Anyone here done the 'bungalow by the sea' thing or any other retirement moving plan once the shackles of employment are gone? Or have you done it before you stop work?
My nan was saying to me that at 76, she would still consider moving to live by the sea if she had the opportunity despite the work involved. Her dream is to have an apartment overlooking Looe harbour, where she went for her honeymoon in the 40's.
Im not sure she will ever get there as she is reliant on the rest of the family, but my wife and I have a desire to up sticks and move down the south west when we retire, downsizing on the way to something manageable on a pension.
Is the modern day equiv the moving to Spain/France nowadays? That being said, I read thats not as trouble free as many hoped.
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My aunt and uncle built a villa in Bulgaria for this purpose and they live there Apr to Oct.
When camping in South of France last year, met a retired couple who were self employed static caravan repairers. You know the sort of thing, from electrics to drawers not working, they had contracts with all the big sites in the area. They lived in their own static for the season and the money they earned, they used to travel the world off season.
Meanwhile they are renting out their house back in GB.
They sounded very happy, and well sorted!
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I guess there are two stages;
1. get out there and enjoy it.
2. ooh, me knees have gone.
So two moves needed or else make sure you're near shops, Post Office, doctor's surgery and bus stop, the first time.
JH
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My advice would be:
Don't move for at least six months, to ensure you have adjusted to the whole retirement thing.
Do research everything thoroughly, especially every aspect of your finances, and the practicalities of your chosen destination.
The latter should include: how will you keep in touch with your family and friends? Health issues, present and likely/possible future ones? Need for access to healthcare? What will you do with your time?
In all of this, remember your physical powers are declining, though you may experience an "Indian summer"; you will not be able to walk a mile for ever; you may not be able to drive sooner than you expect; you may become heavily dependent on others.
In dealing with the above, extra money may well be required - ensure this is factored in.
I am not saying you should not be ambitious, but a healthy dose of common-sense is called for.
Remember too, that the place that looked idyllic last summer won't be the same in December.
Perhaps the best advice I have seen on this is to rent somewhere for twelve months in your intended location.
Retirement is supposed to be fun - make sure you are in a position to enjoy it!
P.S. I've been retired for over ten years (mind you, that was early, for a medical reason - fortunately, nothing that affects my general health). I haven't moved, though at one point I nearly did (but was afterwards glad I backed out), and I may yet do so.
Last edited by: ChrisPeugeot on Fri 11 Jun 10 at 17:08
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The coast can be fearsomely cold and windy in the winter months!
C'mon Perro, where's your twopennworth?
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Have you checked the house prices "by the sea"?
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Umm, yeah actually. Much cheaper than London and about on a par with Northants on a like for like basis give or take a few quid. I can get a house similar to mine for about £5-10k more in Devon in a nice setting. I know, we looked when we were down there last year.
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On right move they look very similar prices to the ones round my way. Expensive.
For example, 3 bed detached bungalows in devon are around 350k
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Thats just south Manchester prices really. Standard in most parts of the UK really put the south west is a fairly poor area. Houses prices are high there because of the wealthy people that choose to retire there.
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It sounds crazy but I retired at 39, but there is a story of course ...
My dad dropped dead at my feet at 54 years young when I was 9,
My wife's mum died of a brain tumour at just 45,
So that made us think of 'the now' rather than concern ourselves with the future which for some, does not happen.
Ah! ... A 'plaice' by the sea, been there, moved from London to Hastings in 87 to set up my mobile tuning business,
first thing I noticed was how awful the weather was in winter (stormy) compared to London
(don't mention the 87 hurricane)
Coastal areas are dead in the winter and quite often stormy, but that's all part of the joy of course :)
Escape to the sun? well, we tried that as well back in the 90's for a few years (Tenerife)
got fed up with all the blue sky and sun, when there was a bad storm there one week, I actually enjoyed it,
so back we come to blighty and to Cornwall.
Bought the place in the country jobbie with 2 acres, a ride on mower, a Honda 500 CX Custom and had some fun,
got fed up with that lot so sold up and moved to a south Cornish coastal village ...
