Huge life-altering opportunity. Can I run it by you please? Need some opinions.

[Posey]

At present we live in a nice part of London in a flat (me, dh and 2 kids). DC go to local school which we are very happy with (will have a few concerns come secondary school, dd is presently in y5)). Dh has a well paid job, but it is quite stressful at times and hours are pretty unsocial. It is also London-based. I work part time in a nursery (fits in with school). We, and the children have friends, good social network and have made our life and home here, although we have no family close by.
We use London to the full, take all it has to offer and love it. I really haven't lost my love of the city after 20 years here (all my adult life)

Now we have just discovered a dream opportunity. For sale in a favourite part of the country,near the sea and near to dh's parents, is a shop. With good accomadation (probably bigger than we have now plus a garden), and a self-contained flat (which they currently let out for holidays). We can afford it due to moving out of London and dh knows what he would like to do with the shop.
Now obviously we would need to do a bit of serious maths to work out if it is viable. Dh is very fed up with his job, but dd is adamant she's not leaving London! Ds is still little and hasn't got really into a school/social network just yet so would probably love the garden and the beach. And me, I just don't know.

Any thoughts?

Maybe this particular shop isn't the one for you but it could be the spark for something else. Why don't you take a holiday to the area and investigate shops/houses/job opportunities actually in the town you really like?
Don't forget your kids are going to get busier social lives - public transport and all the amenities closer to hand will be very handy. Driving stroppy teenagers around is an occupational hazard for non-urban parents.

Strike that, if it's the New Forest you'll still be driving them everywhere as all their friends will live miles away from each other!

I know the county pretty well as its where dh is from originally and his parents are still there, so I've spent a lot of time there over the past 18 years. My big concern is that its just too small a place, a bit too curtain twitchy, and that we will definitely be newcomers, which we wouldn't be in a bigger place. And having a shop, everyone would "know" you, is that a help or hindrance?!
Without saying too much about where it is, its on the Dorset side rather than Portsmouth direction, probably equidistant from Bournemouth and Southampton.

You summed it up there, Posey.

I'd stay put.

I think you may be right there Expat!

As I've been reading this, I've found I'm nodding along to all the reasons not to move and erming at the reasons to go. I'm not sure I'm ready for the move tbh but dh seemed so enthusiastic (he's at work now, dreaming probably!!)

I've jumped from a frying pan into a fire way more times in my life than should have been necessary for most people not so thick as I am to learn a lesson.

Believe you me, I look before I leap these days!

Just want to say a huge thanks to everyone for posting. Am off away now for a few days and may not get on here so don't be offended if you post and I don't reply to you. I'll catch up when I'm back, but in the meantime you've given me lots to think about and discuss with dh.

Posey, I'll think on this some more and post if I think of anything relevant.