City Life to Country Life?

[Muddywellyboots]

We live in a big city but it's 'green' and friendly as cities go. We have a fab high street with all the amenities you could want cafes/parks/bars/shops etc. We've lived here 15 years but now have 2 children (2.5yrs and 6mo) and a dog. We live in a Victorian terrace and have out grown it. We can't afford a bigger house in the area and also hanker for more space/rural life as we both grew up in rural areas. We've found a lovely house which is huge, massive garden etc etc. But it's down a lane on its own. You can walk to a v small village in 10 mins (1 pub/1 set of swings/1 shop) and the area we live in now is 10 mins drive away.

So...my question is are we going to find the move out a big shock? Not having everything on our doorstep despite craving space? Anyone done this?

You'll be fine. Your children when they are teenagers will hate you though.

You will be a constant taxi, if you are still there when your children are old enough to play sport, join after school activities. When they are teenagers you will be picking them up late at night.

We nearly did this, until we talked to friends with teenagers, who lived in the country. We moved to the edge of a city, on a bus route.

I'd say that having a pre-school and primary within walking distance is a huge plus and helps create a sense of community.

Wouldn't worry about attitude of teenagers. I grew up in rural village and we preserved our childhood in a way my friends who grew up in didn't. So pluses and minuses.

We were too scared to, and moved to the edge of a village which seemed the compromise. Now we wish we had been braver and moved to a more rural house.

Wherever you move to in the country, I do think being a taxi driver for the kids is only fair, having moved them to the middle of nowhere.

I think if you'll still be 10mins from your current location, what's to lose? We did a 'big move' from a city to a village 1.5 hrs away. We love our new house (space, garden, etc) but I do really miss being close to friends and I'm having to make lots of effort to make new local ones - but it sounds like you wouldn't have that issue...

Go for it!
Once you acclimatise to having to drive for 10 mins to get to big shops/docs/restaurants etc you won't even notice! Think about it - if you were off out for a meal/party etc and it was the other side of town, how long would spend sitting in a taxi to go half a mile?
Myself and DH made the move 5 years ago and although it is a bit of a shock to begin with, you soon get used to it. And the trade off is SO worth it :D
Good luck! x

It's possible to be a lot more rural than you are at the moment but still be in a village or smaller town so your kids have a park/friends/school near enough to walk to. Can you walk to your village along a pavement or are you taking your life in your hands?

Otherwise we love living in the country