Which house/life? Choosing today

[Longsummerdays25]

NC for this thread. For three years dh and I have been going over the same decision, and I would appreciate your input - what would you do in our positron?

We have a buyer for our house, and it’s progressing really rapidly. Dh is 58 and doing a high intensity job and getting very tired. I am working pt, I have just finished some new qualifications that will mean I can work more lucratively, and remotely if I wish (53) dc are late teens/early 20s. We must decide today a fairly life changing decision. We are downsizing.

Option A) Use all of our available funds to buy a bigger house than we need for the two of us in our immediate area, so that dc have plenty of space when they come back from uni, on the off chance they might remain with us for longer it has plenty of space, very close to my friends. Dh will have to work for at least another 3 years plus. We won’t have any spare funds to do anything beyond cover our bills/basic holidays for a good long while.

Option B) Move half an hour away to a pretty village, still within easy reach of our friends but they will not be on the doorstep. Beautiful area and it has a hobby I love to do that is easily accessible. Buy a smaller house but with enough bedrooms for each dc and a teen den for dc. Friends will have to travel 1/2 hour to see us at home but we usually meet in town, and that’s 20 mins away,. It would mean we could free up funds to have adventures or even buy a small place overseas which is a joint dream of ours. Dh can retire or go pt as soon as he needs to.

Option C) move back to family town which is commutable to London but dc’s friends are here and they won’t know anyone. The upside is they can live closer to London for work eventually. Assuming they want to.

WWYD?

We need to make an offer before we run out of time!

Thabk you

Option B all day long.

No brainier……. B.

Yep this

I'd go for option B because your hobby is in easy reach. If your friends don't do the drive, you can always drive to your current village and arrange to meet them in a pub or restaurant or park there.
I like option A second, I'd love to have a bigger house myself. If your hubby is likely to make no changes to his work, your three years of being relatively skint will pass quickly.
I don't like option C at all.

B. It's a no brainer!

Definitely option B.

You are providing space for the kids, so they have privacy and their own room when home but not spending all your money on them and worrying about what they may or may not need, when in late teens and early 20's they will be rapidly changing their minds, experimenting going off on tangents, who knows what they will end up wanting and needing. I imagine they will even benefit from the holiday home too?

Half an hour/20 mins is no distance at all for friend meet ups.

Option B option B option B! 😀Enjoy your life!

Um nope!!! Option B definitely! The kids are almost grown, it's now time for OP and her DH to decide what works best for them!

B!

Option B.

Half an hour is nothing and at your age life is too short to put off a better work life balance. That sounds depressing but we all know people who have hit major health challenges in their 50s.

B is a complete no brainer at every level.
Many people drive to meet friends.
I drive anything for 10-30 minutes to see friends in a city and would never give it a second thought.
Most people are the same.

You might find your fridnds want to visit you more when you live in such a lovely area.

Option B makes total sense. Good luck.

Option. B

Definitely B. It's a good compromise.

Option B as long as it a good enough public transport system for the kids to get places without relying completely on you for lifts.

B. Half an hour is nothing.

I had a great thing going when my kids were little. Several amazing friends and their kids all within walking distance. We hung out all the time!

Well now, just 4 years later, only one of those 4 families still lives in that neighbourhood. Lives change, people move on. I’d never arrange plans for my family and my future financial security round my friends, much as I love them!

Take option B. Good friends will definitely travel 30 minutes to see you. And anyway, you’re willing to travel to them so nothing will change for them anyway.

B for sure. And it doesn’t have to be forever. You may move again as you get older.

We are in a large five bedroom house small village with one young adult DC and although we love it now I know we will downsize in a few years. And we will want shops, restaurants and facilities within walking distance. Quite a few in the village are doing the same thing.

B.
Have fun, adventures and holidays when you can , you never know when it’ll end. Half an hour travel to visit friends is nothing.

Before I even read any replies, I said option B to myself.
You've said yourself that you usually meet friends in town for coffee/lunch and that they only come for dinner about three times a year, so it's madness to factor that into your decision!
You could always meet for dinner in the town.
Go for it! It sounds pretty much ideal.

B!

I’ve had friends in your situation move more like 2 hours away and that has been tough with making new friends. Your move sounds a doddle! You will have to drive people around a lot but you will both have time to do that. Do it!!

B

Option B, but do make sure taxis or uber easily available or public transport is adequate for your needs, We live in a village with very poor public transport and extremely limited taxi service. Still no Uber here. I'm not able to drive currently and it's very isolating even though it's a lovely village. Be certain that there are alternatives if at some point in the future you don't want to/cant drive,

Only trouble maybe with B is health in older age - which can deteriorate unexpectedly - may be difficult if not able to drive.

Option B. Your children won't be with you for ever, a smaller house and the money to do things, enjoy life - the obvious choice.

B

B