Retiring by the sea

Yes. We retired to a seaside village 6 years ago. Don't forget that if somewhere is a rural idyll by the sea, hordes of tourists also want to visit it as well. This means that for six months or more of the year you are indundated with noisy visitors and, much worse, their multiple dogs. Think very carefully!

It was always my dream too, to live by the seaside. Last year, following a visit to Kent, we decided to go ahead while we were still young enough to make the change. We put our house on the market, "sold" it several times over for more than the asking price but just couldn't find anything for a similar cost that we liked as much as our own house so we had to pull out. We decided there was no point in buying something that we were not happy with just because we had a buyer for ours.

Anyway, as it has panned out, whilst I still hanker after the seaside, I am glad we didn't actually go. I have 2 grown up children and 5 grandchildren, living locally. They were all so relieved that we didn't go even though the thought of "free" hols by the sea appealed to them, obviously. I look after two of the babies at the moment, one day a week, and the idea was that I would travel back by train once a week, stay overnight then go home and enjoy my seaside life. As it happened, I had a pretty poor winter, healthwise, and would have had to let them down and therefore probably not get to see the children as often as I would have wished to. The thought of travelling through London to Hertfordshire each week lost its appeal in the bad weather etc. Reality kicked in and I realised how much I would miss having the children/grandchildren pop in randomly, the whole family thing really. With the best will in the world, the journey from Herts to Kent on the motorway would not be as easy as I initially thought so visits from the family would probably have been less frequent than I imagined.

Meanwhile, property prices here have increased greatly in the past year while they went down in the area we were going to move to so had we gone and had it not worked out, it would have been difficult to come back.

There is a lot to be considered and I'm glad I have given myself time to think but who knows what may happen when the children are a bit older.

I have lived near the coast all my life, apart from the occasional walk, I never visit. Too many dog walkers that allow their pooches off the leash to pester everybody else. The salty air is damaging to paintwork and metal so property maintenance is more frequent. Don't get me started on the flaming seagulls.

We moved to Anglesey about a year ago after years of visiting. We now live in a bungalow with a great view of the sea (we can see the Isle of Man on a clear day). We walk the dog a couple of times a day and because we are away from the more touristy areas we really aren't troubled by crowds or traffic. There isn't a day that goes by without one of us commenting on how lucky we are. It was the best decision we ever made. Property is not expensive here, there is a bus service and 'town' is just a mile away if we are in the mood to walk in. Idyllic? You bet. We only live one life and we intend on enjoying this for as long as we can. The neighbours in the next house along are renting for a year while they decide if it is for them. So there are different ways of doing it. If it is your dream, I'd say only you can make it happen. Good luck with whatever you decide.

We have just moved to the Lincolnshire coast having looked for properties in Cornwall, Cumbria, Essex, Kent and along the south coast. I have to say that this must be the UKs best kept secret! It is a little village with the coast across the road, there are salt marshes, nature reserves, bird life in abundance and I am just about to take a walk along the sea with my next door neighbour. This area is soon lovely I cannot think why more people are not moving here. Yes it is a little remote and there is only one shop, but bus service to Grimsby and Louth available, house prices definitely reasonable and views to die for. So I would highly recommend it. No retired yet.

We used to holiday in the beautiful Lake District for years. Our plan was to retire there. However, we decided to get brave and move whilst we were still young (ish) My oh managed to get a job and I stopped working but volunteer. We moved here in 2009. As we live quite close to the Cumbria coast we can be on the Solway coast in 20 minutes or walking in the Lake district cells in 20 minutes also. We live about 15 miles from Keswick.

Yes it's a lovely idea to live by the sea when you retire,but you do need good transport links if you don't drive or if you decide to give up driving.My mum and dad loved Paignton in Devon and wanted to move there but they met an elderly gentleman who had retired with his wife down there and she had sadly died after a while he said he was very lonely so my parents decided not to go in the end. So it's something to think about.

