Perfect place to retire to?
Discussion
Pat H said:
Jesus. Sod that. I'd rather be dead.
I'd have a small apartment in Valletta overlooking the Grand Harbour for the winters and a narrowboat on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal for the summers.
Having lived in Malta, no thank you very much. Far too much institutional corruption, the whole place is a building site, it's too full, polluted and expensive.I'd have a small apartment in Valletta overlooking the Grand Harbour for the winters and a narrowboat on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal for the summers.
bought a house in Madeira last year and will be spending the winters down there (leaving in a couple of weeks).
benefits:-
absolutely stunning scenary. like the garden of eden.
friendly people
cheap (cost of living and property)
easy to buy property
same time zone as here
warmer winters (pretty much +/-20 degs all year... it was over 25 degs across Christmas), but not as sun bleached as the canarys
tax-friendly
very clean
fast and cheap communications (phone and internet)
well out of the way from all the crap that goes on in europe
great annual rally!
every week seems to be a festival of some description
downsides:-
small island mentality (my wife comes from there, so i am qualified on that subject!)
cars are stupidly expensive (although this is set to change)
3.5hrs flight back to uk or europe to connect through to other destinations
i'm not yet at retirement, but have created a business that allows me to work from anywhere, so it's very easy for me to jump on a plane and relocate for a few months. when i go down in a couple of weeks, i will be flying my mountain bike out as madeira has become a hot destination for enduro riding.
benefits:-
absolutely stunning scenary. like the garden of eden.
friendly people
cheap (cost of living and property)
easy to buy property
same time zone as here
warmer winters (pretty much +/-20 degs all year... it was over 25 degs across Christmas), but not as sun bleached as the canarys
tax-friendly
very clean
fast and cheap communications (phone and internet)
well out of the way from all the crap that goes on in europe
great annual rally!
every week seems to be a festival of some description
downsides:-
small island mentality (my wife comes from there, so i am qualified on that subject!)
cars are stupidly expensive (although this is set to change)
3.5hrs flight back to uk or europe to connect through to other destinations
i'm not yet at retirement, but have created a business that allows me to work from anywhere, so it's very easy for me to jump on a plane and relocate for a few months. when i go down in a couple of weeks, i will be flying my mountain bike out as madeira has become a hot destination for enduro riding.
GetCarter said:
Empty roads 8 months of the year, zero car crime, nobody locks doors (homes or cars), stunning scenery, free healthcare, doctors appointments on the same day, proper clean air, friendly neighbours, no traffic jams, low cost housing, no tuition fees, free hospital car parking, excellent old age social care, virtually no violent crime...
... bugger: can't do 20C I'm afraid. Good luck with the rest
Just for some balance. Short days. Long journeys to hospitals or specialists. Midges. Holiday home pricing for anything with half a view. Resentment over priced out locals. Low quality childcare options. RSC never visits. ... bugger: can't do 20C I'm afraid. Good luck with the rest
TwigtheWonderkid said:
Central London, Soho, or anywhere with a W1 postcode. Get rid of the cars, and walk, cycle and use public transport. The very best of everything you could want is on your doorstep.
It's a mistake to opt for the quiet life as you get older. You need noise, crowds, etc.
Wow, I thought this was a car forum for petrolheads.It's a mistake to opt for the quiet life as you get older. You need noise, crowds, etc.
I would rather be in Texas near the Fast and Loud scene, driving old V8 guzzlers on wide roads, where parts are cheap and plentiful and fuel prices are a fraction of UK. Get a large garage to house them on some cheap land. Not worry about grit on the roads.
leef44 said:
Wow, I thought this was a car forum for petrolheads.
I would rather be in Texas near the Fast and Loud scene, driving old V8 guzzlers on wide roads, where parts are cheap and plentiful and fuel prices are a fraction of UK. Get a large garage to house them on some cheap land. Not worry about grit on the roads.
given unlimited funds then yes this would be an idea - however US healthcare costs I would rather be in Texas near the Fast and Loud scene, driving old V8 guzzlers on wide roads, where parts are cheap and plentiful and fuel prices are a fraction of UK. Get a large garage to house them on some cheap land. Not worry about grit on the roads.
Sambucket said:
GetCarter said:
Empty roads 8 months of the year, zero car crime, nobody locks doors (homes or cars), stunning scenery, free healthcare, doctors appointments on the same day, proper clean air, friendly neighbours, no traffic jams, low cost housing, no tuition fees, free hospital car parking, excellent old age social care, virtually no violent crime...
... bugger: can't do 20C I'm afraid. Good luck with the rest
Just for some balance. Short days. Long journeys to hospitals or specialists. Midges. Holiday home pricing for anything with half a view. Resentment over priced out locals. Low quality childcare options. RSC never visits. ... bugger: can't do 20C I'm afraid. Good luck with the rest
RSC never visits though, so I'll give you that.
