Anyone moved away from everyone you know in your fifties

[cleo333]

Hi has anyone moved away from your friends and family but made new friends and like the move , have you done this in your fifties and where did you go ?

Sorry for so many questions , it's just where I live is declining fact due to huge house build whereas I previously loved it
, so considering a move but scared I will be lonely

My mum did in her middle 50s. She made friends and loves it there now. Shes been there 25 year.
When my grandkid grows up i will move if i can. Life doesn't wait for you. Have a couple week holiday where u want to move to then see how you feel.

I did in my mid 40’s, due to DH work. Almost 8 years ago now and couldn’t be happier.

Yup, I moved aged 55 from London to Oxford. Mind you, a lot of friends had already moved out as London had become increasingly shit. I also wanted a house not a flat. No regrets.

I chose Oxford as it's not provincial because of the university, essentially a rich town because of the university - certainly not without its problems but it was the right decision. I'm not particularly sociable but plenty on offer if I wanted to get out there more.

If you want to move because your area is declining, then just make sure the place you move to isn't declining.

Yes moved to North West. I'm not particularly sociable, whole family with teenagers came 4 children 1 at uni. Inlaws moved later. Glad we did.

Thanks for your replies what did you do to make friends?

As this is under rural living I'm thinking you were thinking more about country but near a big town or city would be best as just more going on assuming you drive. One of our reasons was similar, in South East where alot of houses were being built. Things linked to hobbies and interests, churches (if you're Christian), volunteering, walking groups, sports I would think.

We did just that, moved from the south 200 miles to the north, we were mid 50’s, knew no one although 1 DD under an hour away but no one where we actually moved to, then lockdown hit which made it very hard but things got easier, we have friends, have a good social life, a great house and it was the best move we could have made, we love our life and where we live

I moved countries aged 49?

Is

I'm planning on doing this. I'm approaching 55 and have a 13 yo son (lone parent). I am quite sociable and love chatting to people so not worried about making friends. I'll join a gym for a start. When I moved towns in my 30's, that was how I made friends when I didn't know anybody.

Thanks everyone it's great to hear your stories . I'm thinking a village with a community and a bungalow maybe so I don't have to move again . I'm scared I guess if being lonely

I moved 175 miles away from everyone I knew. Life is short and I wanted something new - nothing wrong with where I was
I have made many friends - one good friend is someone I just spoke to in passing, I wanted directions for a walk - and she is a keen walker.
The village has events going on - garden competitions, pub quizzes
I joined organisations such as U3A - a very strange feeling like the first day at school or a new job.
Perhaps it takes a curiosity of mind - I dont know - good luck with your decision

If you’re going to be retired or working part time, finding volunteering opportunities is a great way of making new friends, or if you like fitness classes, they’re also a good way to meet people.

I’m 59 and three years ago moved 5 + hours from my close friends to a place I’d only visited once before I picked up the keys! I love it here and have made lots of friends my age younger and older. Increasingly I contact/see my friends in my old home less and less and TBH I feel quite down at the prospect of leaving my home to go down to see them. I
I an a friendly out going person I live in a very rural tiny village (160 in the population) and it has few holiday homes and lots of community activities. I have a dog and walk a lot dog owners always talk to other dog owners Ive made 5 really good friends that way, I also joined a couple of local sports clubs (I’m not sporty at all) and I actually enjoys it (much to my surprise) and Ive made more friend. I also have lovely neighbours.
I lived fairly rurally before but now I live and work in a very rural area where the loudest thing most of the time is the birds I’ve been through a lot in the last 10+ years including the death of my mother and the breakdown of my marriage. I was bought up in a very rural location/community and always dreamt of returning (although it’s changed now) it’s miles from there, at the other end of the country, but after many years of searching I feel Ive finally come home.
PM if you want to know more.
Good luck.

Im meant to say Im not near a city in fact the nearest city is over 2 hours away and the nearest bigish one is a 40 mins drive away but I do have two very small towns near by (20+ mins). I’m just lucky that my village has an active community and both towns have a busy active community one in particular has a lot of very active pensioners who seem very keen to organise activities for all ages. We are not a popular tourist destination although it’s stunningly beautiful here but luckily largely unknown so apart from a few villages most people live here rather than visit I think that makes a big difference if your looking at making new friends and finding activities.

That sounds similar to where we are (North West) I haven't made much of an effort, very inspiring. It does seem abit random whether there is alot going on, our small town is abit dead but there are more lively ones nearby and location is spectacular but not that known about.