Town or country for retirement?

So many different thoughts thank you all

We chose to live where we love to be - in the countryside, in a village, clean air, lovely walks, friendly community. We have been here for 20 years and have no regrets, though we do need a car for shops, theatre, concerts, doctor and other things. Every choice has pros and cons - and every person has their own likes and dislikes, so no one else can really say what will work for you. We knew the time might come when we needed to be nearer doctor and shops, but decided to live the way we wanted till then. Its impossible to say others should do what we did! You know what matters to you most.
I agree with Maddyone that it might not work to move somewhere where you know no one and have to start absolutely from scratch.Good luck anyway!

I'm nearly 60 and DH just 66. We live on a farm in the heart of the countryside, about 3 miles from an A road down 3 narrow lanes, each one getting progressively smaller. It's then quarter of a mile down an unmade drive. It's idyllic and I love it....whilst we can still drive and shift snow when it's necessary. We can have things delivered but it would be very isolating in a bad winter if we couldn't get out under our own steam as we are well away from a bus route. Sadly, we are considering a move in the not too distant future but before it becomes a necessity and we will be looking at a house with a garden within walking distance of a town centre with all the amenities necessary as we get older. DH has lived here 60 years and I've spent my entire married life here - 37 years- so it'll be a huge wrench but you have to be sensible & plan ahead.

Just trying to decide the same thing ! Currently living in rural France ..............no transport, doctor over subscribed, hospitals nearest 15km, larger one 36km, University specialist hospitals, 110km Very very good health service for all our (unfortunately !) ailments .....but just this morning had to take OH (no longer allowed to drive) over 70km round trip ....and a ten minute appointment ! Plus more than 15 minutes trying to park ! Been looking at retirement flats in the UK (Newcastle Upon Tyne, or Whitley Bay) (just spent time there .....was wonderf ul ! transport on the doorstep, two large hospitals, the coast, shopping ....and the flats I looked at were marvellous, quite quiet set back from the roads...busses and cheap taxis everywhere ....called in at a local doctor (not decided where to live exactly, yet, so could not register) who said no problem, even with all our ailments, to register with the practice (the health care is a very large part of our concern). Would NOT live in a rural area again ....have to drive everywhere, where we live there is no transport system, taxis are quite expensive (220 Euros to the airport) there is no one to do odd jobs whatever, and husband can no longer speak French (or much English) due to his Parkinson's .....problem is, there are very few retirement flats that can take him owing to the illness ..............problem !! Could buy a little bungalow, but would prefer to live in some kind of 'community' with services, etc (and of course enormous charges if we could afford it ...........one retirement block, with services, a cleaner etc cost, in charges £6,888 per year (plus council tax, bill,s insurance, etc etc) and any care needed was extra ...........plus of course they are all leasehold and reduce in value very quickly (not that we have anyone but the cat s home to benefit when we are both gone !!) So think long and hard .....we , neither of us (he was a widower of 68 i was divorcee aged 54 when we married) had NEVER had one day off either school or work with any illness whatever .................and thought that would always be the case ! sadly not ...OH is now 85 and I am 71 this year .....................

My parents moved in their mid-fifties from the outskirts of Derby to the idyllic middle of nowhere. They had few neighbours and had to drive five miles to a village shop, eight miles for a doctor or dentist or a supermarket. This was fine when they were fit and well but, as time went by, they began to need those everyday facilities nearer at hand but the idea of moving house also became more and more stressful.

So OP, a compromise would perhaps be a large village with a doctor and dentist, pharmacy, hairdressers, pub, cafe and a row of shops, with a town nearby. Sorted!

I'm trying to downsize at the moment but village life has never appealed to me, though I do like the seaside. I plan to move from an inner London suburb to an outer London one. I don't drive and am on my own so my key criteria is being near shops and transport. Moving further out will ensure the area is more leafy. The only issue with my favoured area is that the hospital is a long way by public transport.

Moving doesn't necessarily mean moving away from the area you live in. It may mean moving from one part of an area to another. As I posted above I currently live in a reasonably well serviced village, but we may move within the village to a house with a smaller garden, or, if we want to be closer to all amenities, we may move into one of the three local small towns, all within 4 miles of the village and where, we already have friends and use regularly for a variety of reasons.

In fact making the choice between country to town. We retired to the country over 20 years ago and still live there quite happily, but may move to town if we become disabled or infirm.

I know what you mean, moleswife. For us, it was returning to our roots and wider family. the place that suited our work was not where I ever felt I belonged!

We moved from south Greater London to being a mile away from two small coast towns in the SE. We were in the middle near a park and 1/2 mile from the cliff top. Well situated in a cul de sac, with handy bus stop when I can no longer drive. The last few years my husband enjoyed exploring on his mobility scooter, often saying, what a lovely place to live. Sadly he has recently passed away but I am staying put. Such a friendly area, a small shopping centre easily accessible by car or bus ( for retail therapy) I’ve got room for the grandchildren to stay and the family are happy to travel. We had often visited the area so I think that was why we were confident to make the move.

