Hi everyone,
I'm looking for a bit of advice, I'm currently living in a quiet village near Ely Cambridgeshire after relocating from Lancaster in Lancashire 8months ago - but I hate it, its too quiet for me and hate the fact that everything seems a long drive away. We moved due to my husband getting a job near Newmarket in which he has progressed well in so its making moving a bit tricky but can't stay around here. I am currently a stay at home mum due to not being able to get anywhere to work (transport is a nightmare round here and hubby takes car to work so I can't use it) my little girl is almost 16months and i'm sick of not being able to go anywhere and being in with her all day (go to the odd group once a week but thats all there is!) Have also tried going to the netmums meetups but they are in Ely and as I don't have Car access its a pain to get there and tbh i can't really afford the extra transport costs for the 1.5 catch up! We knew the area from visiting regularly (husbands aunty lives here) but its just too quiet - even Ely so thinking of where to go, the problem is everywhere is soo expensive.
So we went home to Lancaster last weekend as I was getting really homesick (no family there - just husbands family, who tbh didn't help out that much before we moved). I was thinking of moving back there - think its just the familiarity to be honest more than anything but we moved to try and better ourselves and my LO future and although property is a bit cheaper there the wages are a lot lower than hubby on now and not many jobs at all - so thought about possible moving to outskirts of Manchester as could get home easily more often plus its nearer the coast than here (which I miss strangely!) but keep thinking of moving somehwere nearer the south coast (would love to be able to go to the coast etc more often and think it would be fab for LO to grow up near)
However this is all in hindsight as never actaully been there - but Southampton stands out as funnily enough it doesn't take much longer to get back up north than where we currently are - think because of the direct motorway links!
Oh and husband currently works 12 hour days 7 days on and 7 off (unless he does overtime) so he did say if we moved up north he could work a week and spend a week with us - until he could find something else (works in food distrubtion warehouse, now as a supervisor)
I know some may move back up north but the areas i'm looking at bordering cheshire I have a feeling may not be much more cheaper than certain areas down south.
So what I'm looking for is advice on areas around Southampton (west dorset/hampshire) or anywhere that has good amenities/safe/town centre with shops/cafes etc that I can walk to and not feel isolated as I do now (I'm used to big town/small city living and being anble to walk everywhere!!) also good schools/job opportunites and access to the coast - doesn't have to be on the coast - don't mind living inland, just be nice to be able to access it say within an hour!
Is there anywhere within this region that fits most of those requirements and doesn't cost a fortune?? Or am I being unrealistic and should head up north - just fancy nearer the south coast for a better quality of life for us and LO!
Oh and we are renting (can't afford to buy so no worries about that for a while!) and currently paying £650 pmth for a 3 bed but to move anywhere with more life around here we would be looking at £700-£750 at least for a 3 bed and we simply cannot afford this - I'm wanting to get a part time job so if I could do this and its resonable paid then obviously we could afford a bit more but sick of husband struggling and I'm stuck here - so need to move just don't know where lol.
I would really appreciate as many opinions etc as possible and especially from anyone who has done something similar.
Thank you :-)