Would you move to the country?

In 2005 I moved from a small rural town in Perthshire to be nearer my daughter in Aberdeen. I have never regretted that move. I li ve in the Old Aberdeen area. 1 mile from the sea, 1 mile from the centre of the city, the bus stop is 400 yard away, the Drs surgery is next door. There are 2 parks for walking the dogs within a mile and best of all the choice of 2 supermarkets also within a mile. My daughter lives 3 miles away. What more do I need at 79 years old.

We are in our mid 60s and moved last year to a tiny village in the Lincolnshire Wolds, to live in a victorian station with a 3 acre garden. Never thought I'd be using a ride on mower in my 60s! The village has no amenities except the village hall and no bus service. A mobile fish and chip van calls once each week and there is a pub 2 miles away that sells some groceries. There are miles of footpaths for dogwalking and a WI in the village. The nearest town is about 8 miles away. We have found the people in the village to be very welcoming and friendly. Since moving here we have both developed health issues but we are lucky to be part of a great community who will help with lifts to doctors, hospital etc. Most things can be delivered including prescription drugs, and we do a lot of our shopping online. At present we both still drive but are aware that there will come a time when it becomes too much for us to manage. We are hoping to have 10 to 15 years living in this beautiful place and will then probably have to move again. I would say give it a go. I have no regrets about moving here and I think it's really sad that some people will get ready for old age before they need to. You should do it.

I wouldn’t now, I am 63, maybe in my thirties as my parents did. They became established in the community. They were nine miles from the main town. We have to bear in mind hospitals, transport.
I have lived in the country when my children were very young, now I am older I prefer the feeling of having amenities and people around me, it is quite comforting.

We moved to a small town population c2000 and love it. I had a wish list before moving doctors and dentist within walking distance bus service and house to be on a flat road having lived at the top of hills most of our life. Found everything we needed and more.
We have a few shops and lots of clubs and activity groups. If we wanted we could do 6 activities a day in our community centre. I think in small towns people make there own entertainment. We have two larger towns 8 and 15 miles away both serviced by local bus.
The town we moved from was being overdeveloped as it was close to a city unlikely to happen here. We have been very happy and accepted by locals.

When I moved aged 55, I had to imagine myself aged 90 (my mother's ge then). So I looked for easy walk to shops (plural), close to bus routes (plural), access to train station, walking distance from surgery. Was never good with hills btw. I would prefer to be within 15 mins by car from a hospital, and have access to a vets, preferably with a hospital attached.
I wanted to be near the sea, as I'd moved 40 miles inland, and missed it.
Like SueSocks, I live in a town, on the south coast. Can't imagine wanting to leave the coast.

suesockswe moved from Essex to a small village in the Yorkshire Dales although beautiful it was too big a leap for me from services and facilities plus it was very cold in winter not good for my arthritis etc. There was little to do unless you were artistic or a a craftsperson, did hunting shooting, fishing etc. Lots of the cottages were summer visitors only so it was VERY quiet in winter. The Peak District may be similar.
We moved to an East Midlands market town which is set in beautiful countryside, has a good range of facilities and amenities and lots of clubs and societies and we can walk into town. We also bought a new build house which is larger and warmer than our cottage - no regrets. I hope you make the right choice for you.

After retiring from London to rural France for nine years, I have returned to live near my family, friends and London. At the age of 70, I knew that living alone in an isolated village and being dependent on the car was not practical for the future. My choice was confirmed by what happened to a friend who is very obese and still in her sixties. She lives in a French village and had gone for a shower, but because her shower was out of action, stepped into the bath, intending to stand there instead, but slipped and remained imprisoned there for nine days, with her cat! She found herself apologising to her cat for not being able to feed him, and kept warm by running warm water. She was rescued when her family in England realised that they hadn't heard from her and alerted the maire, who ironically only lives two doors down from her. I am buying a little apartment in a retirement complex in the centre of a small town, and feel very content with my choice.

We did exactly that 9 yrs ago. Haven't regretted it since. Have a look at Rutland, we will even have a McDonalds soon !!

