Please help - having a wobble re. house/lifestyle change...!

[GetYourMoneyBackAtTheDoor]

I'll try to be brief. We live in a spacious, 3 bed terrace in a lovely, semi-rural town walking distance to schools that DC1 attends, and shops etc. I love it here.

We've always wanted a bigger garden and to be rural - surrounded by countryside, rather than just near to it. We spotted a house in our dream location (only about 3 miles away), top of our budget so viewed it, fell in love with the location, and put our house on the market. It is smaller and neglected (each room needs decorating/carpets, new bathroom/kitchen needed, garden overgrown etc), and I don't love it. It is my dream location though, access straight out onto countryside from the big garden, views for miles. As its top of our budget, we'd have to do the work slowly (he's not very open to offers).

DCs would have to change schools for infants and be driven there, though Juniors is nearby (they are 5 and 2) and walk-able.

I am worried about:
living in a tiny village with not much there. What if we're bored?
changing DC1 school - what if he hates it. His current school is great.
letting someone else have my lovely, light, clean, spacious home!
moving to a smaller house (we'd lose a reception room and downstairs loo, plus smaller rooms overall)

But I've always wanted to live like that, always said none of that would matter if I found a house like this (well, except DC1 hating new school, that would matter), am I just having a wobble or are my instincts saying stay put, it's not right for us?

I sort of wish we'd never seen it, then I wouldn't worry about passing it up and regretting it!

Can anyone share their experiences of making a change like this? Will we miss the indoor space, or will the outdoor space and change in lifestyle make up for it? Doe sit matter that I don't love the house (its alright, that all, but I may love it when it's 'done')?

Any thoughts? Sorry, long but anxious about it now, we've had a viewing and they liked our house. Bastards.

Well I'm just jealous you can get houses that cheap with a big garden in your area!

3 villages means you wouldn't need to change schools etc unless you wanted to I guess? Sounds great.

Its daunting being faced with a big decision so that's probably part of your wobble. Another part might be that you need to update/refresh your definition of "dream". What I mean is, it's so easy to think you want something, and think you want it for a long time that you kind of don't realise that you've moved on or your priorities have changed yet your view of you "dream" hasn't changed. So when you're on the verge if reaching your dream or goal you've spent so long assuming you want it that all of a sudden you're like "oh maybe not".

Anyway I'm waffling now, hopefully that makes a bit of sense... Good luck with whatever you choose. Oh. And also remember nothing is forever.

I grew up in the country (where my parents still live) but currently live on the outskirts of a city/edge of Dartmoor. I loved living rural, even though if you want a pint of milk you have to drive for 6 miles! My DH and I are looking to move to the country but as soon as you get further than 1 mile away from a shop he freaks out.... It seems weird at first but you get used to that way of living (and having a stock of frozen milk or UHT!
I loved being away from it all.... Yes the commute to work is much longer but when you leave Orkney and drive home you leave everything behind and can chill out. I currently live down the road fm the hospital where I work and never get the same feeling as being 'away' from it.

If you live in the country with a lovely garden, the house becomes so much less important as you pend far more time outside doing things rather that sitting n your house

But not the dream location?

Location isn't everything. You will soon grow to dislike this house because it is small and your children will only get bigger and need more and more space.

Aaahhh I see you've updated!