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MikeStroud said:
I can think of many places I would love to live but being within an easy commute of kids is the most important factor for me which means I am compromised on where they end up.

I know I am missing a lifestyle I'd love but easy access to my kids is more important.
this is our 'limiting' factor too. It's made a little more awkward in as much one of them has have to Cheshire the other is in Essex. We'd had the, usual, fantasies of living by the sea - then you see how much of a premium a 'sea' view commands (together with the effect of salt air on your car) and you rapidly re-asses if it's worth it (I do still like Frinton though) moved

vixen1700

22,668 posts

269 months

Wednesday 8th January 2020
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PositronicRay said:
It is but, whenever I've fleeting daydreamed whilst on holiday I've not seen that sort of value.

Makes me wonder, a money pit? I could afford that, but don't want to become a slave to a place.
There are plenty like that. We fell in love with a fully modernised and beautiful ex-convent in the Pyrenees a few months back. Absolutely gorgeous with a lovely garden, space, pool and stunning mountain views.

Saw it on the Saturday, emailed our interest whilst looking at flight details to go over there, but got an email on Monday morning saying an offer had been put on it the previous Thursday. frown

There are lots of lovely places at reasonable prices, but this one really got us excited.

There will be plenty of others. smile

Pat H

8,056 posts

255 months

Wednesday 8th January 2020
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irocfan said:
We'd had the, usual, fantasies of living by the sea - then you see how much of a premium a 'sea' view commands.
Not wishing to get all Greta Thunberg, but it might be worth bearing in mind possible environmental changes.

I'm 50, so will be pushing up daisies before it becomes a problem, but my house is pretty much at sea level, so flooding and sea defences may be future considerations.

No use deciding to retire to the Maldives, when, in all likelihood they will be submerged by the time you get your gold clock.


FocusRS3

3,411 posts

90 months

Wednesday 8th January 2020
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irocfan said:
this is our 'limiting' factor too. It's made a little more awkward in as much one of them has have to Cheshire the other is in Essex. We'd had the, usual, fantasies of living by the sea - then you see how much of a premium a 'sea' view commands (together with the effect of salt air on your car) and you rapidly re-asses if it's worth it (I do still like Frinton though) moved
Was waiting to see if someone mentioned Frinton before jumping back in!

We have a flat with a sea view there which we bought 4.5yrs back.

We didn't realise how much we'd grow to love the place as we bought it on a bit of a whim but its our retirement plan now when the kids head off into the big wide world.

Hadn't really considered the salt air on the cars and not sure i really care as the number 1 aim is to be there asap.

The lock up and leave flat we bought we've used more than we could have possibly imagined. Helped by the fact its only an hours drive away

TheK1981

191 posts

74 months

Wednesday 8th January 2020
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One question I want to ask, my mum is looking at buying somewhere cheap or renting, she loves Cyprus, but loves the dog more so would prefer Spain as we could drive him out there.

Shes not properly looked or found anything yet, but already people have mentioned:

Holidays cost loads but they can get cheap flights,
They would 'look after' the house/dog if she wants to head back to the UK for a holiday,

Anyone else had this and how did you respond?

Pat H

8,056 posts

255 months

Wednesday 8th January 2020
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TheK1981 said:
Anyone else had this and how did you respond?
Or the opposite problem.

My Mum is 83 and widowed.

As much as I'd like to bugger off to distant climes, I need to be around to keep an eye on my inheritance her.

And when my Mum shuffles off, my wife's parents are poised to adopt the same position.

smile

craig_m67

949 posts

187 months

Wednesday 8th January 2020
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Brisbane

rovermorris999

5,195 posts

188 months

Wednesday 8th January 2020
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Pat H said:
Not wishing to get all Greta Thunberg, but it might be worth bearing in mind possible environmental changes.

I'm 50, so will be pushing up daisies before it becomes a problem, but my house is pretty much at sea level, so flooding and sea defences may be future considerations.

No use deciding to retire to the Maldives, when, in all likelihood they will be submerged by the time you get your gold clock.
If you look at the data rather than the hype I'd not worry. Funny the Maldives have just opened eight new beachfront resorts and a few airports if they knew they were to be submerged in a few years.

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 8th January 2020
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rovermorris999 said:
If you look at the data rather than the hype I'd not worry. Funny the Maldives have just opened eight new beachfront resorts and a few airports if they knew they were to be submerged in a few years.
What does the data have to say about sea level rushes in Maldives over next 50 years?

bloomen

6,848 posts

158 months

Wednesday 8th January 2020
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rovermorris999 said:
If you look at the data rather than the hype I'd not worry. Funny the Maldives have just opened eight new beachfront resorts and a few airports if they knew they were to be submerged in a few years.
In many an area I'd be conscious of good old fashioned erosion. It happens in places you don't expect, and it'll get virulent in places you do like Suffolk.

Prinny

1,669 posts

98 months

Wednesday 8th January 2020
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Cyprus for me. Already got the house, started bringing the cars over, if KLM’s budget option (transavia) keep up last year’s flight schedules, I’m gone. I haven’t worked in the UK since 2015, I’m typically in Northern Europe, so being able to directly fly into Schiphol is the only thing stopping me.



You can drive for an hour in the centre of the island on sweeping roads & not see another soul.

irocfan

40,152 posts

189 months

Wednesday 8th January 2020
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mikeiow said:
Stumbled upon http://www.cross-country-trips.com years ago - there's a family with a GREAT sense for travel (Stateside!)
thanks for a fantastic link - will be perusing with Mrs Iroc at various points whilst deciding on holibobs