Have you put your dreams on hold?

Norfolk. Brings back happy memories from my childhood Joyfully'. When we travelled from Tyneside to Great Yarmouth almost every summer by coach . I loved the Norfolk Broads, Caister and Sheringham and would love to go back although It may not be the same as I remembered. How brave you were and how liberating to dance naked on the beach. I'm not sure I could do that here. There wouldn't be many people about to see me, but I would probably get my bits frozen off !

gillybob, I am fascinated as to which part of N.E. Coast you live at. Sounds idyllic (did I spell it right).
We are putting our house on market in February and hoping to move to Embleton to Alnwick area. Coming up to Embleton in September for two weeks to do some research, and find out about whats available. I'm Alnwick born and bred but returning "home" at age 73, after 30 years in Yorkshire. We are renting for six months first.

we too live on the Northeast coast and cannot imagine living anywhere else now, coast and country walking is terrific and beautiful N.Yorks countryside an easy car journey. However, as you say, we are a hardy lot and not everyone would like it here. However if you have some savings you could buy a second home in our village pretty cheaply and have the best of both worlds!

Alnwick is a lovely place to live Kupari45 and I believe it was once voted the best place to live in the UK ! It's ideal for getting around all of Northumberland and only a short drive/bus ride from the lovely coastal seaside villages such as Bamburgh, Seahouses etc. whilst being close enough to Newcastle City Centre. So many lovely things to do in and around that area. I know Embleton village quite well as we used to have a static caravan in Seahouses. Perfect.

I always dreamed of living in a village called Rennington. Which is just outside of Alnwick (far too pricey for us) but someone who lived there once told me it was like living in a real life Soap Opera. Far too many busy bodies and nosy parkers that everyone knew far too much about everyone else's business.

I love the sea too but moving to the coast would make it much more difficult to see the family so we are going to spend as many weekends and holidays by the British coast as we can. That , I think, will keep it special and we won't get blade about it.

My old stamping ground is a bit further down the North East coast, and I love it. Saltburn, Redcar, Staithes, Robin Hood's Bay, Runswick Bay, Port Mulgrave, Whitby, I love them all. DH and I blew the cobwebs away walking along the stray between Marske and Redcar last weekend and then back to where we thought we'd left the car. Unfortunately it was in a similar one half a mile further on - we really did think it had been stolen there for a while!

A similar car park, that is!

That should have said blase. Maggiemaybe, we were in Whitby, Redcar, Runswick Bay and Robins Hood Bay last week and that's when we decided we don't spend enough time by the sea. We're only half an hour from Bridlington

No fixed dreams - because of DH's disability and need to be near MIL - doubt if I'll ever escape this town which I truly hate with a passion! My parents owned my dream 400 year old country cottage but after my dad died, it was too isolated for my mum and she moved to a more suitable property. Now it's been modernised and turned into a B&B and I would't touch it now - totally spoilt!

I feel a tad wistful reading these posts; it must be lovely to have a DH to retire to the coast with..

I know how you feel Devongirl! I live in the north east but not by the sea, and I absolutely love the Northumberland coast and the North Yorkshire coast. However if I had a partner to move with I'd love to live in a warmer country by the sea. That's always been my dream.

I haven't been to Brid for many years, Kathjohn32. Would you recommend a visit?

Oh I have loved reading all your stories. I suppose if there is a moral to this thread its perhaps...try to be happy if possible with your present circumstances. I am not unhappy but I really YEARN to live by the sea and walk on a beach every day. I feel such peace at the water's edge, I don't know why, and I find sea breezes very invigorating.

My SIL bought a static caravan on a park in Wales last year and we visited them at Easter time. I loved the caravan but I have to say I'm not a clubhouse sort of person, although the children racing about did seem to be having fun! They mentioned charges, which seemed quite steep and also that they'd have to move the van after a certain amount of time. It didn't seem as hassle free as I imagined. They have quite a drive to get there and can't stay for long periods because they have a cat at home to look after. The neighbours pop in and feed him, but that's just a short term arrangement. We have a be!over cat too, so impromptu breaks are limited.

I do feel torn. I want to be near my family. I worry about my children for various reasons. However, I am so conscious of the clock ticking. I'd really really like the opportunity to " break free" and do my own thing, and yes, maybe strip off and dance on the beach at dawn if the mood took me! That made me laugh!

I feel tied in a way. I love my family dearly but would love not to have to think about them and worry about them.

Another dream I have is for complete seclusion, short term. I think going on a retreat, alone, might do me good. It wouldn't be a religious one, but perhaps a spiritual or crafty one. I investigated those a while ago, and considering some of them packed you off for a silent walk in the woods in the morning then expected communal vegetable soup making later, for lunch, they were charging heck of a lot of money..

Looks like I might have to scale down my dreams...In truth, I am not quite sure what would make me really happy. Whilst being grateful for my lot, I do feel quite stuck.

Living by the sea was great, on my way to and from the supermarket for my weekly shop I'd take a detour along the seafront just because I could - it was lovely no matter what time of year or what the weather was doing.
In the summer there were plenty of sights along the high road, holiday makers ambling along in flip-flops and swimwear, shops used to put sign ups reminding their customers to 'wear tops and shoes for their personal comfort' which always made me chuckle. Now I try to make the most of small compensations - creating a nice garden, etc.

What you have to do with dreams is act as if it will happen. It worked for my pessimistic DH. Even if it doesn't happen as you wished, something else may happen, probably because your mind & attitude have shifted & you become active instead of passive & regretful.

My dreams will never come to fruition - I'd love a nicely decorated, clean and tidy house and a tidied up garden . With 7 GC and an untidy DH what hope is there? It's my birthday soon. I've said I don't want presents but I'd like our bedroom decorated [I've chosen the paint but that was so long ago the name has probably changed!]. I must admit I'm not holding my breath.

day6 I absolutely relate to how you feel. I have only one DD, no GC at present, but she has a variety of problems and I worry about her all the time. Maybe we should go on a retreat together? I really like the sound of a crafty one..

It's my dream to live as near to the sea as possible. You know, like the American films, where they just trip down the veranda steps onto the beautiful, long, deserted beach. It's not going to happen. A long time ago, befor I realised DH was born minus the DIY gene, I wanted a cupboard under the stairs. My clever neighbour had built one, so I drew a pencil line down the wall and waited..... When himself decorated, he just painted over my line. I am still waiting, and dreaming.....

My favourite place would be the house Montalbano lives in in the Camilleri novels - right on the beach, in Sicily (sigh)

A long time ago, befor I realised DH was born minus the DIY gene, I wanted a cupboard under the stairs

Oh Auntieflo Can you not get a man in to do it for you? I shouldn't cost too much.

I love my cupboard under the stairs. Its huge I can walk right into it (It's in my kitchen) and DH has shelved it from top to bottom and made it into a sort of walk in larder/ pantry. A few of my neighbours knocked theirs out to make bigger kitchens but they are now really regretting it.

plenty of cheap and lovely houses by the sea here in North Wales, and no, it's not always raining here, in fact our visitors have often commented that the weather is always lovely here.

Looks lovely, Soniah; I've got a thing about piers, are there any in North Wales (excuse my anglocentred ignorance!)

I love piers too. I'm often to be found gazing soulfully off the end of one. On my own - DH hates heights and can't bear to look down through the planks, so leaves me to it and heads off for the nearest coffee shop.

In Brighton there used to be a coffee shop on the pier that we sheltered inside once and watched a howling gail outside - wonderful!