would you move to another part of the country on your own in your 60s

[MarmaladeFatkins]

maybe late 50s? just considering my retirement. I want to live near the sea, I know where I want to go to. it's nearly 3 hours from where I would have lived for the last 30 years. i will have 2 grown up children by then that will probably stay in this place. can't decide if it's a stupid idea, because I will know no one..

You are still young at 60 and should do what you like. Do your research though and make sure you will join groups/volunteer/get a part time job so that you can have a fulfilling social life.

The only draw back is in approx 20 years if you start to feel unwell/need support - it'll be too much for family members to travel to regularly support you.

I would BUT at that age I would visit before many times and try to get involved in some things, maybe volunteering somewhere one day a month or something, and frequent the same local cafe every time you visit, that sort of thing, so when you do actually move there you’re not going in blind as it were.

If you were younger and were going into full time employment at a large-ish company it would be different.

I might do that when I retire myself, though it will be to a part of the country I have known all my life.

Check what it is like in January or February, and how easy it would be to live without a car. As well as the other comments above.

In your late 50s you may well have 30 years of independent living ahead of you. I'd certainly make such a move, after having done all the necessary research first. Are you a sociable kind of person who'd get out there into the new community, involving yourself and getting to know people?

Yes, I would. I hope to not be alone in my 60s and 70s but sometimes find myself browsing on Rightmove just in case 😀

Yes, but I have no kids so the family support thing is irrelevant. However, I don't think there should be any expectations for adult children to be unpaid carers, so wouldn't factor them in anyway.
I would love to move to a flat in London, & enjoy all.the cultural life the city has to offer. Sadly, I would never be able to afford it, so will have to consider another UK city. Definitely not anywhere rural or small town tho - it would drive me crazy!

I'd be careful. One of those ideas that sounds good at the time. I guess if you're outgoing and make friends easily then I can't see a problem, otherwise it would be a tad lonely. And it depends on where it is. A lot of seaside places are crammed in the summer and dead in the winter.

Yes, I did it!

Definitely, but check out the hospitals and GPs, what there is in the community in the way of cultural life if that's important, what the transport's like if that's an issue - and have a few weeks in your chosen town in the dead of winter.

hmmm...posts finds reflect my internal dialogue. to answer a few points

it's a place I have visited a lot. it IS busy in summer and dead in winter. it's the dead in winter that I am looking forward to. I want a quiet slow life. but I do already know some local things that I would like to get involved with

I used to be outgoing and sociable but I'm so knackered from kids and work and being a bit disabled that I am not any more. BUT I am kind of thinking I will maybe regain some of my adventure once retired and kids grown

I really don't want my kids to look after me when I am old, I would rather go into a home. but I fear I would miss them whilst I am still fit and able

maybe I just need to wait and see how I feel nearer the time

did you @Chooksnroses ? can you tell me more? did you know it was the right idea 100% before you made the move?

Yes, I fully intend to. 15 years until I’m 60, but I’m already on Rightmove.

I'm not sure I would. I used to work for a council in the housing department. I couldn't believe how many people(retired ) that had moved to the coast that came in wanting to come back.it wasn't what they had expected it to be especially in the winter. Lots of them had developed health conditions and wanted to be nearer family too.

Health issues: do you know there is only one hospital in the whole of Cornwall.

Yes. I'll be doing just that when DS heads off in a few years time. I'll be 63, I'll sell my house and move further away from London.

I can literally go anywhere I want to. It's a very liberating feeling 😊

I have lived by the sea many times in life, so it's not an unknown. it IS an unknown as a pensioner. but being a pensioner is an unknown altogether

liberating @MintJulia ....but a bit frightening?!

I moved to a new area at 65. It was a well researched and planned move to a more practical area than I left. From rural with few facilities to a town with shops nearby and buses, when they run.
Before I moved I planned to do some volunteering and joined the local u3a which gave me the beginning of a new circle of friends. I had a dog to walk so got to see others walking their dogs. 9 years on I still miss the area I left and the daughter I left there but I know the move was the right thing to do. I do have another daughter about 12 miles away and I moved to be nearer her to help with grandchildren.

@NancyJoan Rightmove is my favourite website! it means I could be mortgage free and retire earlier too

My childhood home was a seaside town to which retired people from London used to come. The neighbours we had seemed disappointed with their decision - no bus services, shops, cafes and many local attractions amenities would close in the winter - including some roads!). And the fog and the snow.

I don't think you're idea is stupid, but please make sure you do your homework, the things you want to do - do they happen in the winter, would you be able to get there under your own steam, would you be allowed to join or is there a waiting list ? Could you spend a winter there, without burning your bridges where you currently are so you could go back if it didn't work out.

can we forget I said I wanted to live by the sea. I know what rural living is like, I know what seaside towns are like.

it's the moving and starting again, in a place I don't know anyone that gives me pause....at a time in life when I will be retiring so won't be meeting people through work. and I am single, so there is no partner to go to the pub or to lean on for confidence in new social situations. THAT is the aspect I mean to ask about. pretend I just want to move to another city

People say that cities are good places when your old because everything is central and public transport is good. It occurred to me the other day, that although that is probably the case, you also want to be somewhere where you feel safe.
I think the important part is to find like-minded people, so somewhere with a theatre, or NT garden, or an art gallery where you might want to volunteer (depending on your interests). Moving down a bit earlier so you can work for a few years beforehand would be a plan too.

I quite fancy Rye, Winchelsea or Hastings old town for my 'gracious' retirement

I’d definitely choose a nice bit of London for my retirement if I could afford it. I’d feel safe in Marylebone, but I’m not in that price bracket so it will be another city, with GP/library/shops/bus stop within walking distance.

DH and I talked about doing this - but decided that we wouldn't want to move away from adult DC - not because of wanting them to look after us in future but because we would miss them - and would like to be around if they need support with any grandchildren . Also what happened with Covid where people weren't allowed to move between the Scotland / England /'Wales borders completely shocked me .

Obviously if DC decided to move themselves that would be different - but I wouldn't chose to be the one to move away .

Could you split the time between 2 places?

I have a home base and then stay other places for 1 to 6 months at a time.