BS: Where would you move to?

Subject: RE: BS: Where would you move to?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 27 Jul 11 - 01:08 PM

I'd move to all kinds of interesting places if I had the money to do so. Italy for a month. Spain for a month. Japan for a month. Germany for a month. Vietnam for a month. And so on...

Subject: RE: BS: Where would you move to?
From: kendall
Date: 27 Jul 11 - 06:45 AM

Vermont

Subject: RE: BS: Where would you move to?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 27 Jul 11 - 06:34 AM

Nowhere has everything. We retired to Dorset two years ago. It ticks all the boxes, but the roads are crap. In Nottingham you could be in Leicester, Leeds, Brum, Lincoln - do the 90 miles to Stratford after work in time to catch the the RSC at 7.30 - go shopping in the Westfield Centre Derby or meadow hall, sheffield.

In Dorchester there are no shops - okay but sometimes you NEED stuff. Its like bloody Ireland in that a trip of thiry non motorway miles is a real drag.

Having said that dorset is beautiful. there loads of places to play. People here are less clique-ish and genuinely generous in handing out creative opportunities for performers. The Notts/derby folkscene is reminiscent of the feudal system -- and the pique that used to get into my mudcat communications was me railing at years of serfdom.

Its nice to be able to see the sea when you want also.

Subject: RE: BS: Where would you move to?
From: GUEST, topsie
Date: 27 Jul 11 - 06:11 AM

Or West Yorkshire? I have heard good reports of Otley.

Subject: RE: BS: Where would you move to?
From: theleveller
Date: 27 Jul 11 - 05:35 AM

How about the East Riding of Yorkshire. You'll get a lot of property for your money and some of the finest, undiscovered countryside in England. The music scene is great and the people incredibly welcoming. Not sure about public transport - depends where you go, but it's pretty crap all over the UK.

Subject: RE: BS: Where would you move to?
From: Arnie
Date: 27 Jul 11 - 04:58 AM

Come to Kent, the garden of England - we did! It's great down here with loads of folk clubs and events. House prices are on a par with average South East property and there's some excellent countryside and coast at hand. Also, France is pretty close for shopping expeditions. Inland there are the Medway towns plus Faversham, Maidstone, Ashford & Canterbury. On the coast we have places such as Dover, Deal (annual Maritime Folk Festival), Folkestone, Whitstable, Broadstairs (annual folk festival) etc..Loads going on and a pleasant part of the country to live in.

Subject: RE: BS: Where would you move to?
From: Bugsy
Date: 27 Jul 11 - 04:43 AM

My house in Wanneroo Western Australia will be on sale next year.

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: BS: Where would you move to?
From: Ebbie
Date: 27 Jul 11 - 04:15 AM

Income tax in Oregon, right- but no sales tax as in Washington. I like Oregon - where I spent most of my life - although I like Alaska better. So for me, I'd have to say that I am already where I would move to.

Subject: RE: BS: Where would you move to?
From: I don't know
Date: 27 Jul 11 - 03:45 AM

Lovely to get the personal feelings of areas where people live, so much better than estate agents who are only after a quick sale, or as said earlier picking an area because we enjoyed a holiday there. Thank you for your responses so far.

Subject: RE: BS: Where would you move to?
From: mg
Date: 27 Jul 11 - 01:33 AM

I would not move to Portland OR..but to each her own..it has some very nice housing stock..not much of a downtown but nice neighborhoods..but the driving is so scary..all these bridges and you are always on the wrong one going the wrong way..or at least I was. Plus there is income tax in Oregon and they seem to always have trouble with their mayors, senators etc. Washington is across the river..we have generally had some excellent government people..no income tax. SW Washington is very nice and not too crowded or expensive..lots of meth though. Astoria OR is very nice and I would retire there if it were in Washington..but maybe there is no tax on retirement income. I plan to hop from place to place when I retire..Mexico, Washington, Newfoundland, Alabama, Ireland..maybe Ukraine for a month or so each year. mg

Subject: RE: BS: Where would you move to?
From: Little Robyn
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 05:27 PM

Christchurch, NZ, would fit your requirements and there are lots of cheap houses at the moment.
Lots of bungalows with small gardens, FOLK CLUBs/ music venues/local shops/doctors etc.
Public transport, lovely views from the Port hills, friendly people, everything you're looking for.
The only minor problem is - ongoing aftershocks. That's why the houses are so cheap. People are trying to sell up and get out of there. Many of the gardens have been flooded with sewerage - on three or four occasions.
I wouldn't go there if you paid me.
Personally, I like Cornwall. If I could win the LOTTO, I'd consider moving there, especially for the music.
Robyn

Subject: RE: BS: Where would you move to?
From: Dorothy Parshall
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 04:51 PM

VAncouver, BC is NOT affordable. Neither is beautiful Whidbey Island in Washington State, a wonderful place to live but expensive.

But Ormstown, Quebec is moderately affordable and has an abundance of wonderful musicians. The countryside is lovely. There is bus service to the wonders of Montreal.

Subject: RE: BS: Where would you move to?
From: I don't know
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 04:46 PM

Well Norfolk is a day out for us, just feel apart from the nice countryside we would maybe like to be closer to all the other things on my list- somewhere like Ely would be nice.