We fancy retiring to the seaside when the kids finish their A-levels (yes we were late starters!). We live in a rural village in Wiltshire now, but oddly I think the required amenities are more available at a seaside town (we have a bus every other Tuesday into town from here

We fancy Swanage, as our ancestry research has shown it's my wife's roots. all we nee is some money, and bingo!

We live right on the promenade, our house, our front garden, promenade, beach!
I've always lived on the coast and wouldn't ever want to live anywhere else.
It can be a bit on the cold and breezy side in winter, but us coastal born folk are quite hardy types, we're used to it!
We look out over the Irish sea, so our view is glorious
DH complains that at times, the salt air doesn't do the car paintwork any good, but if he always used the garage that wouldn't be a problem
There is a slight drawback of visitors driving along the prom, parking, children playing on the beach, sometimes it can get a bit much, but we have the view and the beach all the time, so we're happy to share!
It's a small coastal town, so we have good shops and a railway station within easy walking distance.
Although we'd like a bungalow as my knees are 'shot' they're few and far between on the prom itself and we're loathe to give up our view and fresh air, so if we ever do move it will have to be somewhere within 1-2 miles of the coast! I think a stairlift may be the answer in years to come
There are areas of beautiful countryside inland, but I couldn't live away from the sea!

We moved to be near our DD and grandchildren and were quite happy there. After two years they decided to move to Spain so we were left wondering where we want ed to live. We found a lovely bungalow on the South West coast of Scotland and have now been here 8 years. The property is unbelievably cheap compared to other parts of the u.k. The beach is just across the road from us and I never tire of watching the tide. Yes, property maintainance has to be more regular because of the salt and we do have to be careful which plants to buy.
These last few hot days it has been a joy to see youngsters swimming in the sea after school.
I would say 'go for it'

Sheilasue - You have made a valid point. My grandparents retired to live by the sea in Sussex, my grandfather died after they had been there a few years and my grandmother found herself cut off from the rest of the family surrounded by a sea of widows, so yes it's something to bear in mind. An aunt of mine said she would never move to the coast for that very reason because she preferred to be in a "mixed community" it is a fact that some coastal areas have a much larger propensity of older people and the driving can at times be shocking Christchurch, Dorset is a town I love, but I read somewhere it has one of the oldest demographics in the country still lovely as is your choice Swanage CrowZoneRadio, and the surrounding Isle of Purbeck, which apparently was Enid Blyton's inspiration for the settings of all those Famous Five books.

We look onto the shore as we shower in the morning. With no one to see we don't need blinds/curtains in our bathroom. In the summer the tree canopy hinders our view somewhat, but throughout the late autumn, winter and early spring we have interrupted views along the coast and out to sea. Walking the coastal path seeing the flora and fauna, seal and bird watching are such an absolute joy. We feel very privileged.

Reading back through the threads, Eloethan's comment, "small towns can seem bleak and deserted in winter", yes I agree smaller places can have than deserted out of season feel to them, I think I felt that when we visited Salcombe, South Hams, Devon, a few years ago. A lovely place that suffers from the" 2nd home syndrome", which leave them deserted and businesses struggling out of season. Parts of Cornwall I imagine are similar. I think places such as Eastbourne, Brighton and Bournemouth are large and pretty densely populated so possibly they don't have that deserted quality about them, but are merely less heaving in the colder months.

I love being by the sea but you need to think very carefully before you up sticks and move. What is it that you like to do, other than walk on the beach? What organisations are there which will enable you to make friends? How far do you want to be from current friends and family? Sorry to be sounding negative but I am just trying to inject a bit of reality into the discussion based on what I have seen happen to friends and family after the great-retirement-move.

Last year I moved from the W Midlands to the south coast near Brighton to be close to my son and his baby; also a bit nearer my 2 daughters. It was expensive. The price of my 3 bed semi bought a one bed leasehold flat. It was worth it as my family aren't going to move back north any time soon.
The seaside is wonderful in summer (personally I enjoy the cheerful vibes of daytrippers and their dogs etc) but can be bleak and windy. Its great being able to paddle with GD but I would not recommend moving far away from family and friends as it can be lonely.

