Retiring by the sea

Tricia89 - I was brought up near Leigh-on-Sea - we used to cycle to the cocklesheds - I doubt whether they are still there, or at last they are probably subject to all sorts of health and safety regulations that were definitely not there when I was a child!!

We now live in the wilds of the south Wales border - a long way from the sea! I desperately miss it but we are near two of our children and enjoy our role with the care of GC. OH is not well and we would not want top be far from family. And, to make up for no sea, we have the most sublime uninterrupted view south across a Welsh valley from our wonderful south-facing house with balcony. So, even though I miss the sea, this is the right place for us to be.

We moved last year from Northamptonshire, as far from the sea as you can get in the UK, to North Wales, now we are 15 mins from Kinmel bay, Gronant and Talacre and 25 fron Llandudno, fantastic and with mountains to climb, or drive up and walk on to admire the view, Mold Theatre 15 mins away which has an excellent programme, a small town with shop, pharmacy, post office, butcher, hair dresser, two pubs, Town Hall, memorial Hall, school, church and bus service. We also have our son and grandchildren only 25 minutes away in Chester and the train service from London is good so our daughter can easily visit. We don't regret it at all and if you chose the right place (in a rain shadow) it really doesn't often rain. We do have a large conservatory that we live in from April to October which I highly recommend. Wales also seems cheaper and some of the council services more old fashioned in a nice way, you actually get to talk to people!

carolmary, I'm jealous! If I could pick up all my DC and DGC and bring them with me I'd be back up there like a shot! They all love visiting with me, much as they like living where we do. And I count myself very lucky that I have them all close at hand, wherever we live. But how I miss that seaweed smell and good fresh salty air.

I was also a seaside child and have rarely been happy away from the coast. We currently live in a seaside satellite of Edinburgh. It's lovely at some times of the day and the year. But other people like it too, understandably. On sunny weekends the motorbikes and the crowds roar in, and our trains into town are becoming uncomfortably crowded as more new housing is built to cater for demand to live by the sea. That being said, one of the options when DH retires is to move 'home' to Tynemouth, part of Newcastles's coast, which will likely be even busier! The benefits of both our current home and, more so, Tynemouth, is that they allow walking on the beach alongside local amenities and relatively easy access to more urban pleasures. It's always going to be a compromise....

MaggieMaybe, I feel for you.

We have lived on the Cleveland coast for 40 years and wouuld not live anywhere else. We live 10 minutes walk from a wide empty beach and it is great in all weathers. There are plenty of activities for seniors, volunteering, clubs, U3a (a fantastic group near here). Lots of terrific walks within easy walking and driving distance. Our Hertfordshire based DD and GCs spend most of their holidays here, even urban- southerner SIL can bear it for a wek at Christmas!
Having said that, it's not for everyone. I'd also suggest renting for a while or a winter holiday. Houses are quite cheap here too. Nowadays, a Londoner could sell a semi and buy a mansion! (Too late for us!)

I live near the sea on the East Coast. My house is about 15 - 20 minutes walk from the beach. I love it because the sea is ever changing, sometimes blue with gentle waves, sometimes a raging crashing storm. I never get tired of watching it. The other lovely thing is it is a community hub for locals and visitors alike. We have some lovely cafes, parks and walks by the sea. People walk and congregate on the seaside walks. My favourite sea front cafe does music nights on Sunday's where we listen to the music while watching the sea in all seasons.

Born and bred by the sea but when I retired I couldn't move even further away from my family so stayed in the middle of England. 50 years since I left Scotland, I still miss the sea

I have lived by the sea, south coast on The Solent for the last 16 years and love it. I lived almost on the beach for the first 18 months and found it not so good in the winter and the house was hit by a tornado which broke windows and scared me half to death. The maintenance is high too with all the salt in the air. I now live a two minute walk from the beach which is much more sheltered and don't ever intend to move away.