God's waiting room, sold up within a year!
tried another 'plaice' next to the Eden project, set on its own with large garden, that lasted 2 years,
so here we are back (sort of) where we started ~ in a City (Truro)
Very nice (for a City) although with a population of just 19,000 its hardly a City, but as others have said - you can get a pint of milk or a pint of beer etc. without having to use the car,
When I say I, its not that I'm selfish, its just that I have always been the driving force in our relationship, if it wasn't for me we'd still be in a council flat in South London, anyway - I am looking to sell up again next Spring for a new adventure, who knows, we might even end up in Romania :)
Yes, well - I can hear those saying I retired too early but, I know millionaires who didn't retire early enough,
they've got their wealth,
but lost their health.
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>> Thats just south Manchester prices really. Standard in most parts of the UK really put
>> the south west is a fairly poor area. Houses prices are high there because of
>> the wealthy people that choose to retire there.
>>
Far from Wealthy and can never retire (Fiscal). Just canny. How's Mank?
M
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For a lot I think the word retire isn't that accurate. Even for Dog? It's more quitting the main career and doing something else. We may do something similar but I'd not consider it retiring. I'm too young for that. It's getting away from what is bad about the UK, and probably the UK period. But I'd do something even if it was volunteering.
If we ended up on say a Greek island then I'd consider doing some computer work. I'll have to think of an Internet based business maybe too. So not retiring but quitting what I do now. But before I do that I'll carry on and save the mortgage payments for a few years to build up a fund.
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Having assessed my financial situation, I see that I am now qualified to take part in the Government WTYD* scheme for potential retirees.
* "Work Till You Drop".
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>> Having assessed my financial situation, I see that I am now qualified to take part
>> in the Government WTYD* scheme for potential retirees.
>>
>>
>> * "Work Till You Drop".
Excelent, we need more WTYD's to keep us *TOGL's in the life to which we have become accustomed.
* Those On Gardening Leave.
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>>For a lot I think the word retire isn't that accurate<<
That's an affirmative comrade Rob, I'm 58 (in Sept.) but still fly out of bed at 5-55am every morning,
My wife has a 'little' job that brings in a few Shekels whilst I have improved/updated the various properties we've owned (inc. Tenerife) and made money when we've sold up.
TBH, the worst thing anyone can do is to retire (even if you've got the wonga)
Most of the people I met in Tenerife moved there to retire but soon turned their hands to work again,
bit different though - to be doing what you want to do, and doing it in the Sunshine :)
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>> bit different though - to be doing what you want to do, and doing it in the Sunshine :)
That's our plan.
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The thing about living 'abroad' is that you're a foreigner, even living here in Cornwall I'm an 'incomer'
Plus there is all your friends and family 'back home' and y'all often think of old blighty,
We used to come 'home' once a year, when the sun was shining, the longest we stayed in Tenerife was from October until August one year ~ too long!
The ideal (for me) would be a place in Sub Tropical Tenerife, and a Cottage in Cornwall (dream on!)
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"The thing about living 'abroad' is that you're a foreigner"
That's true, but you also get that feeling when you leave the house in the morning that you're somehow on holiday. All the time.
Four weeks a year in the UK is enough for me
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>>Four weeks a year in the UK is enough for me<<
One thing I shall never forget about Poland BadDave, apart from drinking Danziger Goldwasser in the Casino in Sopot (and the wild, wild women) is the complete lack of wind further south of the country,
I suppose being an Island race we are used to the wind Britain - especially in the West!
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Sopot is wonderful. Gdansk and Gdnia are my favourite places. Most people know about the harsh winters but they always seem surprised when I tell them about the long, scorching hot summers. I'm sitting in my boxers at the mo, trying to keep cool.
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>> I'm sitting in my boxers at the mo, trying to keep cool.
that reminds me, I have the latest Stephen King horror novel to read.
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"that reminds me, I have the latest Stephen King horror novel to read"
Ah yes, the one with the handsome but evil man who twonks women to death?
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>>Sopot is wonderful. Gdansk and Gdnia are my favourite places<<
I also stayed in Szczecin, Poznan and Lodz BadDave before crossing into (the then) Czechoslovakia,
I knew these towns by their German names (Stettin, Posen) as I was with a Frau at the time.
I also remember the amazing countryside whilst driving a Mercedes 230CE - forest followed by lakes followed by forest followed by lakes etc., etc., etc.
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>> Four weeks a year in the UK is enough for me
thats about three weeks too long for us.
