Retirement locations for single, hippie 70 something

[jaffacakes882]

Hello! My Mum emigrated from the UK in the late 70s when she was 25. From the north originally.

She lived in the new country, worked, raised me, got divorced and still lives there. Is very social, has many good friends, in good health, still works a bit (needs/want to) but is basically semi-retired.

I moved to the UK about a decade ago. I'm in London. Have a partner and a child (her only grandchild, I'm an only child)

My Mum had a combination of bad timing and making a bad decision when she sold her house a few years ago. She's now renting and priced out of where she lives. She's in denial about it. She's okay for now, but that could change.

I am already thinking of possible solutions, one of which is that she moves back to the UK and lives near us. She has mentioned she could consider this. I know it would he a massive thing for her.

I'm wondering where might be some good spots for her. She loves the sea, it couldn't be in the North (she has childhood baggage about moving back there), she's not a typical 70 something. Looks 10 year younger and has the attitude and energy of someone in midlife. She's very social, loves music and theatre, is into alternative medicines, a Labour voter through and through. She has mixed feelings about the UK. Of course it's her roots, loves the humour, pubs, etc. But she never missed the class consciousness that exists here and doesn't like the "Little England" mentality that exists in some parts. I know if she moved back, she would need to be somewhere with like minded people as she would be looking to make new friends.

Any ideas of where could fit the bill?

Brighton, Hove etc? Not cheap but a range of properties.

Totnes in Devon.

LOL, I was just about to type the same.

And me haha!

My other suggestion was going to be He den Bridge but that might be too northern. Is it the whole of the north AB’s rule out, or just part of it?

Bristol - plenty of hippy 70 somethings and lots to do. Or for somewhere smaller and potentially cheaper. Stroud in the Cotswolds.

She wont get a labour MP, but Ryde Isle of Wight ( the island is not all blue rinse and stuck in the 50s despite the common MN perception) Lots of Alternative and music and arts going on and easy fastcat or Portsmouth, and trains to London
Otherwise Brighton ( Lewes may suit her, but expensive) or Bristol?

Totnes is not exactly near London.

OP, where are you based?

There are pockets of alternative thinkers/ artists/ community minded types throughout the South East but in my opinion they can seem to be drowned out by the Little England/ Brexit attitudes in many places.

I'd suggest Brighton area, or wherever it is that Brighton people live when priced out of Brighton. Brighton is an easy train ride to London.

Parts of Somerset /e.g.Glastonbury area are very hippie but maybe thats too much hippy for your mum.

Ely and Norwich have quite an alternative scene but both are inland plus Ely is expensive, and Norwich is cheaper but quite far from everywhere else.

Or how about a house boat?

Margate, very arty these days

Kent coast? Whitstable, Margate, Broadstairs, Folkestone, Deal?

St Leonard’s, Bexhill, Wivenhoe, all worth considering

Totnes is not exactly near London.

It isn't - it's 2 3/4 hrs by train. But everything about the OP's post screams Totnes. Other than that I wonder if she'd qualify for affordable accommodation for the 'elderly' in London? Better to be near you, surrounded by like-minded people and activities, cheap culture with free public transport, and take trips to the sea?

Thanks for the replies. I will take a closer look at these.

I guess by "near me" I meant living in the same country again. Even if she lived in Devon that would feel relatively close. I could visit on a weekend or she could come up here. Much different than now, of having to get on a long-haul flight and only seeing her 2 or so times a year.

What about Wales? Cheap property, plenty of hippy types.

Norwich - esp Golden Triangle area (around Unthank Road). My parents are aging hippies and it suits them very well. Norwich is much more of a Stoke Newington - Brighton type place than people realise, and also much cheaper. Full of lefties. Norwich is home of the UK’s oldest Head Shop after all.

Also from Norwich you can get to the coast very easily. North Norfolk very posh but still artsy / culture-vulture stuff.

Wells in Somerset also nice but a bit Tory and far from coast. Glastonbury next town along for the vibes ✌🏻

all the things you are looking for can be found in London

I think price range needs to be factored in that would help to narrow it down

Whitstable or as a cheaper option in the same area Herne Bay . Loads going on and you are close to Canterbury for the theatre and also London and the continent .

Brighton/Lewes, or Deal in Kent?

A shame about the North. Hebden Bridge would be absolutely perfect for her.

If she’s a really serious hippie then check out the long established Findhorn community and eco village in the NE Scotland - might be a bit far but it’s doable.

I took North to mean the north of England not the UK, so on second thoughts if you mean the UK that wouldn’t be suitable.

Tavistock.

Well budget comes into this and buying or renting? So London probably out I guess?

Otherwise I would say

Rye
Lewes
Totnes
Bath
Frome
Stroud
Gower and wales
Tavistock
Poole
Christchurch
Deal
Whitstable
Canterbury
Broadstairs