Thirteen years ago we sold up in the UK and retired to the south west of Turkey overlooking the sea and with guaranteed sunshine. After a few years of retirement
I found a new career in hotel management at the age of 57. Loved it and did it until I retired again at 64. One year ago we decided to move again as there is considerable unrest in Turkey so we came to Cyprus. Again a house overlooking the sea. In fact I've just got home from the local beach where I am able to swim in the sea on the days when it is too hot to take a walk in the mountains. Follow your dreams. There is nothing much worse than wishing you had done something in life
but didn't take the opportunities on offer.

I lived in Eastbourne for 35 years and loved it, best seaside town I know. However, when I retired I moved up to East Midlands to be near family (and cheaper property). If we want the sea we go to Skegness which is very nice, and has lots of sand which Eastbourne did not!

I too would add a note of caution. A relative of my husband's retired with her husband to a seaside town in N Wales. He died a couple of years later and she is isolated away from all friends and family. She has had to work hard to make new friends mainly through church and musical activities. In the winter it is bleak - cold and windy - and in the summer crowded. She visits friends at home as often as she can but doesnt like driving long distances and trains are inconvenient. It would not be for me!

I'm in Leigh on Sea, on the north side of the Thames estuary, which at this point is 5 miles wide. We have everything here. Rail and road links, great medical and leisure facilities (the grand-kids included), restaurants and more shops than you could wish for to flash your credit cards. Property here isn't cheap but we've still accumulated a large community of retirees. Essex is much maligned but, much as I'd like to live on an unspoiled coast, I can't sacrifice all amenities on my doorstep. A point coastal dreamers should consider.

Thirteen years ago we bought a small house which overlooks the sea at a half a mile distance. The views are stunning and it is the loveliest place on earth to us. We bought it to retire to but though we have spent much of our happiest time there we have changed our plans. Our grownup children are here and we cannot leave them.

I love living by the sea which I have done for over forty years. I was brought up in s London and the novelty of seeing the sea every day with its differing light and conditions has never worn off. I live in a scruffy seaside town on the s coast close to a river and s Downs. So I have it all!

I live very close to the sea and would hate to move away. I make a point of driving along the seafront for as many journeys as possible (except on hot sunny days when the crowds are out!) I believe the light shining on water is very good for the soul. When we downsize we hope to be able to get a flat even closer to the sea. The ideal would be one with a sea view. Nothing more relaxing than watching the sea. Good luck with wherever you move to.

DH loves the seaside and we had plans to buy a bungalow on the East Coast when he retired....we were looking in ernest. Then, quite out of the blue, because we had given up on it happening, along came our grandson and DH couldn't bear the thought of being even an hour's drive away from him, so all plans were off. We lived on the Pembrokeshire coast for a couple of years when DH was still in the Army, and it was quite idyllic. He loved it even in winter, dragging the kids down to the beach in all kinds of wild weather while me and the dog skulked at home! It is still our go-to destination for stay at home holidays, but to be honest, although I like the sea, I'm more of a Wuthering Heights gal myself.

Suffolk coast here. West wind prevailing so low rainfall. Lovely clean air. Sun comes out and the 4 x 4s are out in force so we avoid the town centre between 9.30 and 4.30 in the summer but there are plenty of other places to go. We bought 15 years ago thank goodness as prices are now silly especially for properties nearest the sea. Too many 2nd home owners who seldom come and companies buying for holiday rentals. Social life - too much!! Life expectancy seems to be 90+ . Best thing we ever did and our circle of friends wider than ever before. Also a very caring community - we look after each other, especially true of our WI which has over 70 members. Off now to take a chocolate pavlova for our WI fundraiser Soup 'n Pud lunch. Can thoroughly recommended retiring by the sea, but look for somewhere with a sense of community - too big and its just another town. I seldom go to the shops without seeing someone I know.

