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Original poster

Live by the sea?

126 replies

IsadoraMoon · 27/08/2021 19:28

I've just come back from our annual weekly trip to the seaside and felt really sad to leave ..the kids and I love it SO much, I'm desperate to sell up and move (currently living in a city 2hours drive from the nearest beach) finding a job in the area was always the sticking point, but now with the possibility of working remotely it seems like it really could be possible! Tell me, does the novelty wear off to visit the beach if you live really close? I know it wouldn't for me but I wonder about the kids (they're 4 and 6) the sea would be the main attraction as there's not so much else to do around there! The other option would be to move to another city (nearer to the beach, say 35 minutes drive, but more to do) but it won't be the small coastal visit I'm so in love with!

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gogohm · 27/08/2021 22:43

I've moved from the midlands to right next to the sea, but not a resort really. Good points are abound but the seagulls do use my car as target practice daily! Traffic on the motorway is also a nightmare

icedcoffees · 27/08/2021 22:46

Totally agree @daisyjgrey - quiet, windswept winter beaches are so peaceful!

tywysoges · 27/08/2021 23:03

We made the move 3 years ago and the novelty hasn’t worn off. We do live within walking distance though, I don’t think I could deal with the traffic every time I wanted to go to the beach (when the weather is nice anyway).

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ImInStealthMode · 27/08/2021 23:17

I spent my childhood in a city about as far from the cost as you can be, but for the last 18 years I've lived within 10 minutes of the beach. I don't go very often (unless the weather is great, when it's amazing to have beautiful beaches 'at home') but I think I'd struggle to live out of sight of water now.

Touty · 28/08/2021 01:04

I live about 250 meters from the see, been here for 8 years. Novelty wore off quickly. Hardly ever go to the beach now.

KingdomScrolls · 28/08/2021 03:00

We live a ten minute walk from the sea, it never gets old for me and DS would be on the beach everyday if we didn't have other things to do. DH and I were actually saying recently how lovely it is that it's part of his day to day life, when a trip to the seaside was a big day out/treat for us as children. I love to walk by the water even in winter and it was so nice during lockdown to have scenery that changes so quickly

Furries · 28/08/2021 03:11

I live about 12 minutes drive from a few beaches, but I hardly ever go (more to do with personal circumstances).

If you really want to make the move, my advice would be to chose a home that you love with a garden that you can make the most of and that feels relaxing to be in (ie a bit further from the beach, more house/garden for your money and where you could spend a bit on making the garden a great place to be).

This way you have the best of both worlds. You’re near enough to take the kids when you can brave tourist season. But you’re happy enough to look out the window at the traffic snaking through the village and think “not today, thank you!” Then you get the privilege of all that coastline in the quieter months - it’s lovely.

As much as being right by the sea is lovely, I’d far rather be where I am now. Near enough when I want it, but house and non-overlooked garden means so much more.

Haywirecity · 28/08/2021 03:23

I've lived next to the sea my whole life. I walk the dog on the beach or the front occasionally but when I didn't have a dog, I hardly ever went. Familiarity and contempt, I guess. And so many tourists. And the council have limited the parking. Agh. And there's a cold wind in winter.

Camomila · 28/08/2021 06:36

We live by the sea (but in a city with jobs and things to do), we go at least once a week in summer, even if just to dip our feet in and for a walk/scooter ride every few weeks the rest of the year.

(Maybe not in really windy rainy months like Nov/Feb where the toddler would get toppled over by the wind).

3GreenPullups · 28/08/2021 06:40

I like living by the sea. Downsides are that in summer the place is heaving and you can hardly move. Upsides are that it is heaving and you can hardly move. (I run a B&B). I actually like the juxtaposition of quiet cold empty winters and busy crazy summers tbh.

neither of my DCs are interested in water sports so that is out but I think the opportunities for kids with sailing, surfing, paddleboarding etc is second to none. Only problem is the schools around here are truly dreadful so that has to be factored in.

newnortherner111 · 28/08/2021 07:20

Visit in mid January and see what you think then.

plantastic · 28/08/2021 07:31

Definitely visit on a rainy weekend in February and see if you still like it! I grew up by the sea and it was great in lots of ways but limited in stuff to do that wasn't the sea. We didn't go for many 'beach days' but swam all the time.

