Anyone move countries/change life in their 50s?

[Gaelforce]

Our DD has started Uni and our youngest DD will, hopefully, be away at college next year.
I'm now going mad thinking about change. We live in a rural area and I can't bear the thought of looking at trees and cows for the rest of my life.
We moved here 12 years ago to give Dds better chances. It is great for families. We are both in our early fifties. Mortgage will be paid off next year. Anyone just clear off or make any changes when kids went to college?

No, but we currently live in a 'perfect for families' ( mercifully close to London) village and I fully intend to move to central London in my fifties, with a couple of months in France each year. My work is very flexible and we can ( hopefully) retire at 55, or I might carry on working a couple of days a week in London. Like you, the idea of spending the coming years, especially those during which we have (god willing) health and energy, staring at cows and doing the church flowers fills me with dread.

'doing the church flowers fills me with dread'.
I really hope it's not a pipe dream and we can make it work.
I'm utterly restless and starting to plan an exit route of some sorts.

I don't have any personal experience of this but one of my friend's mothers uprooted to a country she had never visited before and where she didn't speak the language. She moved from Hungary to France based on a friend who told her he could get her some restaurant work over there. She only ended up staying for 2 years before returning to Hungary but had a great time exploring france and learning a new language and experiencing a new culture. Although life in france wasn't for her she doesn't regret it at all.

I made a huge move at 46, left the South of England, my adult children and my own business and moved to rural Scotland, best thing i ever done for both me and my kids as they had to stand on their on 2 feet. Making friends was easy and adjusting was a cinch. Go for it or you will alaways regret it. Why dont you rent for a year and see how you feel ?

Not mine but my friends’ parents sold their house and now just do long term house sits. They’ve been in a massive house with pool in France for a couple of years now. No rent, life of Riley!

Yep moved to Spain in my mid 40s and came back to the UK in my mid 50s when DS went to university, though there were other reasons we returned. Rented from a friend of a friend in a totally new part of the UK which we didn't know at all and nowhere near DS's university. Liked it so landed up buying a property in the area. Still here 8 years later. Very happy but wouldn't rule out another move to somewhere totally new, perhaps closer to the coast. DS never really came back home to live after his post grad study as he got a job and a flat straight away.
If you feel ready for a change and you can afford it do it. You've given your DCs a lovely start in life now it's time to do stuff you want to do, if that means moving to a new area go for it. Happy planning!

It's lovely to hear all experiences. It was important for us to give our children roots. But they will have their own adventure and we'd like to have one too while we're able.

My kids were still in primary school when my husband passed away so I moved 70 miles out of London to a new area for a fresh start. It’s been great but I’m ready to move back after ten years.
I remember many of my parents friends selling up their big houses in the ‘burbs to move to a flat in the city when their kids left home - at the time couldn’t understand why but of course now realise they wanted to be where the action was: theatre, restaurants etc, not out surrounded by families and schools and running a half empty house.

I'm 48. Just moved to live in European country last Friday.

Hoping to really get stuck in and learn the language.

Fantastic Cobblers. I wish you lots of success.

Pip I hope you get there.

Moved to France at 50 with dh and 9 year old dd. 13 years later getting divorced but wouldn't dream of leaving.

My parents did, they retired at 55. Left work on the Friday and moved to Spain on the Monday. Loved it for 6 years, did a big DIY project on a villa, made good money and came back to UK. Just for the adventure of it all really!