We are in the process of looking(early 60s) . I do not drive. Top priority doctors, shop, public transport and not too far from a hospital. Love the countryside but think town is a neccessity .

Suggest that you spend a few holidays in the areas that you like, self catering , and see just what facilities are available but beware- when you live in a village, they are the first to lose things when budgets get cut even though the residents are usually paying more in council tax than town dwellers .

I lived in a town but for 10 years have been in rural setting. In spite of all the hype of rural transport improvement I haven't seen any and I have come to realise how important that is. Seriously considering a move back into town.

I have always lived in a rural area and absolutely love it. We live across a couple of fields off a quiet lane, when we get home we shut the gates and shut out the mad world it is bliss. One day we may have to move when we give up driving but with on line shopping so easy we will decide later on. We are in our sixties.

No I wouldn't move to the country - I'm a city girl and that's the lifestyle I enjoy.

DS1 lives in deepest Somerset and I pay £30 one way for a taxi from the station as there's little public transport and none that serves his hamlet.

As has been said, think about the weather! Being on the south coast you currently enjoy the UK's sunniest climate - no wonder Bognor, Eastbourne, Hastings etc are retirement destinations. Derbyshire is lovely but the weather can be very dreary.

The problem with living in the country is lack of services and very patchy public transport. While you can drive there is not too much difficulty, loose the car and you’re stuck. So be very careful to choose a town with good access to shops and health facilities. Not a small Hamlet, that’s just a dream!.
As you live in the sunny south, weather in Derbyshire will be significantly wetter and colder, they do have spells of nice weather, just not as many as the south.

I have lived in the country for around 40 years, one in isolation and that did not last long, two years. The rest in 3 quiet villages. Villages are lovely if the community is lovely. Villages generally have no shops or pubs any more and lucky to have 3 bus services a day, finishing around 5pm, 2 of my villages had no bus service.

I could not live in a town, so I moved 8 months ago to a very friendly market town, which is a compromise. Artisan shops, buses, U3A etc. I tested the area before I moved here and got that friendly vibe on my first visit. Nearest theatre is 20 minutes by car, doctor is 15 minutes by car.

I am prepared to use savings to get around by taxi if need be but there is no taxi rank and I would be lucky to find a taxi to take me anywhere rural in my county of somerset. All the buses again finish at 5 ish. Living in a market town is definitely a compromise, I have peace and quiet and feel very safe but facilities would be curtailed to the minimum if I could not drive. I am aware of that, hence have kept up with all my hobbies and will be joining that wonderful self-help group of U3A

I used to think I'd like to, years ago - but that was before we started visiting friends who'd moved to rural North Devon. Yes, lovely for a break, but it was a case of needing the car for everything, nearest shop was a 25 minute walk away - uphill - and very limited opening hours.

They even had to get into the car and drive 10 minutes to walk the dogs anywhere it was safe to let them off the lead - very narrow lanes, obv. with no pavements - mostly quiet but the odd boy racer made them hazardous.

If I had to live in the country, I'd pick somewhere like my sister and BiL's house in a small Yorkshire Dales town - quietly tucked away a 2 minute walk from the high street, but just a very short walk from the fells. Best of both worlds IMO.

I live in a small town in the West Midlands. The bus and train station are literally a 12 minute walk away.

I am 66 and still drive, but use public transport more now I have my senior pass.

My daughter lives in a Staffordshire village, 5 miles from Wolverhampton. The buses to there are infrequent and none at all on the weekends. So although I would love to move there to be nearer, I would be trapped once I couldn't drive in the future.

We have always lived in villages, some with more amenities than others, and with both of us driving, we have no problems. Nevertheless, I’m definitely leaning towards moving to a small town, I’d like to be literally in the town, so that I can walk out of my front door and be in easy reach of shops.

Last year, my husband was away and I had a problem with my car, village cabs charged £25.00 to take me to work, so £50.00 a day. You couldn’t keep that up for long!

