Why do you live where you live?

[LetsRockityRock]

l often wonder how people end up where they live (flat, house, country manor, city centre, rural, next to a motorway, abroad, tourist hot spot, beautiful village, run down town).

I live in a small town outside of a big city. I am from the city, met my DH who is from this small town. House prices were lower here so we got more for our money, and now I prefer small town life to city life. I couldn’t move as have DH family on the doorstep and my family not far away. My town is growing though so I pine for less traffic and more rural views.

I relocated to the north west after living for many years in the south east to be nearer my ageing parents
We wanted to live in a village with a good community feel - good schools etc and not too far from the coast or the hills
I got exactly what I asked for and the house itself meets my needs so I’ve now been here for over 30 years

I live in the suburb of a leafy West Midlands town. I love it here, excellent train links to the rest of the country, the airport is about a 10 minute drive, great shopping, fantastic choices of restaurants, good schools, live near hospitals & it’s very safe.

We also have fantastic neighbours and there is a real sense of community. I don’t think I’d ever leave.

Moved here early 20s looking for work. Fell in love with it, flatly refused to leave when opportunities came to do so, and love it with all my heart.

I am delighted our children have grown up and moved to new places of their own that they love - finding your happy home in the world is a great thing.

Grew up in the north of Scotland, moved to a city in the south of England (not London) for work a decade ago as was at a fork in the road in my career and the perfect opportunity came up at the exact right moment. I hadn't visited the city until I interviewed and knew very little about it, but it quickly felt like home.

Met my DH down here (he grew up in a nearby commuter town) - we've gradually moved further out from the city centre and now live in a family-friendly suburb within city limits. We like where we live and DH's mum is close enough to have a good relationship with our child, so no plans to leave.

I grew up here and after moving around a bit, meeting my DH whilst living in his home city and moving again for his work we came back here to be near my family once our children were born. Financially it was a bad move as far more expensive than where we were living but it has great transport links to DH work, lots of opportunities for my DC as they get older and I love our nearest city. Will need to move house once the DC are bit older but we are tied now with their school and my DD’s SEND provision so will be still in this area.

Nice suburb of Manchester.

We moved here from Bristol when DS was born because it was near my mum who has been very supportive, and the schools were better.

I wanted a community.
We lived in a gorgeous flat/maisonette before we moved here, Absolutely stunning old building, huuuuge rooms, high ceilings, very impressive decor, bueatuful ornate wooden bannisters, gigantic walk in shower and roll top bath etc etc, everyone gushed about it. But I took my children trick or treating at Halloween and had to get a bus to a street with houses, rather than trick or treat in my own street. I loved seeing all these family homes done up, kids running about and neighbours who knew each other chatting away. I thought "I want proper neighbours and a street with other kids" so by mid-December, we had moved to another rental in a different part of town. It's also nearer to the schools. It's not quite as community orientated as I had hoped but the next door neighbours are lovely and their kids really good friends with my kids. We ll take in parcels for each other and send each other Christmas cards. It also has a huge garden. The house itself isn't as beautiful or impressive but it's much much better for our lives.

Because I got rehoused due to being in danger (DV). But I absolutely love it where I am, and never plan to move.

It certainly helps - although we're are very fortunate to have good transport links nearby. We're also part of a rural community, rather than being on our own IYSWIM.

Husband grew up here and the house prices are v.good for the size you get! Some areas are a bit iffy but mostly it's really nice. Found out I was pregnant with DC1 when we were renting in Central London, quickly moved away and bought instead!

Second largest city in the state. I needed a retirement village to accommodate my mum and me. The one in this city was the first to have adjoining units available. We’d been in Queensland for a couple of years and were moving back to our home state. Never lived in this city before, but had visited in years past. I like it here, it serves all our needs.

Zone 2/3. Live a few minutes from Greenwich Park in a huge flat on Blackheath - my entire view is green and quiet.

Because it's beautiful and green, really friendly community. Masses to do obviously since it's London.

I moved here after my children went to uni, this is my perfect place to retire

I've lived all over the uk, never been happy anywhere apart from London

I live between both my family and DH family. We couldn't afford his town and he didn't want to live in mine.

Where we are is a lovely place and lots to do, great for the kids. I would like to be closer to my family though. Also means we have no help with the kids after school and it's an hour round trip to my parents when I need them looked after in summer holidays.

If it weren't for family though I wouldn't even be in this country. Think I'd probably be off to Australia or somewhere much hotter and sunnier.

It was convenient at the time.

Since then the quiet village where everyone knew each other has been killed by a huge housing development which more than doubled the population. All local resources are over stretched and the traffic is a nightmare.

I'd move tomorrow if what I wanted came up for sale.

Flat on the outskirts of London, because it was cheap and the town isn't a shit hole

Because DH lived here and it was cheaper to buy a house here than it was to buy anywhere else.

On paper it wouldn't be my first choice but I love it.

I live in a largish village in a trainline next to a beautiful market town. The nearest city, where I was born and where I work, is too expensive. I wanted to be close to my parents raising DD but my parents live in an undesirable town so I moved somewhere close enough but with better schools and job prospects.
its a lovely place to live, it has almost everything I want except for mountains. I’d like to move north when DD is grown up

Why wouldn't that be possible?

I'm also in rural Cumbria and our local secondary is at the end of our road. Local primary and infants within walking distance too, but we're still a tiny rural town with very little else and about 40 miles from anywhere else.

A suburb of London, moved to London for a much better paid job and prospects, knew this area as two of my mum's friends live nearby.

Well, the dictionary definition of rural is "in the countryside" - it doesn't mean there's absolutely nothing for miles around.

There are lots of small, rural towns and villages with schools etc, out there.

Live in Canada

Love the seasons.

Great town, loads of parks, superb outdoor pool, ice skating arena, amazing library. Great selection of schools. Good transport links. Very leafy neighborhood, has a small town feel.

Mainly because DH is from here and his job is in the centre of our town. Eldest is in year 6 and settled at school. House prices are reasonable in comparison to the rest of the country.

We live in a biggish town about 20 mins from a major city. Transport links are good.

We both would up sticks and move anywhere else but feel to enmeshed here now, particularly regarding the DC.

Well, there's "rural" and "rural" isn't there.

I would say we're rural as we're at least 40 miles from a hospital, a proper supermarket, a cinema, a swimming pool, any kind of chain restaurant or shop (with the exception of a small Tesco and a petrol station Spar), a soft play etc.

We also regularly get cut off in winter due to our location.

But that doesn't mean I live in a house surrounded by miles of nothing in all directions. Many of the school pupils are bussed in, or driven in from the surrounding hamlets too.

The Cambridge one.

rural (adjective).
in, of, or like the countryside.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/rural

Yes, as I said, the secondary school is at the end of our road. The local primary and infants are also within walking distance.

But they're the only ones for 40 miles in any direction.