Down/up sizing.

We are about to go from a big 4-bed bungalow with very large garden to a 3-bed townhouse with a courtyard garden. Reason for moving is that we will be within walking distance of shops, pubs, restaurants, doctors, dentists, vets ...... the dogs may struggle with the change, but there are lots of nearby places to walk them, and we won’t have to load them into the car to do so. We might struggle a bit with the stairs at first, but I think that will be good for us. Lots of ruthless culling to be done, but looking forward to it.

I moved from a large 3 bed Victorian terrace with a courtyard to a 3 bed 1950s semi with a big garden. The garden was the reason for moving because I love gardening and making do with a few pots just wasn't enough for me.

I'm still on a hill but from the top of this one I can see the sea .

Despite what we all say about too much stuff, I found parting with old things very traumatic. Not necessarily things of value but things of long association - the thought of an old soup tureen, or teapot that's come many miles with me languishing on the shelves of a charity shop was too much for me. I found myself begging my DC to find homes for things and ended up bringing with me far more than we intended greatly to the irritation of DH. That was the worst part of moving. I surprised myself.

We downsized to a 3 bedroom house with a moderate garden. More importantly we are 5 minutes walk from a tennis club, a cricket club, a golf course and a racecourse...all with bars and social events.

We are 10 minutes walk (albeit uphill, but then that’s downhill on the way home) from a small market town with numerous restaurants, pubs and coffee bars, and of course a market.

We are 15 minutes from the GP in one direction, and a first class hospital in the other.

We are 20 minutes walk away from our adult children and their families and the train station.

It’s not just the moving or downsizing it’s the nearness of facilities or what you consider important.

Just about to upsize, in our early 60s! We move next week into an even larger house after selling a pretty big Victorian flat. Not really the original intention but the best we could find in a reasonable time span in our preferred location. Still, as BBbevan observes, there’ll be a place for everything...

We did last year from a 17thc 5 bedroomed farmhouse to a 70's 2 bed bungalow. We had an extension built and some alterations so lived with DD1 and family ( in their big house!) for 6 months! Changed most of the furniture and yes it was very traumatic but now we live within 20 mins of all 3 DD's, walking distance of shops, restaurants, doctors ( Both now well into 70's) and are settling into local life. Well worth it!

I downsized from a large 4 bed roomed house to a one bedroom cottage, absolutely love it. Got rid of so much stuff, it is lovely just living with the things I love or need, and the cleaning is so easy.

I downsized, from a four bedroom house with a HUGE garden to a two bedroom apartment with a balcony. I got rid of all the big brown furniture and bought new modern things. I love it.

We upsized. Were able to as we moved from the Home Counties to Wales. We were in our early 70s and wanted to move near family. Best thing we ever did. A large house. A place for everything. Lovely