We've temporarily relocated to the sea and go a few times a week just for an hour or so. We live in a very hot country though and I think we'll go more in the autumn and winter when it's not a test of endurance. We miss big city stuff though and with kids approaching teens I would think carefully.

namesnamesnamesnames · 28/08/2021 07:35

We drive to the sea every other weekend in summer and occasionally during colder months. We are a 45-60 minute drive away. Just pointing out that you don't need to be on top of the beach to visit often.

Awrite · 28/08/2021 07:39

I can see the sea from my house. I will never tire of the big open sky at night, the beautiful sunsets.

I walk along the shore most days. My favourite time of year is a cold sunny Winter's day.

If we ever move it will be to another house on a coast somewhere.

So, I think it's fair to say it doesn't wear off.

PearlyBird · 28/08/2021 07:41

I really like living 1.5k from the sea. I can go for a 5k loop walk that is just right, takes in a walk along the sea front.
It doesn't have to cost a fortune to live by the sea. Depends what else matters in your life!

I'm not from this small town but this looks like good value to me unless I'm missing something

sandgrown · 28/08/2021 07:47

I live 5 mins walk from the beach but probably go once a week. We went more often when the DC were little. The downsides are the wind, the sand in the house, the seagulls nesting on the roof (so noisy) and the traffic in Summer. Remember that costal towns are some of the most deprived areas in the country. I still love it though .

sandgrown · 28/08/2021 07:47

Coastal!

superram · 28/08/2021 07:47

I grew up by the sea in the ne. I miss it but I don’t miss the area. You need to go on holiday in January and see if you still feel the same. Many seaside towns are either very expensive or deprived. Think about schools. Living in a seaside town is very different to a week in the summer. We’ll go when I retire but I wouldn’t take my kids there.,lots of public toilets on the coast have blue lights so it’s hard to see your veins.

FedNlanders · 28/08/2021 07:48

I go to the sea every day to swim or seaglass/pottery hunt. Never ever gets boring.

Onandoff · 28/08/2021 07:49

@RiderGirl

Grumpy post and I'm prepared to get slated - but if you move to the coast please consider the fact that you may well be taking a home that a person who has lived there all their life needs. I live in a popular coastal area and it is utterly heartbreaking at the moment, we have a dreadful housing crisis because of people relocating from cities and driving up the house prices locally. People on the average wage locally just cannot compete. I absolutely hope that rules are changed so that people who already live and work locally get priority when houses are advertised, it is killing our communities.
There’s nothing to stop you locals choosing to sell to other locals.
OhSmellyCatSmellyCat · 28/08/2021 08:05

I live by the sea. It never gets boring. Kids love it but it's not a big tourist destination
We walk there and get icecreams after school etc
If it rains we either suck it up or pop home for an hour. No big deal

felulageller · 28/08/2021 08:10

I found the travel restrictions so hard because it meant I couldn't go to the beach. It's outside my council area but still easy to travel to. The actual coastal towns are deprived so don't appeal to live in but being able to visit is great.

Thebookswereherfriends · 28/08/2021 08:15

We live a ten min walk from the beach and love it. I’ve started swimming all year round. My dd is not the most outdoorsy person and loves the beach if she’s got someone to play with, but pretty much refuses to go on the beach “out of season”.

MrsPworkingmummy · 28/08/2021 08:20

We live in the North East in a non-touristy city. Our house is a mile from the coast. We can walk to blue flag beaches in around 15 minutes and have our pick of a number of beaches to drive to. We love it. Our children enjoy body boarding and we love the cafe culture and vibrant feel of beach life. If you find the right city or village, it will be a fantastic move for you.

chocolateoranges33 · 28/08/2021 08:21

I've lived my whole life a 10 minute walk from the beach and I drive along it everyday on my way to work/shops etc. I absolutely love living so close and would never move away.

However, I don't actually go there that much - we tend to walk on the fields behind the beach, visit the splash park and the park all on the beach but not the beach itself.

Its a stony beach that doesn't attract many tourists so may be different to your set up.

Living so close to the sea makes me happy and I'd recommend it to everyone.

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