I love the countryside or the coast but sadly, there are practical matters to think about.
A town or city offers important facilities such as hospitals, doctors, shops, Post Office and importantly, better public transport to these on a much more regular basis, whereas if you're in the middle of nowhere you're really stuck if you become ill. Beautiful isolation comes at a price.

We live in a fairly big house in a village where the shops are seven miles away. There is barely any transport available. Although we love it and have been here thirty years we know that at some point we will have to move nearer to shops, trains etc. Just in our sixties with a house we love, we are going to play it by ear and see how healthy we are for how long. We do know though (after watching elderly neighbours struggle) that one day we will have to move. Neither of us really likes towns though and we know this is the best house we will ever have. A decision to be kicked down the road for a while! My mother has recently been bereaved and refuses to leave her home (understandable) but I don’t want to inconvenience my children by them having to travel to look after us.

Hm999, sounds good, where are you if I may ask?

It's good fun - we had a "Bambi" motor home. Top speed 55 mph - but why hurry? We went all over the place in it and then my son bought it off us when we moved abroad and he used it to go surfing. It then got sold again when he became a family man and needed the cash. Super fun and a lovely little vehicle

I am interested to know what sort of housing people of our age group would want. Having lived abroad a lot and seen some of the fabulous retirement villages that other countries have we have our own very definite ideas as to what we intend to hunt down - if it exists here. Small market town for us, low cost build with low running costs - preferably eco-housing. As for the family - well they have wheels and an attractive location with enough room to put them up will bring them to us, I imagine. What ideas do you folks have?

Town by the sea, all amenities, good rail/bus/motorway links, children/grandchildren all under 2 hours away

I am retired and my husband follows me soon. We have lived in the country for most of our married life and we are now considering moving to a town so we can get to places on the bus if necessary and have amenities close by. I sometimes watch 'Escape to the Country' on TV and I'm amazed that quite elderly people do not consider what it might be like living in the country when they are old and possibly unfit.

We live in a small agricultural town. Rural areas pay more for things...food, petrol. We have2 hospitals and one has closed down many facilities so we have to travel a good hour on poor roads. I love it in many ways but it's not all good. Being near a city has many advantages, more revenue and choices. So think carefully. Quad bikes, tractors working till late with other machines. Countryside can be noisy!!

We lived for thirty years in a small village on the coast and brought our children up there. We loved it. Two years ago we decided to move into the smallish town ten miles away which has the hospital, supermarkets, cinema etc etc and we love it here now. Choose carefully and I’m sure you’ll find a good compromise.

I am at a loss to know why people want to move away from the community and friends they have made over the years just because they retire! We usually retire because we have got older and with that comes a whole lot of other surprises - good and bad! Living in a place where you are known can be so reassuring when bereavement or ill health occur - and they can happen at any time! Living somewhere where you can still get around should you no longer be able to drive / where there are sufficient activites on offer from a wide range for both of you - not necessarily together and not organised or provided by the same people / and where you don't have to fit in and be the newbees!

We live in a town 12 miles from a city and spend a great deal of time in Wales, 2 or 3 times a week. We thought about moving as we have made friends there but it’s the facilities. Health centre just open 5 hours a week and limited shops. Decided in the end to stay where we are with the smashing facilities that our towns offers. A 1
10 min walk to a variety of local shops and coffe places. A library and sports centre on our doorstop and a bus stop across the road. We are going to stay and stop thinking the grass is greener somewhere else.

Sorry about my previous incomplete post - my only regret about Oxford is that it's not by the sea!! Thinks Barcelona...

It may be a good idea to live among the bricks for pied a terre , and also to buy a small motorhome with a toilet , a stock of clean warm clothing, perhaps a shower, small cooker, and nice beds to lie down on. There are a few good parking spots in the country.

Good to be talking about this now! Really depends on what you like to spend time doing. I think if you can organise it, then renting to try out an area before buying can be a very good idea.

We have friends who have chosen lovely city centre apartments, near theatre, galleries etc. as that's how they like spend their time. Nightmare as far as I am concerned! We can walk as far as we like in the countryside from our front door. We have what we think of as great amateur entertainment and 2 small local festivals that bring in very good acts. All very affordable.
Bus service has been badly cut, so when we can no longer drive, taxis will have to be factored in for hospital visits & bigger shops. Excellent independent shops are about a mile , so fine for now.
But I have spent my life in villages and couldn't cope with city centres.

Don't forget the era of practical, affordable car ownership is drawing to a close, and make your plans accordingly if you plan to survive for more than a few years.

Country every time - I feel quite ill if I cannot be surrounded by green spaces - I really do not feel myself at all and visit the local town as seldom as possible. I went last week and could not stand the traffic noise and the b*** music blasting out in every shop. I scuttled home as fast as my wheels could carry me!

Where we are at present has a paddock behind (not mine!) and a wood and fabulous views of hills into the distance, and wonderful sunsets from the large windows - but it really feels quite suburban to me as there are houses at the front of the house, over the road.

We moved from being absolutely in the depths of the country for practical health reasons - if you heard a car in the lane, you got up to see who it was; and the loudest noise was the cows farting! I loved it and felt so at home.

But I have had two collapses since being in the new home and was very happy that the ambulance station was just 10 minutes away!!!