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AIBU?

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Original poster

What things do you wish you lived near to?

138 replies

cakefortea22 · 01/09/2023 21:12

Whenever I visit a new town or city I feel jealous of the amount of places there are to sit out in lovely surroundings and have a nice breakfast. I live in a village that has a shop and a church, nothing else. I could drive 15 minutes into town and get a breakfast but it would be at a chain pub on a main road. There's literally nowhere nearby where I could sit outside, people watch and enjoy a nice breakfast and a good coffee on a little cobbled street while reading the paper on a Sunday morning. And it upsets me.

What do you wish you lived close to?

OP posts:
Ohwhatfuckeryisthis · 01/09/2023 22:26

Friends.

Whowahway123 · 01/09/2023 22:28

Liberty (the shop)

Nagado · 01/09/2023 22:30

The sea. We’re about 20 minutes away, but my lottery house is only feet away and I’d be able to drift off to sleep listening to the waves each night.

mdinbc · 01/09/2023 22:31

Ugh, where to start? I live in a coastal town in British Columbia, but all the sea access is industrial. We can see it, but can't actually get to it (railway tracks, industry, etc). If you own a boat you're ok.

Also our downtown is awful, mostly boarded up stores since the next town has all the 'big box' stores and everyone shops there. We do have some nice restaurants, great hiking, and arts groups.

So, a nice downtown and access to the sea would be great.

Plankingplanks · 01/09/2023 22:32

This thread is really making me appreciate where I live. I have a lovely independent cafe on my doorstep. I can be in a field within 30 seconds at the river in 2 mins, at the sea in 15 mins. There is a lido within 10 minutes. Only thing I don't have is a bank!! Have to go miles for one of them!! However the post office is open 7 days a week from 7am till 8pm so that helps.

Cherrysoup · 01/09/2023 22:33

A river where I could swim with my dogs.

Okaaaay · 01/09/2023 22:33

A lido
A beautiful, and huge, park with views
Countryside to walk out into
Pubs, restaurants, cafes and bars
The whole suite of excellent schools
A hospital

familyissues12345 · 01/09/2023 22:34

I'd love to live closer to London. We're not a million miles away (less than an hour) but I can't use trains due to claustrophobia and driving in is a pig so we don't go often

Sommerled · 01/09/2023 22:35

I have the sea! But I would love decent shops, a massive playpark and indoor activities for my DC when the weather is rubbish, and a cinema.

fedupofbeingbroke · 01/09/2023 22:37

My lovely mum.

BinkyBeaufort · 01/09/2023 22:37

Another vote for the sea. I'm about as close to the centre of the country as it's possible to be and I miss it.
It should have a library with attached coffee shop serving smoked salmon sandwiches and carrot cake. I'd never leave.

BinkyBeaufort · 01/09/2023 22:39

Oh, and my children and grandchildren next door.

HeyThereDelilah1 · 01/09/2023 22:40

Where do you live? Sounds ideal!

Original poster
cakefortea22 · 01/09/2023 22:40

A lido is another good one. I'd love that. A Sunday morning swim then a lovely breakfast from an independent cafe.

OP posts:
HeyThereDelilah1 · 01/09/2023 22:44

I live near Richmond so have the river, arty theatre, good library, lido and bougie cafes and restaurants on my doorstep BUT it’s under the flight path, it can feel oppressive in the heat with windows open, I fantasise about moving but really worry I’d miss all of the above too much. I’d really like a big garden too…

Crikeyalmighty · 01/09/2023 22:48

I honestly have all of this that people want (at big expense) and am genuinely not bothered about the sea on the doorstep. The only thing I would like is less rain and more sun and sadly I can't control that in the UK.

ViviPru · 01/09/2023 22:48

Such a thought provoking thread, thank you.

It’s made me realise that although I’m lucky to live in a sought after, picturesque village in short walking distance of lots of the things people are listing on this thread, there are so many things missing nearby.

We’re one of the places in the England furthest from any coast and like many others, I desperately crave the sea, and/or like others a lake/lido to swim in. I too grew up near a lido that’s now closed and miss it dreadfully.

also
•A good secondary school (this literally keeps me awake at night)
•Interesting, engaging, affordable kids activities
•somewhere for her kids to ride their bikes that isn’t really hilly/gravelly
•A good Thai restaurant/takeaway
•A characterful, lively town centre nearby
•A homesense
•Adult street dance classes
•Flat circular walks and running routes

I love my house and lucky to live near my immediate family and close friends but the more I think about it the more I can’t see myself being happy here forever.

daytriptovulcan · 01/09/2023 22:56

Mountains or a lake. London is so boring like that, unlike Munchen.

Shortbread49 · 01/09/2023 22:59

I live on thr outskirts of york in a villages it’s lovely the thing I miss is the sea

Regholdsworthswaterbed · 01/09/2023 22:59

My elderly parents who are too stubborn to move. I hate that I can't help them.

ConnieTucker · 01/09/2023 23:00

The sea. We live in a well-appointed village but it took us further from the seaside.

SunnieShine · 01/09/2023 23:01

Aldi. And Dartmoor.

An unlikely mix but I can dream.

CostedStrikeRate · 01/09/2023 23:07

I live by the sea, but in the city I fitted in better.

ItsABrandNewDay · 01/09/2023 23:18

Nothing. Brought up on a council estate in the city and I'd love to move somewhere where there are no neighbours for a decent stretch, no passing traffic or anything. Just the sounds of wildlife.

lertion · 01/09/2023 23:18

A step-free tube station (I'm 5 mins from the tube but lugging a buggy down the steps is a pain)

A full size Aldi with a proper non-food section.

A good toy shop.

Primark, or at least H&M.

A theatre with a good programme of family shows.

Otherwise I'm pretty happy with being in zone 2, loads of cafes and all kinds of restaurants, great schools, big parks, library, pool, kids activities, so much on our doorstep.