Still, I moved here from next to Stratford Upon Avon, so had my fill ;0
ETA: O/P Prepositions! I know, not technically incorrect (see; Star Trek) but perhaps try; 'to retire'
Edited by GetCarter on Tuesday 7th January 15:28
leef44 said:
Wow, I thought this was a car forum for petrolheads.
I would rather be in Texas near the Fast and Loud scene, driving old V8 guzzlers on wide roads, where parts are cheap and plentiful and fuel prices are a fraction of UK. Get a large garage to house them on some cheap land. Not worry about grit on the roads.
This is for retirement...just don’t get poor or sick....I would rather be in Texas near the Fast and Loud scene, driving old V8 guzzlers on wide roads, where parts are cheap and plentiful and fuel prices are a fraction of UK. Get a large garage to house them on some cheap land. Not worry about grit on the roads.
eldar said:
leef44 said:
Wow, I thought this was a car forum for petrolheads.
I would rather be in Texas near the Fast and Loud scene, driving old V8 guzzlers on wide roads, where parts are cheap and plentiful and fuel prices are a fraction of UK. Get a large garage to house them on some cheap land. Not worry about grit on the roads.
This is for retirement...just don’t get poor or sick....I would rather be in Texas near the Fast and Loud scene, driving old V8 guzzlers on wide roads, where parts are cheap and plentiful and fuel prices are a fraction of UK. Get a large garage to house them on some cheap land. Not worry about grit on the roads.
Up to the age of 63 I'd never been in a hospital. In the seven years since then I've been in and out of four with cancer and heart problems. Though those are largely dealt with I also have arthritis which is slowing me down and making day to day living more difficult. You'd be wise to consider these things.
eldar said:
leef44 said:
Wow, I thought this was a car forum for petrolheads.
I would rather be in Texas near the Fast and Loud scene, driving old V8 guzzlers on wide roads, where parts are cheap and plentiful and fuel prices are a fraction of UK. Get a large garage to house them on some cheap land. Not worry about grit on the roads.
This is for retirement...just don’t get poor or sick....I would rather be in Texas near the Fast and Loud scene, driving old V8 guzzlers on wide roads, where parts are cheap and plentiful and fuel prices are a fraction of UK. Get a large garage to house them on some cheap land. Not worry about grit on the roads.
GetCarter said:
Empty roads 8 months of the year, zero car crime, nobody locks doors (homes or cars), stunning scenery, free healthcare, doctors appointments on the same day, proper clean air, friendly neighbours, no traffic jams, low cost housing, no tuition fees, free hospital car parking, excellent old age social care, virtually no violent crime...
... bugger: can't do 20C I'm afraid. Good luck with the rest
Agreed, there is no better place on earth IMO, fair enough the weather has it's moments but i was out on Loch Lomond on new years day with a dry suit and had an amazing day! I love every minute being up there.... bugger: can't do 20C I'm afraid. Good luck with the rest
I've now got a lodge overlooking the water there and would quite happily retire there, so much so i've started staying up there a lot more and putting up with the longer commute to work. i've got another place up at the very top of Scotland that needs some work as well but plenty time til i retire
leef44 said:
eldar said:
leef44 said:
Wow, I thought this was a car forum for petrolheads.
I would rather be in Texas near the Fast and Loud scene, driving old V8 guzzlers on wide roads, where parts are cheap and plentiful and fuel prices are a fraction of UK. Get a large garage to house them on some cheap land. Not worry about grit on the roads.
This is for retirement...just don’t get poor or sick....I would rather be in Texas near the Fast and Loud scene, driving old V8 guzzlers on wide roads, where parts are cheap and plentiful and fuel prices are a fraction of UK. Get a large garage to house them on some cheap land. Not worry about grit on the roads.
Rural Britain so where I'm at now pretty much. A relative lives in southern France and it's so dead in comparison I couldn't take it. It's like all the people have been hoovered up from space.
The older I get the more restless I am. I want to be able to nip to more places at less notice than ever. We're lucky to have such massive variety such a short distance away. Being marooned in some holiday outpost would drive me batty.
I also like winters more and more as I get older whereas for most it seems to be the opposite.
The older I get the more restless I am. I want to be able to nip to more places at less notice than ever. We're lucky to have such massive variety such a short distance away. Being marooned in some holiday outpost would drive me batty.
I also like winters more and more as I get older whereas for most it seems to be the opposite.
PistonBroker said:
AAGR said:
My solution was to buy an excellent family home here nearly 40 years ago, and I'm still in it, surrounded by all the good things of my (long) life.
Highly recommended - but, caution, you have to make the right decisions in your forties !.
