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Are you local? Do you still live where you grew up?

(157 Posts)
Indigo8 Thu 10-Oct-24 10:09:09

I have just counted up and I have lived in eight different areas since I was born. All, except one, in the south of England.

I recently chatted to a woman in her 70s who has always lived within a mile or so from where she was born and was very proud of the fact.

I know some of you may have grown up in a different country from where you are now.

Fleurpepper Fri 11-Oct-24 12:41:56

40 years in the UK, 2 in SW London, 3.5 in Newcastle-u-Lyme and the rest in Leicestershire. We lived in our last house there for 33 years- loved that place. It is now a Children's nursery, where they grow fruit and veg. A very happy family home, and now a very happy place for those children.

Paperlady999 Fri 11-Oct-24 12:40:23

I grew up in Perth until joining the WRAF at 17, travelling on postings to Lincolnshire, Herefordshire, London, Gibraltar, then married and lived in Middlesex, then home to my native Perth for a few years. Divorced and remarried, and my 2nd husband was in the Army so off we went again - to Wiltshire. He had postings in London and Blyth in Northumberland, but our house and my job were in Wiltshire so I remained there until our house sold. After his 22 years of service ended, our careers took us to the Darlington area until retirement. I worked in Bishop Auckland, Middlesbrough, Sunderland, Hartlepool, Washington, Leeds, Newcastle and Darlington.

We returned to Perthshire in 2013 and live in a village with a really good community.

Hellsbelles Fri 11-Oct-24 12:37:35

I have lived about 150 miles away from where I was born , and now for past 15 years approx 300 miles.

catd Fri 11-Oct-24 12:29:40

I was born and bred in SE London. Went to Australia as a ten pound pom. DH's job took us to Paris, Switzerland
an Holland. Arrived back in the UK after 20 years and lived in West Sussex more for child needs than my own. When they flew the nest we retired, downsized and are now back in London. Does that make me a local!smile

Etoile2701 Fri 11-Oct-24 12:22:06

I was born in North London and lived there until I was 12 when we moved to Surrey. I have lived in the same town in Surrey ever since but in 9 different houses.

Spec1alk Fri 11-Oct-24 12:18:54

I was born in Preston. Lived in Eccleston lance till I was 18 then moved to Chester. After marriage I moved into North Wales and have lived there for 54 years- in 3 different homes all within a 10 Mile radius!

SiobhanSharpe Fri 11-Oct-24 12:11:30

Grew up in a Middle Eastern country, where my Dad worked on the oil rigs, from six weeks old to 18 years. ( at boarding school in the UK 11-17 but still going ‘home’ for hols.) Uni in northwest England followed by London flatshares till I got married and moved to Twickenham, then North Essex and now Cambridge. Great city.

lizzypopbottle Fri 11-Oct-24 11:47:41

Born in Liverpool, then
London (Dad apprenticed at the railway engineering works in Wembley)
Bury
Romiley
Sutton Coldfield
Back to Liverpool
Cardiff (University)
Derby (got married)
St Helens
Morpeth
Whaley Bridge
Back to Morpeth

Indigo8 Fri 11-Oct-24 11:45:56

Grandma70s

I don ‘t understand why people are proud of living at or near where they were born. I think it is good to get around and experience new places. When my sons were applying to university, I would not allow them to apply to the local one, as I thought going away from home was part of growing up.

I live about 30 miles from where I was born. Not my choice, but circumstances led me here..

I have a slight envy for people who 'stay put' as I found that moving frequently can make you feel rootless and the question "Where are you from?" difficult to answer.

Personally, I feel fate had more to do with my moves rather than rational, conscious decisions. I am sure some of you would agree.

I often of think of Edward and Tubbs from 'The League of Gentlemen" when I encounter the word local as this encapsulates the attitude of some, by no means all, 'stay puts'.

Grandma70s Fri 11-Oct-24 11:40:49

MissInterpreted

Grandma70s

I don ‘t understand why people are proud of living at or near where they were born. I think it is good to get around and experience new places. When my sons were applying to university, I would not allow them to apply to the local one, as I thought going away from home was part of growing up.

I live about 30 miles from where I was born. Not my choice, but circumstances led me here..

I wouldn't say I was 'proud' that I still live where I was born, it's just how my particular circumstances have worked out. I do think it's nice that several generations of my family have lived in this house though. As for not 'allowing' your children to apply to the local university, well, both of mine were 'allowed' to make up their own minds what they wanted to do by the time they reached that age!

Perhaps it would have been more accurate to say I strongly discouraged them! You're right, it is not a matter of ‘allowing’ at that age.

Redcar Fri 11-Oct-24 11:38:47

Born in South East London, moved to Essex aged 21, stayed in Essex a couple of years, married, moved back to a different part of S E London, back to Essex, now mid Essex and have been here 42 years. Not considered to be a “villager” by those who were born here! Most people here aren’t “villagers”! Still consider myself a London girl!

