Retiring to the Isle of Wight

[EzLife]

Hi,

Semi-nearly retired and looking to move to the IoW.

Have visited and will do again next month.

Considerations:
Local shops, coast/beach walkable, ideally not too far from ferries, good GP and Dentist not far away - thinking should we be unable to drive in the future.

I appreciate there are downsides like fewer shops and ferries are £££ but the island has drawn me in...

What are your thoughts?

TIA 🙏

If I lived there I'd go for around Seaview or St Helens. West Wight is also really nice though.

I feel like it's an up and coming place as well that has only realised in the last 10-20 years that it has really nice fresh local produce and has started to make more of it. Whilst still retaining the old fashioned charm.

Both of my parents have passed away now but DDs (19 and 16) are looking forward to going back for a holiday this summer, which I think says a lot.

Thanks for your response, it's a real shame that the ferries charge such high prices, I suppose it helps manage visitor numbers though - maybe the reason?

We've been before as foot passengers - fares aren't too bad - and used the train and public transport to get around, perhaps I'll need to literally get on my bike when visiting the mainland...

Todat’s Escape to the Country on BBC1 is a couple retiring to the Isle of Wight

And the housing issue?

Thanks, and agreed, although I've read that Seaview has a number of holiday and second homes which could be a deterrent.

Don't underestimate the cost of the ferries especially during the Summer period.

As also mentioned factor in that you may need treatment in hospitals off island and the costs can significantly mount up if you are driving to another hospital in say Southampton or Portsmouth for weekly treatments.

@EzLife I know a few people who’ve moved there, a young family and a couple of older friends. All love it, all have zero regrets. One lives in Ryde, not sure of the others.

My parents lived there until retirement, and retired to the mainland. Mostly because of various experiences of healthcare (included cancer, surgery, and various chronic conditions), they did not want to be a ferry away from hospital. I have never lived there.

When going back, visiting friends after they had retired one of my parents had an issue and ended up at A&E on the island. A major issue was dismissed as a minor issue which snowballed into lifelong disability now. All anecdotal, I know, but hard. Also, timing travel to go to hospital appointments in Portsmouth and Southampton is a pain!

£100 to go and see your parents for the day is horrible too. But it is a beautiful place.

Thanks and agreed, the old-fashioned charm is a draw, as is the opportunity to live a healthier lifestyle. 🤞

Thank you! Missed it but will watch on Iplayer later.🙏

That's great to know, thank you. 🙏

So would I, St Helen's is my favourite IOW beach and they aren't far from Ryde. Although I think in some ways I'd rather live in a bigger town, such as Ryde so I wasn't driving as much. But at least they are near the big Tesco.

Thanks, good advice and certainly a major consideration.

My son was going to go to a SEN school there and my major concern is that once the last ferry has gone, there's no access. I could drive through the night to get 300 miles from home. But nothing will get you across to the IOW at night. I think that's different with a child.

My friend lives on the IOM so I know you get used to it ( or buy a jetski 🤣)

Oh, you've made me want to go there now! I had a day trip last month and it wasn't long enough. For me, an actual feasible plan would be to retire to Southsea, which I also love and then I could go over on the hovercraft whenever I felt like it.

The ferries run pretty late and early, it's only about two hours of the night they don't run. It's not like Scilly where you could get easily get cut off by a bit of low cloud at the airport.

I used to come over on the 10pm with DDs when they were quite small, on my own sometimes - they thought it was exciting going at night.

My 96 yo father lives there and I have lived there on and off for years (though was brought up in Sussex and now London). The health services are a bit thin tbh and often require trips to Southampton - ferries are expensive. Islanders can be very anti-newcomers. On thd plus side, it’s a lovely gentle place to live a super for older people.

I think you'll that is a nationwide issue, in my case I would be downsizing, freeing up a family property which has a cascade effect effect albeit in a different location.

Thanks, guess I'll need to work on my social acceptance skills, good to hear that your father still lives there - 96 yy and roll on !00! 😊

Absolutely not because of the healthcare alone.

Thanks for your considered response! 🙏

The good and the not-so, much appreciated, it's a real shame about healthcare because it's so important for both young and older - sorry to hear of your friends' and your own challenges.

And so many positives, it's going to be a difficult decision...

....but you'd still be taking a house which a working family could live in on the island.

Islanders anywhere aren't necessarily anti-incomer per se, the biggest issue where I live is newcomers arriving and either not contributing or trying to turn in into wherever they came from.

You're totally missing the point here. It's irrelevant that you're freeing up a family house elsewhere. It's the house you're taking up on the IOW that's the issue. Put simply, if you live there, a nurse (for example) can't.
I've never been to the IOW but this is a huge issue in rural and island communities in Scotland too. Personally I think you're crazy to consider a move like this at your age.