I also tend to think it’s seasonal, in the winter I think I want to move into town, but in summer I love being in the country.

I used to work in a bank in a pretty, bustling village, shops, GP’s, etc. There was a popular golf course nearby, and the number of retirees who moved there from ‘away’. Property was cheaper, and they enjoyed the golf and other social life.
Fast forward a number of years, maybe a spouse died, the remaining one couldn’t drive say, or their own health declined. So often they came in to give me a change of address, they were moving back to where they came from to be near family.
Should also point out no hospitals nearby, an appointment there entailed a quite lengthy journey.
Country life great when you’re fit and well, perhaps not so convenient as you age and alone.

I think it depends on your interests. Mine are theatre, galleries, concerts and cinema, so the city is best for me. If you can overcome the lack of amenities, and are fit and able to drive, and can find enough to interest you locally, then the countryside may be a good fit. My mother lives in a pretty village, with no shop or other amenities . She drives, at the moment, but relies on family to fill up with petrol, and has called the AA out for minor problems most people could have solved on their own. The local bus is geared to school times and is often full and noisy, and taxis are few and very expensive. I worry that once she stops driving she will be very isolated.

also, remember dial-a-ride do not take people to hosp appts.
the slightest injury / illness can render someone unable to drive. a twisted ankle. some medications. funny turns.
declining eyesight.
am just trying to be realistic. and from much experience in supporting someone with multiple morbidities, wrestling with the health service, almost like a black comedy at times. some good experiences too, of course. but often its the less dramatic, everyday problems that wear you down.
being sent a letter, received 4 days after appt date; then crossed off for non-attendance. trying to sort that out.

I think people tend to take their health and mobility for granted while they have it.
that is maybe why some younger generations cannot fully appreciate or accept how difficult their parents' lives are.
I see this with a neighbour.
cabs are not readily available in rural areas; and are much more expensive as they have to come further to pick you up.
hospital transport services have become much more restricted, very few people who are not seriously impaired can get hosp transport.
many people have mobility issues, or weakness etc that makes using public transport imposs; and that's assuming there is any public transport.
I know Derbyshire quite well. beautiful country. good for holidays. unless in main towns, would not move there. much of it, the most scenic parts are subject to flooding, an increasing problem, and often get cut off by snow.
stay near a hosp.

Most councils have a list of licensed taxis and private hire drivers so it should be possible to check out what is available in your locality.

OH is slowly coming round to the idea that we need to move. We are in an end terrace house with outside steps down to the front door. Our last neighbour moved following a heart attack as the outside steps held up his recovery as getting out to exercise was difficult. I took a header down the steps a few years ago and don’t want to repeat that!

My in laws were in the process of moving when he needed urgent heart surgery just as MIL was having a hip replacement op. Unfortunately he had a stroke and died a few weeks after and sadly in her grief (and insistence on independence) she made some choices that didn’t work out too well.

My Dad seemed fit and healthy but suddenly had a stroke. Ironically my stepmother was the invalid but outlived him.

I am wary of not being in control if things should suddenly go pear shaped so need to get the house ready to sell hopefully in the spring/summer. Having ongoing health issues I am unsure about moving to a new area and starting anew with doctors and hospitals etc but it would be exciting to live somewhere different. We have gradually moved up the country from the Sussex coast to the West Midlands.

If you really want to try country living, you should! 60 is young these days. As others have sensibly said, think about the proximity to services but you already know that.

I like the idea of the country but my DD is very rural and they spend such a lot of time in the car on those narrow, fast dangerous roads. They don't have a mobile phone signal either so it's like the old days when you break down.

A village or small town with walks and views and easy access to countryside or seaside and the city is my ideal. Too much watching escape to the country. Actually, wait a minute I live here already.

Taxis cost a fortune where I live. If I could no longer drive we'd be stuffed. Dial a Ride would probably only pick up at the bottom of the farm road which is one mile long and full of potholes at this time of the year.

We thought we were future proofed but when DD died last year (she lived next door to us on the same property) it made me realise that you can't take family support for granted. There has to be a back up system.