Up sticks and settlle anywhere nice..but where..

[lemonice]

do you go if you can go anywhere?

It'll be next year but time goes by so quickly we're already thinking, but don't know where to go...

[Lonelymum]

You can go literally anywhere in the world?

[suzywong]

Perth
of course

[lemonice]

UK would be easiest but we are prepared to think about other countries..Suzy is that Perth Scotland, I had a look at that area last week (virtually) and liked what I saw but..[shallow emticon] I would have to adjust to the cooler temps..not impossible??

[suzywong]

No, Perth in Western Australia, mate

[Lonelymum]

Are there no other considerations eg proximity of family? House prices?

[ggglimpopo]

Message withdrawn

[lemonice]

So much for my observation I never noticed, suzy..anything anyone says is safe with me as I won't remember it!

Sell me Perth then ..my parents emigrated there in 1953 but unfortunately they came back to the UK before I was born...

[Mud]

country or town
parochial or cosmopolitan
cafe society or beachfront
family locations

what do you like?

[basketcase]

Where have you lived in the past? What type of factors will help you narrow down you search? eg. climate prefs., language barriers, health care considerations, schooling requirements, financial restrictions??
What a great situation to be in - looking all around the world for a new home. Surely there are some boundaries to help you in your monumental task?!!

[lemonice]

I have a small uk based business but it might be possible to do something similar somewhere else and/or maintain the uk one but otherwise would weigh up the pros and cons of being far from the dcs and house prices should be OK if stick to places not ott..obviously the better value the better..

France was high on the list but dropped down a bit..we thought of La Rochelle up or down a bit, Poitiers ..how easy is it to set up in business in France, seems like a lot of tax and bureaucracy

Dp doesn't speak French, I have done and would find it quite easy to resuscitate...

[suzywong]

well I bet they wouldn't recognise it now LI but it's still a small city

[lemonice]

I have lived in Bucks, Berks, Lancs, Yorks, Sussex,Dyfed,Edinburgh, Warks..

The only countries I've visited are France, Spain inc Ibiza, menorca and Mallorca, Italy, Switzerland, Germany

We are very quiet, don't need any schools..would need to earn money..

But it's really hard when you can choose anywhere in theory..so I am really interested in some sales pitches..

[lemonice]

Suzy they lived out in the bush somewhere really isolated

[ggglimpopo]

Message withdrawn

[basketcase]

so considering Europe then rather than further afield such as America, Asia, Africa?
Surely you have a preference about towns/cities/out in the stick/ rural/beach/mountains/land locked etc.?
What about Dh - does he prefer anywhere or has he got more set ideas?

[suzywong]

hello dear, just about to do bathtime but I'll catch you later

[lemonice]

Rural, coast accessible probably and or mountains, attractive city within say one to two hours, town 30 mins, community 0 to 15 mins.

Dp doesn't like it too hot or at least not for too much of the time.

Would like a bit of land..

[mytwopenceworth]

peak district/dales! bakewell/matlock/buxton etc etc. the most beautiful and unspoiled part of the uk!

[Miranda5]

We are moving to Devon ( exeter for job) Devon was rated the place to live where you have the hightest quality of life in uk ( based on climate, countryside, house prices etc etc etc)

Never even been there and live in beautiful part of yorkshire but too cold and women too 'Cheshire set' for me! Need a change!

[littlerach]

If we were to move anywhere in the UK it would be to Swanage, beautiful coastline, still rural, not far to Bournemouth area, such a pretty place.

Anywhere in the world...hmm.....don't know!!

[strugstu]

i wanna live by the sea...have a cottage overlooking the beach.....roses round the door....take the dogs for a walk on the beach each day...........beachcomb after a storm....collect shells....not speak to anyone....listen to the wind... soory got carried away!!

[anteater]

Poitier is lovely, worked a few months there a long time ago, loved the way of life.

In the UK, Lakes, mountains, not too hot, 2 hours from 3 major cities, house prices average, it has to be Cumbria!

[JoolsToo]

for GB - I'll second the Lake District - wonderful

worldwide? - somewhere in Italy

[lemonice]

Apart from when I went to university i've never chosen where I lived (only just realsied this!)and now We have the opportunity it's quite daunting..dp has never lived anywhere further than a few miles from where he was born..I have actually been to Disneyworld Orlando as well in my travels but forgot.

Hadn't really thought about the Lakes although I used to know it well thought it was very busy and expensive these days.

West Wales is a top contender because again I know it well but not absolutely sure as although it is where my family history is, it takes a long time to be accepted but as we are quite quiet it will take us a while anyway.

I think Derbyshire is too far from the coast..I would dearly love to get back within striking distance of the sea.

Dd1 is keen on Devon but again i thought perhpas it's comparatively expensive and (home counties?) and very tourist in Summer, lanes jammed with traffic?

Please correct any of these assumpitons if wrong.

The other area I thought about was Portugal wNW...don't really know anything about it.

France is rising again just not sure about the work element.

Dp is not a professional he is a taxi driver and doesn't speak any languages.

The other factor is I am old so rules out places like Australia I think as although he is younger he doesn't have any qualifications.

Please try us with some more...thanks

[mogwai]

I suppose it also depends on what sort of house you want and how much you want to spend.

Someone said Swanage - that really is beautiful.
I'd never live in Perth - been there twice and found it very "small town" in summer and winter (though lovely setting). It would drive me bananas.

I'd opt for St Ives. It has everything; the most gorgeous beach, lovely harbour, nice restaurants, friendly locals (many are from elsewhere so there's a real community spirit) and great nightlife at christmas! Also the weather is very mild and the light is beautiful (which is why artists live there). I even love the way the place smells.

I've also lived in Berkshire, we loved the whole area along the Thames and I've lived in Cheshire, which was also very beautiful.

Traffic in the lakes would also send me bananas