I’ve posted on here many times and this is the last time I do this as we have to make a decision and get on with our lives!
Currently in commuter belt surrey. I’ve not jelled with it because:- I can hear the motorway constantly, I find it a bit bland, there isn’t much to do, can be quite stuffy and Tory, have to drive 30-45 mins to visit somewhere decent eg good countryside or into London. I also have negative associations with it as had difficult early years with baby here. Anyway on the positives I like:- nice community, safe, easy to park, enough essential shops, commute fine. Kids like it.
I feel we’d all benefit from a bit more to do. And def for kids when they are teens. I like the idea of an attraction that we use after school like a big river or park for some reason. Also essential is schools - we can go private, I’d like somewhere that isn’t too far away. If they can walk to school amazing. somewhere a bit arty perhaps though not a deal breaker, nice green space/nature on doorstep. We need to be in London 1-2 week so this has opened up options. I’d love a period home with large garden. I’d rather a bigger non overlooked garden than a period home though.
I’m currently unsure whether to move further out or back into London. The other issue is where our parents are - southwest and East Anglia! I think if my parents were further west we would move to Bristol/Bath in a heartbeat but it’s just too far from my mum.
So we’ve come up with these but I need to decide:-
Tun Wells - worried it’s still a bit bland/Tory
Petersham/Teddington - chose here as plane noise not so bad and still villagey. But it’s really expensive and Teddington is suburbia. Will it still be a bit bland?
Lewes/Hove - more my cup of tea but know no one and I can’t figure out the schools. Either seem dire or super elite (Brighton College).
Woodbridge - near mum and seems to tick most boxes but v quiet and commute bad. No friends there.
Countryside somewhere - but where? Could afford a bigger place but would it be too quiet? I keep trying to find a village near a city but can’t!!
Somewhere completely different - I’ve had Sunbury, Berkhamsted, Cambridge, Winchester mentioned but do not know them at all. And I think that might be a step too far as felt wobbly about all this for years.
If you’ve made it this far thank you. I’ve become
V scared of this move as I think I’m associating it with making the wrong move before so finding it all very overwhelming. We need to sort this out as we are renting and got school deadlines coming up.