Downsizing !

[dottydodah]

Having lived here for best side of 30 years ,need to release some capital . Looking in different areas .Like somewhere around 200 miles away .much cheaper and would also welcome a change of scene .Do you think this would work in terms of A ) Getting down to see family once a month or so B) finding friends in new area? (Both in our 60s)

Don't be reliant on a car. And find a fast train service.

In your 60s assuming you are outgoing I think making new friends would be fine. If you make loads of new friends getting back to see family once a month might be a stretch. 200miles is going to be a 6 hour round trip. If you settle well I’m not sure you could be bothered.
looking ahead a bit (and as you’ve mentioned family that you’d like to see regularly), are you proposing moving back in your 80s? If not you are creating a nightmare for any family that might need to become involved in your care (out of necessity if nothing else) as you get less independent.
lots to consider. Good luck!

Omg, I was going to write the same post in a few weeks. Possibility of a relocation after living in the same area for 30 years, we are 10 years younger but retired and felled want a new leases of life.
i believe it can be done if you join group activities and choose an area that is community mnded.

Definitely think about the impact on family who may become your carers. I'd hate it if my parents moved away as I watched both of them try to support my grandparents who were a 2+ hour drive away it was horrific.

Exactly what @Purpletractor said.

Going back to see family now and for the next few years - if you are both lucky with your health - is likely to be fine (although being away from your new home regularly might make it more difficult to settle in and make new friends), but, at our sort of age, we have to be mindful that you aren't going to be as active and capable as you are now, forever.

I personally would think long and hard about moving away from my community, family and friends.

Once a month 200 miles is exhausting

Also the reason - to release cash - is a push not a pull reason to go anywhere - you won't make friends and settle unless it's a place you really want to be

Why 200 miles?

Where are you and what are you looking for?

I live a short plane ride away and haven’t had family visit in over five years and some longer more like 10.

I do all the traveling.

Is the capital being released by downsizing or moving to a cheaper area? Do you need to do both?

We did this in our mid 50's OP, and in spite of lots of promises of coming to visit, after the initial visit to see where we were, and what our new house was like, most of our friends and family, couldn't be bothered to travel that far again, and so we ended up doing all the travelling. We also made the mistake of moving to our dream house in the countryside, but within 3 years were both struggling with our health, which we hadn't really expected, and which made both the travelling back to see family and friends, AND day to day life really difficult where we were. We ended up moving back, although not as close to family and friends as we had been, but at least to an area where it's easier for us to get to them and vice versa, plus where we are now, we are in a fairly large village, which has doctors, pharmacy, post office, etc., all within easy reach of a mobility scooter, so that when we have to give up driving, we will still be OK. We stayed in our different location for a total of 8 years, and loved being there, but there were lots of things that didn't measure up to what we'd imagined when we initially made the move, so please give serious thought to the things I've mentioned, before taking the plunge.

Plenty of people are moving here to take early retirement, very friendly and full of new incomes as the village tripled in size to a town. But I personally wouldn't with elderly parents, I moved closer to mine by moving

We did future proof, house is on the flat, 10 minutes walk from doctors, high st, 5 minutes walk from supermarket and bus stop (and proposed train station due to start in august) house is compatible with a stair lift in case.

Ref once a month to see family
Do you mean older family members or younger ones ?

The reason is that I lived 200+ miles away from older family members
It costs lots of time, money & effort to visit every month
Delays on motorways
Are you still working or retired ?
I moved closer

I did this when DC left home and I was 46 and single.

Don't expect people to visit you. You will have to travel to see them. If you're happy with that, then I 100% recommend it!

We downsized from a rural location to a really nice, pretty town (a "destination" town if you like) so that everything we wanted and needed was in walking distance in case of not being able to drive in future. It also has excellent transport links.

Think carefully about what you will want and need in the future. Make a list and stick to it. Then find a location that matches those needs and fits your budget.

It's worked out brilliantly for us. We've made lots of new friends and the lovely location means that friends/family are very happy to visit us.

Depends what you need the money for. We downsized property wise, but a much bigger garden, which is our big thing. We didn't go 200 miles though. Just one side of Surrey to the far side of Sussex,90 minutes away from DKs, although one of them moved to 5 miles from us, because the property is cheaper. We are a village location, but buses if need be,main line station easy reach, should we not be able to drive. I have made new friends,still see quite a lot of my old ones, although not often. They are working shifts (nursing,) but we keep in touch.

Making new friends? If you are not shy and will do stuff like U3a, hiking and hobby groups, volunteering and are naturally chatty then fine. But there is a world of difference between having a cuppa with Janet and asking Janet for a favour when you have only known her for a couple of months. It’s easier now with online shopping and I think some pharmacies even deliver but you have to consider stuff like that.

Family once a month it’s a long way, you won’t do it probably.

How much cash are you releasing plus consider the costs of actually moving. Removals can be thousands for a big move plus what are the travel expenses. Speaking to the human calculator that is DH he reckons the petrol would be at least £60 to £70.