....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.

I lived for a long time in London through necessity, then moved out.

Genuinely, I can't think of anything I could not access here, except takeaways. One neighbour is a widow in her 80s, and has no issue.

It 100% comes down to preference. My parents both live in separate large villages and are/ will do fine into their old age. One is pretty much housebound at 72 with illness but has enough amenities and friends nearby. The other is pretty much as fit as a fiddle. I think most people were commenting on the ‘small holding’ comment the OP made which would make life into retirement hard.

I also think it depends where you live what you class as rural. I can be standing on farmland or on a Cotswold hill within 5 mins walk from home but don’t live ‘rurally’ in my eyes as I have a co-op even closer and a bus stop outside my house. Rural to me is properly middle of nowhere, no busses, shops, needs a 4x4 to get around in winter.

Seeing stories of:
repeated attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure
RAF Fairford and
The Britannia Shield
I think that moving away from Places of Interest sounds more and more like a sensible plan.

I have lived in a city (not London) for 40+ years. I'm now retired, and there's no way I'd move to anywhere smaller. Public transport, opportunities, culture, services, trains to other cities (!) all on my doorstep..... I'd go nuts living in a rural area 😂

I am admittedly a city rat, but have never thought it particularly wise to move away from reliable public transport, comprehensive taxi services and the best hospitals at the time of life when statistically one is most likely to need those things.

People often think they'll move when they start to get infirm, but the reality is that by the time the need has undeniably arisen, they won't necessarily be able to face it. In fairness this is also true of people who live right in the middle of cities but in properties they can no longer cope with.

Friends of ours moved to rural N Devon after he retired (she was still working). We often stayed for a weekend, and enjoyed it, but I can honestly say that I was put right off for life, from living anywhere rural. Such a PITA to have to take the car every time you’ve run out of milk or loo roll - 15 mins to the nearest small shop likely to be open. And eventually he couldn’t drive, and the GP and hospital were miles away.

Once widowed, she moved to a flat in the city.

I live at the beach, surrounded by countryside, with excellent public transport and near to a large city.

Why would I want to move to a smelly congested crime ridden çoncrete jungle just because I get old?

My grandparents found it very difficult when they could no longer drive, or walk long distances. Even the nearest bus stop was too far. Let alone the GPs and food shops.
I live in the suburbs of a city and since I have become disabled it really is much more convenient. Anywhere too far for my mobility scooter, I can Uber. All facilities are only a short way away.

I came to say something very similar! It’s not a binary choice between living in the middle of a major city and out in the sticks.

My parents, for example, moved to a small seaside place when they retired and it’s been brilliant. It has enough for their daily needs (a cafe, chemist’s, train station, a large newsagents that also sells a few groceries, and an off licence). If they need more, then it’s an easy train or taxi to the nearest big town and hospital.

Yes, there are fewer taxis but they have their usual drivers who are always fantastic. One particular taxi driver is incredibly kind to them, loads their bags, and even brings an umbrella to the door for them if it’s raining! I don’t think you’d get the same service in London …

The other bonus is they know half the village by now. That power of community spirit is not to be underestimated. My dad fell on a walk and hurt his ankle, and a neighbour found him, looked after him, and drove him home after a cup of tea and a biscuit. Contrast that with London where once I saw a girl faint in the northern line by the tube doors and about 4 people literally walked OVER her to get out before I (and another lady) could get close enough to her to help her!

You say you live in a rural village. I think it’s not as rural as people are describing on this thread. I suspect people are using the term rural for different things.

Yeah, looks like it. OP possibly hasn't helped by having a title that says move away from the city and being much more specific in the post. Because moving to a market town with a few thousand people and living quite centrally in it, perhaps with a regular train service to a larger city available, is going to be quite a different experience to a smallholding.

Moved towards it, from 5 miles drive from anywhere to walking distance to everything. Love it.

I guess most people can't live at the seaside or in small village when they are working so retirement is their chance. Getting to hospital etc is a consideration though.

As long as I’m a walk away from a train station and a few shops I don’t mind if I’m city, town, seaside or village based. Being isolated and cut off would be my idea of hell, so as long as I can get somewhere lively within a 30 minute train journey I’m good.

YANBU. Moving 100s of mile away from a support network is fine when still fit and active but that all changes when illness and infirmity set in. It's not something I would do.

Same, born and grew up on the outskirts of a small city, now retired and living slightly more centrally but still a quiet area. Shops, pubs and restaurants close by. Good public transport links. Countryside and coast easily accessible. Have everything I need, city’s main hospital is on my doorstep and I have no qualms about losing the ability to drive later in life.

I am effectively retired and live in a village. We are definitely rural. However, we have a BR station, 2 (small) supermarkets, several cafes, hotels and hairdressers, a GP, dentists, opticians, pharmacy and several care homes/ retirement complexes. There are a lot of active retired people who run all manner of groups, often in the village or church hall, or go walking, You can get the train or bus to a city a few miles away and there are 2 hospitals within easy bus distance. We could do with an inexpensive gym or health centre, but then lots of people walk or cycle or do dance classes. And it is quite easy to access the theatre, again public transport could get you there.

Though everyone pretty much has a car.

Mind you, I think we are very lucky, really.

Depends where though! Rural Devon? Not so much.

To be fair, the OP did say and any other major city

I'm not sure if there are that many people these days planning to retire to a rural idyll - I don't know any. Maybe a good size market town or an affluent coastal resort would be more appealing

I'm a city girl and staying put!

MN has taught me quite a bit about the unavailability of taxis in rural areas sometimes. I was used to the idea that there's something available if you throw money at it, but seems that's not the case in a lot of areas.

You've got a point @NewGrandmummy

My ILs late 70s and my sister at 60 both moved to very rural locations with no shops, no bus stops within walking distance. I don't get it.

I may move further out when I'm late 60s but will make sure it's not too rural and is still near lots of amenities that we could walk to if unable to drive.

There's seaside and seaside though - my 80+ MiL moved from her farm in the middle of nowhere to Sidmouth, the nonagenarian capital of the UK, everything is in walking distance (though she is still driving), there's a major teaching hospital in Exeter, she has a great group of friends, walks down to the seafront every day, does aquaerobics and dancing several times a week. She also volunteers to help the "old folks".

I would definitely be up for retiring there, there's even a Waitrose! (And a Lidl)

I like to be close to nature, so love walking daily on the beach, swimming in the sea, doing coastal walks. I’d be so miserable if I still lived in a city. I can walk to a Dr, dentist & shops. I also love peace & quiet which a city doesn’t give me. I used to live in London but am much happier now.

London isn’t typical of most cities.

I live in a small market town, currently we can drive but at some point we wont. We have shops, doctors etc very close by. If i wanted to go to Newcastle or York and didnt have a car its a bus then train. If i need to go to hospital its a bus. But so many people move to more remote (only a few miles) very picturesque villages. No shops, no doctor but most importantly, no bus service. Even if you have kids, no schools, nothing for them to do if they aren't outdoorsy/farming types. But the idea if living in a big city could be just as daunting.