....to think that retiring away from the city is bonkers?

[NewGrandmummy]

Inspired by another thread about moving away from London with small children, I wonder if anyone else has done as I have done, and actually moved back to London (or another major city) as preparation for retirement?

I truly don't understand the 'let's retire to the seaside/a rural smallholding/a tiny village' that seems to be in so many older people's minds. Why do that at a time of life when you will most likely have to give up driving at some point? How will you get to the supermarket/doctor/dentist/hospital/cinema/pub etc?

I'd love to hear from those who've moved out of London/a city for retirement and regretted it, or those who, like me, are moving towards civilisation (rather than away from it) as they get older.

You know public transport is available outside of London don't you ? Or even if we are feeling flush Taxis!

I get what you're saying, my job involves caring for elderly people in the community when they come out of hospital. There's a large amount of people retiring to the country, sometimes small villages in the middle of nowhere where there's little to no public transport and when they're unable to drive they're stuck. It baffles me that they would isolate themselves in that way and often they're regretful that they're so far away from community and amenities.

I think OP is only thinking about really rural places. I live by the sea, but as you say, there's great transport links along the coast. Inland a bit it's not the same at all and they have the "Tuesday bus" connecting the villages to the towns.

My parents did this and they are stuck on a high mountain in the middle of nowhere. People need people and this has been my biggest salutary learning.

I moved into a town from a village. I can get to doctor, dentist, shops by wheelchair.

hospital is a car ride but lots of towns don’t have hospitals. My county only has one.

i will say that London is an absolute fucker to get around if you have mobility difficulties though. My son lives in London and my dd went to Newcastle uni and Newcastle is so so much easier to get around in a wheelchair

I moved out of London not to retire but to start a family. We moved to a large seaside town with a train station so DH could commute back to work. Now we are retired I really wouldn't move anywhere else. We have buses, trains, an excellent shopping centre, grocery deliveries, doctors, a hospital, dentists and from our house it's a 4 minute train journey to the seafront with an 8-10 walk either end.

We also get touring London shows, Moscow ballet, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and others in our theatres and we have three official theatres and several other music venues. We can also travel to the other seaside towns in close proximity if we want other things because they also have theatres, etc.

Frankly I think London is a s**thole and I'd never go back.

I don’t think OP was saying ONLY London counted as a place with public transport. But there are certainly loads of lovely rural locations where there only one taxi and it needs to be booked well in advance to be sure of getting it.

I vividly remember a family holiday in rural Herefordshire which was absolutely gorgeous, but we needed to be given a lift back to our let by a kindly local who took pity on us because there was no taxi (ooops!) and the road back was dangerous to try on foot in the dark after a pub dinner!

So you only want to hear from people who agree with you? 😁

I've just retired. I live in a rural village with my friends around me.

I live here because I like:
Fields and trees
Clean air to run in
Birdsong
Safe roads to cycle on
Lower stress
Lower crime rates
More available GP & dental services
Lower costs
More space for friends & rellies to come and stay
Less traffic
Stronger community

It might take me longer to book a taxi, and take aways are few and far between but otherwise, what is it you think we lack? I'm 30 miles from a main hospital, not 3,000.

i agree with op. For a good while, DH and I talked about moving to the seaside. Then we have had some health issues and the proximity of all that a big city (we live in zone 2 london) has, and additional services/ease really came into focus.

As the to lady who is thinking of retiring to London , this would be my dream . Just a small flat , little maintenance, excellent public transport , so much to do alone or with other people . No idea about public services such as GPs but a lot of excellent hospitals on your doorstep. All I need is a Lotto win for my dream to come true.

But anyone who lives in such a community arranges their transport first, or is used to walking three miles after supper wearing a high viz and a head torch. It really is no big deal.

I agree @NewGrandmummy and this is also a salutary reminder to me as I’m at the stage of dreaming of a return to the country for retirement, even though I know it’s madness!

Right, but I think OP is making the point that as you get older walking 3 miles with a high vis and a headtorch might become a much bigger deal. It makes sense to a lot of people to move into a smaller property in the city so all services are more accessible even if your mobility declines.

It’s a big deal when they’re 80+ and need help getting places.

There’s a very big middle ground. “Away from the city” could mean, as I plan, living in a medium sized market town - there are shops, a dentist and doctors, a bus route, pubs and restaurants etc. I don’t see what’s mad about that.