I made the right decision at 33 - the only detached place we could find in decent school catchment was a bungalow. Almost 9 years on, we may as well stay in it now! Highly recommended - but, caution, you have to make the right decisions in your forties !.
GP surgery is a 5 minute walk. There's a little Tesco and a Pharmacy there too. The Hospital is 10 minutes walk away. We can be on a beach within 30 mins. Less than an hour if we want it to be a decent one.
Sorted!
We've been in our current house for 13 years now and cleared the mortgage a while back.
The only way I'll be leaving is either a massive lottery win or being carried out in a box. Love the area and everything 'essential' is close by so have no desire to move on.
Living in a large city center when you're old and retired sounds like hell on earth to me. No garden, can't drive, can't go anywhere without packing yourself into a sardine tin full of sweaty people, constant noise and choking smog, crime, nothing pleasant to do without travelling hours out of the city. Maybe it makes sense for a few years when young to make your fortune but otherwise no thanks.
I'd find it hard to beat where I am already at 30 (Christchurch, Dorset). It's pretty much ideal for almost every leisure activity, is relatively well protected from the relentless quest to destroy all remaining natural green space by the sea to the south, the new forest national park to the northwest and a river floodplain heading up to the north. It also has decent transport links and all the urban stuff you could ever need nearby.
I'd find it hard to beat where I am already at 30 (Christchurch, Dorset). It's pretty much ideal for almost every leisure activity, is relatively well protected from the relentless quest to destroy all remaining natural green space by the sea to the south, the new forest national park to the northwest and a river floodplain heading up to the north. It also has decent transport links and all the urban stuff you could ever need nearby.
As my parents where going to France & after the utter farce of legal system I wouldn't move there. Don't get me wrong I utterly loved the place, people are wonderful, location perfect, house fantastic and I didn't wish to sell the house but until I retire I couldn't justify the cost.
IF it where me in a few years Germany. I love the place & everything about it.
IF it where me in a few years Germany. I love the place & everything about it.
Yacht Broker said:
bought a house in Madeira last year and will be spending the winters down there (leaving in a couple of weeks).
downsides:-
small island mentality (my wife comes from there, so i am qualified on that subject!)
cars are stupidly expensive (although this is set to change)
3.5hrs flight back to uk or europe to connect through to other destinations
You left off windy, expensive, and the whole place is now a shrine to bloody Christiano Ronaldo.downsides:-
small island mentality (my wife comes from there, so i am qualified on that subject!)
cars are stupidly expensive (although this is set to change)
3.5hrs flight back to uk or europe to connect through to other destinations
languagetimothy said:
I recently moved to Portugal. Ive had an apartment here for years so a home was already here.
I'm 56 but retired five years ago. With a couple of small pensions that are more than enough to cover all my outgoings (utilities, food etc.,) with quite a bit left over. Could survive on them alone easily.
My London house was sold giving me a good wedge to invest. Of course behing PH I bought new car, Ibiza FR Sport. Food is cheaper as is the vino (I for found a particularly good one that's Eur 6 for five litres!) some places with happy hour I'm paying 80c for a pint of Sagres.
It's a bit chilly here today but sunny. Around Christmas I could be found having a beer in the sun wearing a T-shirt.
Getting to the uk back if needed is easy as is elsewhere in Europe.
Most of December was spent at the GFs place which is only about 20mins drive away on some very good twisties..
Aaaah
Can I just say well done to you mate, you seem to have pretty much nailed it there.I'm 56 but retired five years ago. With a couple of small pensions that are more than enough to cover all my outgoings (utilities, food etc.,) with quite a bit left over. Could survive on them alone easily.
My London house was sold giving me a good wedge to invest. Of course behing PH I bought new car, Ibiza FR Sport. Food is cheaper as is the vino (I for found a particularly good one that's Eur 6 for five litres!) some places with happy hour I'm paying 80c for a pint of Sagres.
It's a bit chilly here today but sunny. Around Christmas I could be found having a beer in the sun wearing a T-shirt.
Getting to the uk back if needed is easy as is elsewhere in Europe.
Most of December was spent at the GFs place which is only about 20mins drive away on some very good twisties..
Aaaah
I'm a similar age to you and could retire now but find I still enjoy my work too much, if I was forced I think I'd look at Cyprus.
I love British summers, not too hot, cold, wet or insect infested. Lovely light evenings. Perfect
Live in the middle of England since retiring 4 years ago, M6 20 minutes, M1 15, so in the middle of the motorway network. 2 airports within 35 minutes. Everything is near, but not too near.
Downside is winter, so bugger off somewhere warm two or three times a winter.
Works for me.
Live in the middle of England since retiring 4 years ago, M6 20 minutes, M1 15, so in the middle of the motorway network. 2 airports within 35 minutes. Everything is near, but not too near.
Downside is winter, so bugger off somewhere warm two or three times a winter.
Works for me.
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