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AIBU?

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Original poster

Seaside living

64 replies

Moonandme123 · 26/04/2023 17:23

A job opportunity has come up for me about 1 hour from where I live. Dream job! It’s by the seaside in an area we know well as we lived there many years ago. Problem is DH has reservations because:
He doesn’t want to take our two primary aged children out of their current school.
He worries about the problems with some seaside towns eg street drinkers etc. this wasn’t an issue when we last lived there as we didn’t have DC.

I want to accept this job and move there. DH works exclusively remotely. My parents also live near where we would move to which would be nice for DC.

AIBU to even consider removing DC? Is living next to the sea with children nice? When we lived there before we would go to the beach most days even for just a de stress after work. Now we have DC we visit the beach every weekend but I’m aware that living there might be different.

OP posts:
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seasidedweller88 · 15/08/2025 15:54

I can comment well having lived all over London and Brighton too. Can confirm Worthing is a great place if you want:
-A lovely quiet beach
-Beautiful countryside and walking nearby
-Friendly safe community, quite diverse and queer friendly
-Very good cafes restaurants pubs and bars (both traditional and also natural wines bars and small plates etc, craft breweries for a bit of pizazz)
-Good schools
-Leafy parks
-Decent town centre with walkable shops
-Three train stations(!) and an easy enough commute straight to Victoria/East Croydon/Clapham, and Brighton of course
-Decent parking (especially compared to Brighton)
-And affordable homes! I bought my three bedroom house in a good area for only 30k more than my one bedroom flat in Brighton-For us it's been a no brainer and we love it, we're in our 30s and lots of our friends are following suit.
-Best areas: Check it out in person. Personally we're near the station on a leafy nice street, Tarring (West) is also desirable. But the best way to ascertain is to go and walk around.

lauraisa · 27/04/2023 12:27

Do it - if your job pays enough for you to buy a place. You don't want to have to move again.

blahblahblah1654 · 27/04/2023 12:22

I grew up in a seaside town and it's quite depressing and boring. @LadyGrinningSoul85 I grew up in Bournemouth too and it's really gone downhill the last few years even more! I visit a few times a year now. The beaches are lovely though. We moved to London almost 10 years ago and I can't imagine moving back. Houses prices almost on par with where I live now anyway!

Crikeyalmighty · 27/04/2023 12:20

@LadyGrinningSoul85 I think Bournemouth is a bit grim too- but with a fabulous beach. Southbourne is about the only but I always think 'this is nice' - to be honest though so many places these days of any size are 'a bit grim' unless you have mega money

LadyGrinningSoul85 · 27/04/2023 09:03

I've had the misfortune of growing up in Bournemouth, and am now raising kids here due to not being able to afford to move right now.

It's a shithole, despite how much everyone seems to love the beach here.
I hate it.

terriblyangryattimes · 27/04/2023 08:58

Worthing is so great for families now and there are some great schools too. Everywhere has its pros and cons but if you know and love the area that's half the battle. I say go for it

13Bastards · 27/04/2023 08:54

Absolutely. I have always lived by the beach, was a brilliant place to grow up and nice in the summer to pop down for a swim after work/school etc

You will be close to Brighton, not far from London, Gatwick close by. Sounds good to me!

SallyWD · 26/04/2023 22:14

sittingonacornflake · 26/04/2023 21:13

@SallyWD I really enjoyed reading your post thank you for sharing. My DS(5) is growing up in an admittedly very touristy but for locals quite deprived seaside town and to imagine him feeling as you do approaching 50 about loving here warms my heart.

Oh thank you. I'm happy to read that!

sittingonacornflake · 26/04/2023 21:13

@SallyWD I really enjoyed reading your post thank you for sharing. My DS(5) is growing up in an admittedly very touristy but for locals quite deprived seaside town and to imagine him feeling as you do approaching 50 about loving here warms my heart.

Feelslikespring2 · 26/04/2023 21:06

I live in Worthing! Have 2 under 2. I've lived in London, Brighton, California and lots of other places...... GO FOR IT! I've never been happier and it is FANTASTIC for children IMO

Puddlepop · 26/04/2023 21:03

It’s a nice balance of good schools, lively social scene and close proximity to Brighton / Chichester as well as the Downs. The beach is never overcrowded unlike Brighton. I think you’ll have a lovely time there! Good luck and go for it!

caringcarer · 26/04/2023 20:46

@loislovesstewie which one in Yorkshire? My dh grew up in Bridlington.

caringcarer · 26/04/2023 20:45

I'd go for it.

caringcarer · 26/04/2023 20:44

My dh grew up living 20 minutes walk from the beach. He has such fond memories and had a wonderful childhood there. We go back quite often to visit his Mum. It's lovely I would not mind moving there. I've suggested it to DH as he WFH. He said maybe when he retires. He says it is a bit dead in winter when everything shuts down.

loislovesstewie · 26/04/2023 19:58

I live 5 minutes from the beach in Yorkshire. Lots of amusements, very busy in summer, plenty of takeaways (sorry), despite having lots of bars near me it's no noisier than the city where I used to live. No bigger problems with drugs or nuisance, or anti social behaviour. I'm very happy here.

Loocheeyar · 26/04/2023 19:48

I would love to live by the sea ! But my two children need specialist schools for their asd so i don’t think it would work for us . But their quality of life would be better .

GoodChat · 26/04/2023 19:42

gotmychristmasmiracle · 26/04/2023 19:35

Yeah you need to give location, if you said Blackpool I would say defo don't do it!

She said Worthing

LulooLemon · 26/04/2023 19:41

It's Worthing.

gotmychristmasmiracle · 26/04/2023 19:35

Yeah you need to give location, if you said Blackpool I would say defo don't do it!

ThisNameIsNotAvailable · 26/04/2023 19:19

I don’t know the area but I would move to the seaside tomorrow if there was any way I could.

RoseMartha · 26/04/2023 19:16

Worthing is ok, I would live there and have lived there in the past, or you could go slightly down the coast to goring or east preston. Dependant on housing prices etc.

mamabear715 · 26/04/2023 19:14

Go! I lived by the sea for 13 years & the services were better than in a city..

Hubblebubble · 26/04/2023 19:12

I love mine. I try not to think about the killing I could make if I lived in London or a commuter zone.

Besthaveanamechange · 26/04/2023 19:07

Worthing is lovely. Unless you want to leave, in which case you’re fucked by the A27

GoodChat · 26/04/2023 19:03

Moonandme123 · 26/04/2023 18:43

We didn’t want to leave initially. The landlord decided to sell and we couldn’t find a property quick enough so we explored other areas. I got offered a job where we now live and so we moved. We now live in the village where DH’s parents are. However after a falling out, we barely have any contact with them even though we could walk to their house in thirty seconds. I have double checked that DH doesn’t want to stay here for them but he is adamant he doesn’t have hardly any contact and would rather be near to my parents as they treat him so nicely and he considers my dad a friend.

If he'd rather be by your family why doesn't he want to move? Other than school, it makes no sense.

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