Also retirement covers a long time for some people, especially those who retire early - if you retire at 60 you could have 15-20 years before you need to give up driving. No one says to a 21 year old it’s mad to live in a city centre flat because in 15-20 years they might be married with three kids and a Labrador.

There is a point where it’s sensible to start thinking about frail old age, but I don’t think it’s necessarily at retirement, at least for the generation retiring now. Might be different in years to come as the pension age rises.

Now in early 70s. Moved to the seaside from London (where I had lived all my life) 19 years ago

Love it - on a very regular bus route which goes to station, doctor, dentist, hospital and other towns. A Waitrose 5 minutes walk away.
Lots of lovely bars and restaurants by our marina. Friends from London love visiting. Made a whole new group of friends and - most importantly - met my partner down here

We go to London occasionally for gigs and to meet friends but I’m quite happy to leave now. Too fast and while I miss the South Bank, theatres etc we’ve got local places which have increasingly better shows and concerts

Did you move there on retirement from a big city?
I think that is what the OP is asking.

I live in a smallish town. I like it but if I was to move for retirement I would move to a larger town/city rather than more rurally. I hate patchy public transport and I don't like driving at night. I like a good choice of pubs and restaurants, theatre and other activities. I'd want things closer to me rather than further away if I was retired.

Cute how you think everyone lives in London.

The OP is talking about moving rurally for retirement. Many people in this situation won’t have people to support with transport and won’t be used to walking rurally. If you’ve done it for years it’s probably easier.

I spent many years working as a community nurse and saw a lot of situations where people really struggle as they were out in the sticks (not living in a town or village but down farm tracks, in hamlets in the complete middle of nowhere that gets cut off in bad weather etc. I knew a few people who had to go into residential care as care agencies didn’t cover their areas (or if they did were already full of other rural folk).

I live semi rural but have shops, doctors etc nearby. I wouldn’t move properly rural as I got older.

Moving to a small town or a big village with plenty of public services, doctors, shops etc makes perfect sense. I'd avoid moving to the arse end of nowhere though.

I am retired, disabled and live in the country. I would not wish to be anywhere else. The beautiful views from my windows feed my soul at a time when I have been forced to spend more time at home - I could not bear to be looking out on a busy street. I would feel totally hemmed in. And I take great joy in the peace and the sounds of nature - traffic passing by all the time is not for me. The loudest sound here is from the cows farting!

I live in a small community of loving people and we all help each other out in any way we can all the time. For instance I never have to put my bin out as neighbours do it for me unasked as they know it would cause me pain.

I am a trustee of the village hall where there are masses of activities to join in: films, live music, National Theatre Live, social get-togethers, yoga, PIlates, fitness classes ....... the list is endless.

There are of course downsides, including the distance to travel to a surgery but if I found myself no longer able to drive I would use the saved money from selling car, no road tax, petrol, maintenance etc to take taxis or use the rural voluntary transport. And neighbours would all be jumping up to help - it's that sort of place. And I do all my shopping online, so that is not a problem.

There's 25 years difference between retirement at 60 and being rocky on your feet at 85.

I would not want to waste those 25 years, living in a city, in expectation of becoming infirm. How depressing. I'll move at 85, or whenever it happens.

It comes down to some people prefer city and some prefer rural environments, and that colours their decisions. Remember there are plenty of small market towns that provide for every necessity in life. A good compromise.

Growing up I was always surprised when my parents’ friends tended to move into city flats after their kids left home, leaving large detached homes with nice gardens in the suburbs. Now in my 60s I well understand it! I live in zone 3, terraced house near parks and good schools - very family oriented. I want to move to a smaller flat zone 2 near the hustle and bustle. I want to be able to walk out my door and in five minutes be at a café/restaurant/shop. Walk to the tube and be a short couple stops to museums and theatre. I don’t need a big garden or big rooms and big bills.
I used to live by the sea. Lovely yes but not a lot to do and very car dependent. Might be different if my DH was still alive but he’s not so I want life around me.

We currently live in the arse end of nowhere. No public transport, or neighbours or anything in within less than a 10 minute car journey. We absolutely love it, for now, but I’m mindful that as we age, our needs will change. We plan to stay for another 10 years (everything being well!) then we will look at downsizing into a small town or a village. I wouldn’t live in London if you paid me.

I agree with you, OP. City and accessibility all the way for me.