To move away from the city...?

[confusedofcanterbury]

Just seeking external views, as I've overthought so much I'm not sure what I think anymore....

We live in a city in the Midlands with our daughter. Both work in the same school in city (me 4 days/week), and will continue to work there for the foreseeable. We have a son who is pre-school age. We live in a nice area, in a house which is fine if a bit small for us now with a small garden. It's 20 mins to work and his nursery. However, we have the opportunity to sell up and move to a village on the edge of a market town about an hour away: bigger, potentially forever home, nearer family, huge garden, pub on the lane, 20 min walk into the town which has shops/schools/general town-like facilities (although secondary is good only, current local is outstanding, but outstanding primary). Town is connected to city where we work by a direct train (an hour), school where we work is right by the station . We obviously don't go to the school in school holidays (and it's private, so they are relatively long). It will be a stretch on current interest rates, but affordable, and our mortgage is due to go up massively next year anyway when we have to renew it.
My AIBU is -- am I being unreasonable to consider this move? It feels like a real opportunity to move somewhere we love while son is still little and give him a more rural childhood. But it will be a big change, more juggling in term time, longer commute etc. And what if we don't like it?!
Are we making a mistake? How can we tell?

Would love to hear from others who have faced a similar dilemma and how it turned out!

On paper people think it’s lovely and idyllic. In reality it’s very lonely for the child, growing up without friends around isn’t something I’d do to my child. I grew up in the countryside and not being able to get public transport, walk/cycle anywhere and 100% reliant on parents driving is unbelievably lonely.

I have worried about this (I also grew up in a rural area!). It is walking distance to the town about 20 mins and there are other kids in the village too. There is also a relatively regular bus (5 mins) and the train is connected to lots of bigger places too. Equally, where we live I can't imagine letting him walk about without us/take a bus etc until at least 12 ish as it is a big, busy city with all the issues that come with that.

I think you sound pretty excited by it? Sounds lovely and good to do it while the kids are so young. The only thing that puts me off is the commute. I live in London but moved out a bit further. The commute went from 45 to 70 mins. Plus childcare options aren't great here so I've only got childcare until 6. It really is hard getting back in time and that extra commute is exhausting. I only go in 2 days a week but my career is suffering.

@TaraRhu yes I am worried it will be exhausting! I only go to teach 3 days/week, plus a day wfh, in term time, so about 1/2 the year. But those term times are going to be so tiring compared to now. I have also wondered what people do when train is late and child is stuck at nursery...

@confusedofcanterbury I am lucky that my job is flexible so if I'm doing pick up I leave at 4 no matter what. This just gives me some assurance that I can weather train delays etc. i always have my eye on travel news though!

You'll work it out whatever happens. Go with your gut. For us we loved our house and that swung it. I also realised all you need with young kids is a park, a school and a nursery nearby!