Moving to a different area - what are the priorities?

I'm not quite as old as you, but still consider 61 to be the new 51. You may well have another two or three moves in you yet, so I would go with your heart and choose somewhere you really like the look of. Also somewhere with lots going on for when you first retire. There's plenty of time to be worrying about the gloomy things later on and no point being old before your time. Exeter and surrounding areas is nice.

I did that, and they never came. So now I have a bungalow with one upstairs spare bedroom, and it is much better

I would also add that if you can, buy a property with enough space for friends/family to stay comfortably.

And another gloomy - or pragmatic - thought - check out the hospitals where you intend to move to for waiting times etc.

I so agree with the idea that moving in between friends and family is a bad move - you finish up with the worst of both worlds.

At one time we were going to move away, but how glad I am that we did not! - I had a fall when I was 65, and the breakages limit my mobility still - I also had a hip replacement that did not have a good result. My OH was diagnosed with PD. The idea of us having to move to a bungalow (which we have just done) because of mobility problems would never have entered our heads, just as they have not entered yours! We were fit and active and nothing could have been further from our thoughts.

Honestly - either live near your friends or near your family. If you are a distance from your family your visits will still be an "event" - we are near two of our daughters and we are closely and happily involved with the GC. For example, One DD had to take her son to the doctor today, so she dropped by and left her daughter with us for half an hour.

The option you are choosing and the lifestyle you are hoping for are wholly dependent on continuing good health. As we get older that is in no way to be relied upon.

Sorry to sound gloomy, but that is the reality.

Cornwall is quite out of the way for motorways, airports etc if you wish to do any travelling or visiting other parts of the UK. If your DD moves away from there for any reason you could feel quite isolated.

East Devon is quite a lively place for retirees (but I would avoid going as far as Torbay - so busy and built-up although packed full of retired people enjoying themselves!!

However, Dorset and Devon do tend to be hilly.

We live up a hill which we are both finding a bit of a trial as we get older.

We moved (to Surrey) to be near our DDs and but moved away from good friends in S London.
Our list was: Good access to London by road and rail

Easy to walk to a shop

Flat & manageable garden

I do tend to agree with Beammeupscottie you do not want to be away from everyone you currently care about. Also you do not want to be a burden when your family may have to travel to you because there are no longstanding pals to help out if you were unwell etc.

Either all the way to Cornwall or stay local!

Beammeupscottie is spot on. One end of the country or the other or you will spend your life on the road to friends or to family. Making new friends, not just acquaintances, is a tough one once you get over a certain age. Nowadays I would also look at NHS care!

All those counties are quiet hilly, something to think about when choosing your new location. I'd want a shop within walking distance too. I wouldn't want to have a bus ride just to get a pint of milk.

Beammeup makes some good points

If you are going to visit one or another of the areas mentioned, I'd look to be near a train station. There may come a time when you no longer want to drive long distances.

Don't go down the "inbetween" road as this will lead to isolation in old age when you will not want to travel so much. Either locate near your daughter in Cornwall or stay close to Surrey. At the age of 60 it is difficult to imagine a time when you will not want to race round from one side of the family to the other but it will come. Are you looking to be near the sea?
I like to feel useful in my old age; who has the younger family (Cornwall or Surrey) where you can be of help?