Church, retirement v friends & family??

[Grantobe]

Hubby could retire. Hes on his 2nd job since getting early retirement. We moved down south as its warmer but we arent near any of our kids or grandkids. We've made lots of lovely friends but have struggled to buy a house in the 6 years we've been here due to the system. Wondering now if we should just stay renting or buy at last and then find ourselves trapped in the English housing system? Or should we return to Scotland where house buying is simpler and cheaper? That would put us nearer extended family including my elderly parents but Im so happy here with my friends. I worry though what will I do if hubby dies and Im left far from my kids. Hes 7.5 years older than me.
Also the church we go to is like family but the preaching is poor and that frustrates us both. I guess we could buy a house away from here nearer a better church but we would have to travel 40 minutes to see our friends. Atm they are all very local and I love the popping in and out lifestyle we have created with them esp me and the ladies and frequenting all the cafes around here.

How old are you? Personally I'd probably be tempted to stay where you are for now, the trouble about moving away from somewhere you're basically happy and want to be to be nearer your kids and/or elderly parents is that, sadly, elderly parents won't be around forever and kids have a tendency to move around themselves, if they get an amazing job offer or meet a new partner they could be off to the other side of the country/world leaving you stuck in Scotland.

I'd either look to buy where you are now or rent where you are now (I get the issues with the system but in the nicest way possible, thousands of people buy and sell every day in England, it isn't impossible at all, you just have to find the right house and pay the right amount for it, which might be more than you'd ideally like but that's how it goes, I do get the risks inherent of having to pay legal fees etc for a sale that might fall through but that's a one-off couple of thousand compared to the potential for long-term rent increases and housing instablity so if you have the money in the bank to buy and you think you'll stay at least 10 years I'd do it. You can reevaluate in 10 years, if you are in your 60s now it won't be too late to move again in your 70s if you do need to.

Re church, I wouldn't move 40 mins away personally, I'd find a church with preaching style you prefer and travel to church rather than moving to church and travelling back for friends. I'd then alternate Sundays between the further away better preaching church one week and current church the next. You might even be able to find a church that does a good evensong or midweek service and then stick with your current church for the social side of things on Sundays (or vice versa if current church is active midweek) so get best of both worlds?

Why not stay where you are for a few years

buy your house in Scotland now and rent it out

move home in a few years

These are all very helpful comments thank you. Im 60 hubby is 67. True my parents wont be around much longer and married kids could move on. I do wish we were more hands on grandparents but thats not the way things have turned out. I guess travelling to see them gives us a place to go other than on holidays which is nice.

We've thought of this and
like the advice (in that it confirms its ok to) of staying where friends are and driving to a better church although to date Ive always liked to use our home for groups from church which I probably couldnt do if we live 40 minutes from the better preaching church.However, I could still invite my current church friends over couldnt I.
We are renting atm and hoping a certain house is going thru but its taking its time so Ive been getting cold feet I guess. I hate being in a state of flux.
We sometimes think of buying to let in Scotland too but as yet not convinced.
Anyway your replies have cheered me up thank you.