Moggycuddler Fri 11-Oct-24 11:37:23

Moved away when I was 16 and lived in another part of the country away from home for several years. Then moved back to my home town when I was 22, got married etc. Moved house a couple of times within the town, and now have lived for 30 odd years just a couple of streets away from the house I was born in. I'm pretty sure I will die here.

MissInterpreted Fri 11-Oct-24 11:35:59

Grandma70s

I don ‘t understand why people are proud of living at or near where they were born. I think it is good to get around and experience new places. When my sons were applying to university, I would not allow them to apply to the local one, as I thought going away from home was part of growing up.

I live about 30 miles from where I was born. Not my choice, but circumstances led me here..

I wouldn't say I was 'proud' that I still live where I was born, it's just how my particular circumstances have worked out. I do think it's nice that several generations of my family have lived in this house though. As for not 'allowing' your children to apply to the local university, well, both of mine were 'allowed' to make up their own minds what they wanted to do by the time they reached that age!

essjay Fri 11-Oct-24 11:32:56

i've lived on the Wirral all my life, from one end to the other and have lived the longest in my present home - 22 years.

PuffernutterUK Fri 11-Oct-24 11:32:26

Born in Burton on Trent, parents moved to Peterborough, then Wellingborough, I left home at 18 and went to University at Bath. living in Chippenham, Bath and Radstock, got married, moved to Leagrave, then Wellingborough, then Nuneaton, then Westhoughton (just south of Bolton), Arlesey (Bedfordshire), Ivybridge (near Plymouth) and been in Trowbridge for the past 25 years!

Cossy Fri 11-Oct-24 11:30:25

Grandma70s

I don ‘t understand why people are proud of living at or near where they were born. I think it is good to get around and experience new places. When my sons were applying to university, I would not allow them to apply to the local one, as I thought going away from home was part of growing up.

I live about 30 miles from where I was born. Not my choice, but circumstances led me here..

Each to their own.

flowers

Grandma70s Fri 11-Oct-24 11:11:05

I don ‘t understand why people are proud of living at or near where they were born. I think it is good to get around and experience new places. When my sons were applying to university, I would not allow them to apply to the local one, as I thought going away from home was part of growing up.

I live about 30 miles from where I was born. Not my choice, but circumstances led me here..

Grandma70s Fri 11-Oct-24 11:01:36

I spent quite a lot of time in Maldon when I was doing research at Beeleigh Abbey. It was owned then by William Foyle, of Foyle’s bookshop. He was a nice old man. I never actually lived in Maldon, though.

MaizieD Fri 11-Oct-24 10:38:46

petra

Only those who know Maldon in Essex. My dear friend was a barge skipper and kept the barges going.
He considered anyone who lived up the town a furriner.

That made me chuckle.

Maldon is one of the Essex places I miss. But may be it's the Maldon of 40+ years ago rather than now.

flappergirl Fri 11-Oct-24 10:24:14

I can't count the number of moves I've made including one to Italy, one to Wales and another to France. But I've always gravitated back to my home city of Bristol and now, in my late sixties, I guess I'm here to stay.

luluaugust Fri 11-Oct-24 08:40:10

I grew up In NW London the fourth generation of my family to do so. When I married we moved to NW Kent and have been in the area for 54 years now. Unlikely to go anywhere else as 2 out of 3 DC are nearby.

BlueBelle Fri 11-Oct-24 07:40:04

I ve lived in 6 different towns including two overseas but ended up back where I started and that ll do for me been here about 40 years now no intention of moving

Grammaretto Fri 11-Oct-24 07:23:00

I have lived in a small town south of Edinburgh for the past 44 years but I'm still an "incomer". 🙄

I was born in central London, my DF was a New Zealander so we moved there when I was a baby. After he died in an accident my mum brought us to London where I mostly lived, apart from 2 years in Birmingham and boarding school in York, colleges in Norwich and Kent until I met and married my Scottish DH.
For 5 years we lived in the same street as his DGM in Edinburgh.

With 3 DC we moved to the "countryside" and in some ways it's the best of of all worlds but i was always aware that others had family close by and went to the same school as their parents where their DC and even DGC still are.

The groups I'm in, and some I have helped to start, are a good mix of new and old including a weekly Open House where all are welcome to have a cup of coffee and a bowl of soup, chat and find out what's going on in the town. This has continued for 20 years now and is really appreciated. I think I will probably stay here now.

Bonnybanko Fri 11-Oct-24 06:51:09

I’ve lived in the same area all my life, in fact I was born in the house where I live now and I’m proud of it .

absent Fri 11-Oct-24 04:03:31

grew up IN London. You would think that as a former editor, I would proof read.