Last year I moved from the W Midlands to the south coast near Brighton to be close to my son and his baby; also a bit nearer my 2 daughters. It was expensive. The price of my 3 bed semi bought a one bed leasehold flat. It was worth it as my family aren't going to move back north any time soon.
The seaside is wonderful in summer (personally I enjoy the cheerful vibes of daytrippers and their dogs etc) but can be bleak and windy. Its great being able to paddle with GD but I would not recommend moving far away from family and friends as it can be lonely.

I love being by the sea but you need to think very carefully before you up sticks and move. What is it that you like to do, other than walk on the beach? What organisations are there which will enable you to make friends? How far do you want to be from current friends and family? Sorry to be sounding negative but I am just trying to inject a bit of reality into the discussion based on what I have seen happen to friends and family after the great-retirement-move.

Reading back through the threads, Eloethan's comment, "small towns can seem bleak and deserted in winter", yes I agree smaller places can have than deserted out of season feel to them, I think I felt that when we visited Salcombe, South Hams, Devon, a few years ago. A lovely place that suffers from the" 2nd home syndrome", which leave them deserted and businesses struggling out of season. Parts of Cornwall I imagine are similar. I think places such as Eastbourne, Brighton and Bournemouth are large and pretty densely populated so possibly they don't have that deserted quality about them, but are merely less heaving in the colder months.

We look onto the shore as we shower in the morning. With no one to see we don't need blinds/curtains in our bathroom. In the summer the tree canopy hinders our view somewhat, but throughout the late autumn, winter and early spring we have interrupted views along the coast and out to sea. Walking the coastal path seeing the flora and fauna, seal and bird watching are such an absolute joy. We feel very privileged.

Sheilasue - You have made a valid point. My grandparents retired to live by the sea in Sussex, my grandfather died after they had been there a few years and my grandmother found herself cut off from the rest of the family surrounded by a sea of widows, so yes it's something to bear in mind. An aunt of mine said she would never move to the coast for that very reason because she preferred to be in a "mixed community" it is a fact that some coastal areas have a much larger propensity of older people and the driving can at times be shocking Christchurch, Dorset is a town I love, but I read somewhere it has one of the oldest demographics in the country still lovely as is your choice Swanage CrowZoneRadio, and the surrounding Isle of Purbeck, which apparently was Enid Blyton's inspiration for the settings of all those Famous Five books.

We moved to be near our DD and grandchildren and were quite happy there. After two years they decided to move to Spain so we were left wondering where we want ed to live. We found a lovely bungalow on the South West coast of Scotland and have now been here 8 years. The property is unbelievably cheap compared to other parts of the u.k. The beach is just across the road from us and I never tire of watching the tide. Yes, property maintainance has to be more regular because of the salt and we do have to be careful which plants to buy.
These last few hot days it has been a joy to see youngsters swimming in the sea after school.
I would say 'go for it'

We live right on the promenade, our house, our front garden, promenade, beach!
I've always lived on the coast and wouldn't ever want to live anywhere else.
It can be a bit on the cold and breezy side in winter, but us coastal born folk are quite hardy types, we're used to it!
We look out over the Irish sea, so our view is glorious
DH complains that at times, the salt air doesn't do the car paintwork any good, but if he always used the garage that wouldn't be a problem
There is a slight drawback of visitors driving along the prom, parking, children playing on the beach, sometimes it can get a bit much, but we have the view and the beach all the time, so we're happy to share!
It's a small coastal town, so we have good shops and a railway station within easy walking distance.
Although we'd like a bungalow as my knees are 'shot' they're few and far between on the prom itself and we're loathe to give up our view and fresh air, so if we ever do move it will have to be somewhere within 1-2 miles of the coast! I think a stairlift may be the answer in years to come
There are areas of beautiful countryside inland, but I couldn't live away from the sea!

We fancy retiring to the seaside when the kids finish their A-levels (yes we were late starters!). We live in a rural village in Wiltshire now, but oddly I think the required amenities are more available at a seaside town (we have a bus every other Tuesday into town from here

We fancy Swanage, as our ancestry research has shown it's my wife's roots. all we nee is some money, and bingo!