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.

Ooh fascinating. Can you tell us the job and or the city?

East Midlands city. Came to uni here. Married. Stayed. Like the bustle and sense of place of the city . Originally from a pretty anonymous commuter town outside London

I live where I am as I have always wanted to live by the seaside. Where I lived before house prices were so expensive, so when I had the opportunity I moved to where I live now

We lived abroad for a few years. Wen we came back we drew a line around north London to work out where was (a) commutable to central London for work and (b) in easy reach of motorways for visiting elderly parents in the north. Looked at four different towns, narrowed it down to two and found a house we liked. I don't love it here but it's OK. Long term plan is to move to the coast when we retire in a few years.

Met DH at uni in London - his family lived in a commutable home county, mine three hours away in rural touristy county. So we gravitated to his family, lived with them for a bit rather than renting in London and eventually bought in the next town over which was more affordable. So accidentally but I love where we are.

SW London. Used to live in the same area but moved away after DH passed away for a fresh start. But my DD wanted to go to an all girls sixth form which meant moving, and I was keen to move back to London after ten years away.
We live in a three bed terrace in Zone 3. I'd love to live closer in, but can't afford to. I love London with a passion. If I had all the money in the world I'd live in a terrace house in Chelsea overlooking a garden square off Kings Rd.

I live in London, where I grew up. I moved to a Midlands city for a while, but I returned to London when I had a dc to be closer to family. We lived in zone 1 for a long time but moved out to zone 2 for schools. I'm very happy with where we live, it feels central as it's very busy and touristy, and has great public transport links and green spaces, and activities for children. I wouldn't like to live in suburbia or anywhere rural.

It's where I was born. My parents live in my childhood home and we bought a house two streets away. That's been the sum total of my moves in 40 years. Couldn't imagine living anywhere else.

Because its the Caribbean and the weather is warm year round;
Because I live by the beach;
Because the island is tiny and it's easy to get most places;
Because I get paid a lot of money and I don't pay taxes.

Live in Sydney. I visited in the 90s and loved it. Got married, brought DH here, he also loved it. Emigrated here in 2007. Lived close to the Harbour at first and then when we had a family we moved further up the train line to a place where we could afford a house with a garden, close to good schools in a family friendly area.

Love it, can’t see me ever moving, apart from maybe close to the city when I get older but probably not. We’re only 30 mins away and it’s an easy journey (and they keep upgrading and adding new roads and rail lines!) and I just couldn’t imagine leaving.

I’m definitely a big city person. I grew up in a small (< 500,000 people) city, but I felt like I outgrew it. I stayed until my late 20s but I didn’t like the fact I would bump into the same old people from school, old jobs, family friends etc all the time.

I get along absolutely fine with my family, they’re all lovely people, but I chose to move to a much bigger (> 1,000,000 people) city a long way away from everyone so we’re not in each other’s business too much.

I find I’m happier in the relative anonymity of a larger place and I like the increased opportunities for work and diversity of culture.

I grew up in the suburbs/ semi rural and there was nothing to do. One bus an hour that hardly turned up, six miles to any decent pub. Everyone was born and bread there and hadn't moved anywhere or really travelled. It was very car dependent and just boring.
Moved to the nearest city and love it. We can cycle everywhere, there's decent places to go on an evening and things for teens.
Downsides are obviously crime. We have two drug dealers either side of us, with one other house in the middle. Secondary schools are good actually but there's a mass exodus of the middle classes right before secondary due to the fear of 'inner city secondary schools'. What could it be about seeing large groups of black teenagers by the local shops which makes them move? I do wonder what else it could be, as Ofsted reports are good.
I'm genuinely excited for my children to grow up here as we have lots of new initiatives and plans for expansion. The downside is that they might not be able to buy in this place, due to house prices. The only way we got in was because we didn't care about the area.
I do worry about the risk of S.A for my DD, but it can and does unfortunately happen everywhere.

@YellowComb Thames Ditton??

Moved from a large vibrant northern city to what was a smaller equally northern town. Mainly to do nurse training. It was also ex DP’s home town. Back in the 90s it was a vibrant and buzzing place even though a bit deprived in areas and some dreadful schools, but lots of community pride felt for it. Now the town centre is an absolute disgrace. Luckily I live in a niceish area so I’m insulated from the towns problems. I do regret it though, would love to move back over the Pennines when I fully retire but sadly I’m priced out.
I’m bitter that the country has become two tier. My sons will have to move to gain access to those job opportunities and even then they can’t afford to move to a large portion of the country.

Live outside the village where I am from. DH also grew up nearby. It’s not far from motorway and not far from a city. So we have best of both worlds live rurally but plenty of opportunities for jobs within a 30 min radius.

I lived for years in places like. London and also capital city in my own country. They never felt like home and just too many people.

I'm a city rat; I live in a large city. I wouldn't get on at all in a small town or village. I'm fascinated by people: who they are, what they do, why they do it. Large cities make a fabulous stomping ground for me 😍

But my little sis would happily live in a village in an ivy covered cottage. She values scenery and wildlife.

To each, her own 🙏

Live in Bath - love it- nice mix of big facilities, good shopping, lovely countryside and 1hr 17 on train to London.I've met some lovely people - big mix of incomers and people who've always lived here. It's expensive I admit but no more so than many other nicer areas in southern half of UK - we've actually lived all over but this is my favourite as an overall place.

DH had a choice - redundancy or relocate here so we chose here; he had to be within a certain radius of his work as he was on call.

I'd never heard of the place before we moved here but it's a bit like a black hole, there are so many people like us who moved here for similar reasons but have never moved away.

@Crikeyalmighty no, but it's nice there too. Not too far along the river :)

Snowdonia. Born and bred.

i have slate in my veins!

Husband owns a farm here.

We live close to family, friends and work and have never been very far away.
But we moved a short way to where we are because it is isolated, we have no neighbours, no big roads, countryside, a beautiful little cottage and garden. Primary school is lovely and basic amenities only a short walk or drive away.
I'm very happy to with my home location.