Suffolk coast here. West wind prevailing so low rainfall. Lovely clean air. Sun comes out and the 4 x 4s are out in force so we avoid the town centre between 9.30 and 4.30 in the summer but there are plenty of other places to go. We bought 15 years ago thank goodness as prices are now silly especially for properties nearest the sea. Too many 2nd home owners who seldom come and companies buying for holiday rentals. Social life - too much!! Life expectancy seems to be 90+ . Best thing we ever did and our circle of friends wider than ever before. Also a very caring community - we look after each other, especially true of our WI which has over 70 members. Off now to take a chocolate pavlova for our WI fundraiser Soup 'n Pud lunch. Can thoroughly recommended retiring by the sea, but look for somewhere with a sense of community - too big and its just another town. I seldom go to the shops without seeing someone I know.

DH loves the seaside and we had plans to buy a bungalow on the East Coast when he retired....we were looking in ernest. Then, quite out of the blue, because we had given up on it happening, along came our grandson and DH couldn't bear the thought of being even an hour's drive away from him, so all plans were off. We lived on the Pembrokeshire coast for a couple of years when DH was still in the Army, and it was quite idyllic. He loved it even in winter, dragging the kids down to the beach in all kinds of wild weather while me and the dog skulked at home! It is still our go-to destination for stay at home holidays, but to be honest, although I like the sea, I'm more of a Wuthering Heights gal myself.

I live very close to the sea and would hate to move away. I make a point of driving along the seafront for as many journeys as possible (except on hot sunny days when the crowds are out!) I believe the light shining on water is very good for the soul. When we downsize we hope to be able to get a flat even closer to the sea. The ideal would be one with a sea view. Nothing more relaxing than watching the sea. Good luck with wherever you move to.

I love living by the sea which I have done for over forty years. I was brought up in s London and the novelty of seeing the sea every day with its differing light and conditions has never worn off. I live in a scruffy seaside town on the s coast close to a river and s Downs. So I have it all!

Thirteen years ago we bought a small house which overlooks the sea at a half a mile distance. The views are stunning and it is the loveliest place on earth to us. We bought it to retire to but though we have spent much of our happiest time there we have changed our plans. Our grownup children are here and we cannot leave them.

I'm in Leigh on Sea, on the north side of the Thames estuary, which at this point is 5 miles wide. We have everything here. Rail and road links, great medical and leisure facilities (the grand-kids included), restaurants and more shops than you could wish for to flash your credit cards. Property here isn't cheap but we've still accumulated a large community of retirees. Essex is much maligned but, much as I'd like to live on an unspoiled coast, I can't sacrifice all amenities on my doorstep. A point coastal dreamers should consider.

I too would add a note of caution. A relative of my husband's retired with her husband to a seaside town in N Wales. He died a couple of years later and she is isolated away from all friends and family. She has had to work hard to make new friends mainly through church and musical activities. In the winter it is bleak - cold and windy - and in the summer crowded. She visits friends at home as often as she can but doesnt like driving long distances and trains are inconvenient. It would not be for me!

I lived in Eastbourne for 35 years and loved it, best seaside town I know. However, when I retired I moved up to East Midlands to be near family (and cheaper property). If we want the sea we go to Skegness which is very nice, and has lots of sand which Eastbourne did not!

Thirteen years ago we sold up in the UK and retired to the south west of Turkey overlooking the sea and with guaranteed sunshine. After a few years of retirement
I found a new career in hotel management at the age of 57. Loved it and did it until I retired again at 64. One year ago we decided to move again as there is considerable unrest in Turkey so we came to Cyprus. Again a house overlooking the sea. In fact I've just got home from the local beach where I am able to swim in the sea on the days when it is too hot to take a walk in the mountains. Follow your dreams. There is nothing much worse than wishing you had done something in life
but didn't take the opportunities on offer.

I have lived by the sea, south coast on The Solent for the last 16 years and love it. I lived almost on the beach for the first 18 months and found it not so good in the winter and the house was hit by a tornado which broke windows and scared me half to death. The maintenance is high too with all the salt in the air. I now live a two minute walk from the beach which is much more sheltered and don't ever intend to move away.