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"thats about three weeks too long for us."
I should clarify, one week to visit family and a three-week bender in London.
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We've been in Spain for just over nine years now as OAPs. We have some good friends, but you must realise that social care in many countries, particularly the Mediterranean ones, is down to one's family. If you have no family here, the outlook as one ages is not rosy.
If/when we can sell our home here, we will be happy to be back in Britain, if only to be able to deal with health care problems in our own language, although I have to say that the care we have both received in the Hospital Costa del Sol in Marbella (Andalucian Health Service, NOT private), could not be bettered anywhere. Other parts of Spain are definitely not so good.
It will be nice to walk the streets , visit supermarkets and hear English spoken as the norm (yes- I know that automatically debars quite a few places in "multicultural" Britain).
Basically, as far as Spain is concerned we WILL miss the weather; we won't miss the stultifying bureaucracy and the almost complete lack of customer service, particularly from utility companies.
Been there, done that, got the tee shirt
(P.S. nice flat for sale!)
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>>(P.S. nice flat for sale!)<<
This is the complex we lived in landsker ~ tinyurl.com/34h45le, although we only had a broom cupboard,
£200 for a one bedder - got to be having a larf, surely :)
I'm waiting (and watching) the £/€, although I see prices in mainland Espana are dropping of late.
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@Dog - Wow that's expensive, even for Tenerife. Must have been at the height of the property boom, though.
We have had a good number of viewings for our place ( goo.gl/xFrn ), but no bites yet.
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>> @Dog - Wow that's expensive <<
And some! I've known that particular estate agent for nearly 20 years now and I orften 'look in' to see what's cooking,
I notice that many properties have been on the books for over a year now due to the economic woes in Europe.
Property has been overpriced in Western Europe and still is to a great extent and it will be 'interesting' to see what the next 12 months brings forth :(
I have seen your property before landsker and will have another butchers at it.
Good luck!
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>>We have had a good number of viewings for our place ( goo.gl/xFrn ), but no bites yet. <<
Very nice landsker & great value @ £123k for a 2 bedder, lets hope the drop in the value of the €uro helps with the sale.
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Why thank you, kind sir - it owes us around 225,000€ with what we paid for it (five years ago)+ taxes + air-con + new kitchen + security grilles + electrically powered sun-blind, but excluding furniture, which we are including.
We'll take a big hit, but if we have enough for a modest place in the UK, that'll do us.
There ARE places in the East Midlands, for instance, where a decent semi can be had for circa £100K.
If we can't get what we want for it, we will see out our time here!
Last edited by: landsker on Thu 17 Jun 10 at 12:49
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>>If we can't get what we want for it, we will see out our time here!<<
I believe you are returning to blighty for health reasons, which is a shame but you're both in the ideal climate really, plus all those manzanas, naranjas, uvas y plátanos,
The weather is absolutely glorious here of late ... but it won't last :)
I don't think it will be so bad if you have to 'see out your time' there amigo,
I know folk that have returned to the UK and if the weather don't get ya, the NHS will!
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>> Im not sure she will ever get there as she is reliant on the rest
>> of the family, but my wife and I have a desire to up sticks and
>> move down the south west when we retire, downsizing on the way to something
Your name suggests you are 29 years old.
At what age were you thinking? Or do you do just like to make your plans well in advance? :-)
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>>Your name suggests you are 29 years old.
At what age were you thinking? Or do you do just like to make your plans well in advance? :-)<<
Im actually 30 now, grey hair and all. Eek. We plan to move either when our parents have died or when they have moved in with us ( if either looses a partner, this is likely on both sides ). This could be anywhere from 5-20 years. Its a dream, a goal.
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I retired at 35 and moved to my dream home in the country. I went back to work, largely by accident, at 46. I'm not planning either to move or retire again.
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I ain't not going nowhere now. I like the City of M. I like where we live with all it's shops, bars, delis and everything you need. The only thing we lack is a station...and that's on the way.
Me and 'er often talk about the ideal place to live. I our case it would be one of the smaller rural towns around here. Holmes Chapel looks good, 3 pubs, Church, Station, Schools and a small but adequate range of shops. We're not religious but I think a church is a good means of meeting townsfolk and getting involved in events. The station puts you 30 mins from the city centre.
No major problems in the town and close to the M6 for your own access and your visitors.
The kids and grandkids are all round here, though, so we need to be close for childminding/school pickup/ etc at present.
Ted
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At some stage in the next three years we will downsize to the outskirts of Chichester.
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>> At some stage in the next three years we will downsize to the outskirts of
>> Chichester.
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Oh well thats one location crossed off my list!
;)
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yes = keep away. If I wanted you there I would have invited you.
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Agreed, PMH....I hope there's a good by-pass !
Ted
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Stunorthants- are you wishing your life away? Last life-changing post I recall was the thought that your wife would be having a child. Now you're talking about moving after retirement...
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I escaped from the world of work nearly ten years ago (aged 50) and we've been here (SW/central France) for eight years.
I wouldn't now put myself on the line by offering life-changing advice to anyone. All I would say is, get out of the rat-race but make sure you have something that keeps your brain in gear.
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>>but make sure you have something that keeps your brain in gear<<
Manual or Automatic?
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Several scattergun thoughts....
We took a retired relative out of their community a few years back to do what all agreed was the best for their care. Soon became clear moving them 100mls to a place where there was not one familiar thing or person was a step too far. Also taking them from their familiar support network meant self and wife became their only support and this was very hard on us and our children.
Our holiday in half-term just gone was to a great small seaside town where wealthy (mostly) folks seem to go to holiday in second homes and also live out their retirement.
Chatted to several of the older residents (all had moved there to retire, none local) who said it wasn't all they'd expected. They said outside the main holiday periods half the houses were empty so there was no community to call on and when the houses were occupied it was with a different set of tenants every week. Also because the town was biased towards holidays lots of things were expensive and the shop types were skewed towards the holiday market and little use for day to day living. Finally they expressed doubts about living in an aging community as they missed seeing young folks about.
In our own village the rural life and cheaper house prices has drawn several couples to retire from north London/Herts area. I know some who have found it very lonely being away from previous friends and all the places that were familiar to them.
It all needs lots of thought.
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>>It all needs lots of thought.<<
Good post Fenlander!
I have a Brother 16 years older than me & he is losing his marbles quite rapidly + he is suffering from Colitus due to givng up smoking after 55 years (don't ask)
His only child Daughter is moving from Maidstone to the Kent coast and taking him with them, and I can clearly forsee the outcome.
He has lived & worked in Maidstone for some 45 years and all his friends live in that area!
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>>Stunorthants- are you wishing your life away? Last life-changing post I recall was the thought that your wife would be having a child. Now you're talking about moving after retirement...<<
Not at all, but life is a journey and while I like the odd detour ( and ive had a few already ), I know where I want to end up. Child is still on the cards, spring next year hopefully.
Im a forward planner, the influence of my father who is the same.
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Planning?
I had one plan, made at 16, to retire at 56.
I was 9 months early on that. Not bad over 40 years.
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I have no plan.
Therefore, nothing can go wrong... :)
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I was two months late on my target of 50......
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I never had a plan. I will never 'retire'.
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it depends what your definition of "retirement" is.
Mine is "freedom from the pressure and drudgery of forced work"
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I never visualised retiring, either. I enjoyed my work and the people I worked with very much. I really believed I would be the last person in the newspaper trade to be still there after more than 50 years (started when I was 15).
Then disappointment and disillusion with the rest of the human race set in...
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>>Then disappointment and disillusion with the rest of the human race set in<<
I 'suffer' with that comrade, but then its hardly unfounded ...
I watched a program on the idiots lantern last night about Peckham, London, S.E.15.
I used to regularly walk the streets of sed inner London suburb as a youth,
I was quite shocked to see the change in the last 30 years.
No wonder peeps move abroad!
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" Mine is "freedom from the pressure and drudgery of forced work" "
In that case I retired in 1997 when I went self employed. I love what I do know, I can't see me ever wanting to stop. Some guys love playing their playstations and I have the same enthusiasm for my work.
My pension plan is to buy somewhere cheap abroad (which I've done). I pay into a pension plan in Poland and England although they'll probably be chicken poop in value. I'll let out my UK pad to supplement it plus probably some inherited wealth by then, so hopefully mortgage free all round.
It all depends how long I live I suppose.
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Moving on retirement - BobbyG