Subject: RE: BS: Where would you move to?
From: GUEST,Eliza
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 02:52 PM

Norfolk UK has all the requirements on your list. Also, bungalows here aren't too expensive, eg about £160,000 for a detached one. It's heaven here, ideal for retirement.
Speaking for myself, I'd give anything to go and live in Senegal (Casamance area) It's hot, dry, the people and their culture are just superb. But my husband has had enough of Africa, he adores UK and nothing will persuade him to go back there where he suffered so much all his life. Guess we'll stay in Norfolk!

Subject: RE: BS: Where would you move to?
From: MikeL2
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 02:31 PM

hi

My wife and I both have sisters who live in different parts of Spain.

But we have children, grandchildren and now great-grandchildren living here in Cheshire. This plus wider family and friends, so we don't want to move.

Though I have to be honest and own up that we do have a second home in Menorca Spain but we have never ever considered moving there. In fact we haven't been there for a couple of years now due to various reasons.
The kids go and they love it and it gives them a cheap holiday in these parlous times.

We both feel the same about staying here, so why would we move???

Cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: Where would you move to?
From: Will Fly
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 01:59 PM

North Essex eh? Very close to some nice countryside. I quite like the north Norfolk coast, but I suspect it's not as cheap to live in as it used to be.

Great for birding and walking, though...

Subject: RE: BS: Where would you move to?
From: I don't know
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 01:50 PM

We are in north essex. We have already said it would not be a holiday destination, if it was it would be Florida. Just a question of gathering information & getting an idea about genral costs in diffrent areas. I still pay for meds so Wales or Scotland may be a good choice (sujested by a friend who would like cheap hols),
My husband says somewhere for good birdwatching & walking as this is also a hobby of ours.

Subject: RE: BS: Where would you move to?
From: gnu
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 01:33 PM

Vancouver, BC affordable? Ahhh... not on twice MY $.

Subject: RE: BS: Where would you move to?
From: bubblyrat
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 01:09 PM

I always feel the "pull" of the West Country ; I went there as a teenager ( Plymouth ,Culdrose, Yeovil ) in the 1960s and later lived in Dorset.I'm currently in a very expensive part of Surrey ( a folk wilderness ) but we're off to look at life in Bideford ,Devon ,next month, as it presents itself as a distinct possibility !

Subject: RE: BS: Where would you move to?
From: Will Fly
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 12:34 PM

I've got a niece in Portland, Oregon and a sister in Tucson, Arizona. If I ever got the urge to move to the US, I suppose those might be choices. I've also heard that Vancouver is a great place to be.

My slight note of caution in my first reply to the thread was because I've known quite a few couples who moved to different places on retirement (mainly because they'd holidayed there at some stage and liked it) - only to find that the dream didn't come true for them for various reasons.

Mind you, getting involved in a local folk club or other musical activity can be a great way of putting down new roots quickly - and a lot depends on the sociability, gregariousness and adaptability of those moving. I'm very lucky where I am (in Sussex, UK) but I doubt that I'd find it easy to move here from elsewhere if I was starting again. It's not a cheap area, by any means.

Pint of decent beer in Sheffield (drunk several pints recently): £2.60
Pint of decent ber in my local: £3.30

That's one indicator of the cost of living... :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Where would you move to?
From: Big Ballad Singer
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 12:25 PM

Will, I hear that Vancouver, BC, Canada is a very friendly, clean, progressive place with plenty good music venues. It's a large(r) city, but I understand it's affordable, has great services and is very artist-friendly. I know I would consider it if I would and/or could move one day.

Subject: RE: BS: Where would you move to?
From: Donuel
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 11:55 AM

There is a small town in Colorado where folk music and other artist venues are the core of the town. Over the years the cost of housing there has risen to the point where most of the supporting workers have to live 17 miles away. I hear its lovely.

Subject: RE: BS: Where would you move to?
From: Will Fly
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 11:51 AM

Good reasons enough! I have two sisters - one lives 350 miles away, the other lives round 4,000 miles away...

May I ask where you are at the moment?

Subject: RE: BS: Where would you move to?
From: I don't know
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 11:45 AM

Yes Will Fly why move?   Well for the very reasons you haven't. Only family is a daughter in Oxfordshire, brother-in-law on east coast, brother also in oxfordshire, cousin on south coast & my mum who has now decided it is time to go into a home & she fancies the south coast. Never been a close family- something I would have liked but never happened.   
At the moment public transport is shocking where we live & the nearest folk club 18 miles one way 21 miles the other. Some local sessions at the working mans club but not a lot of interes.
We only chose to live here because we could walk to work (that closed) although it is a resonable place.

Subject: RE: BS: Where would you move to?
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 10:31 AM

The Isle of Eigg, (pop. 89 at the last count), (for US-ians, it's one of The Small Isles off the West Coast of Scotland, in the Sea of The Hebrides south of Skye).

Subject: RE: BS: Where would you move to?
From: Will Fly
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 10:30 AM

Why move, unless you don't like where you are?

After living in the same village for 35 years, the last thing I wanted to do when I retired was move away, leaving all the family, friends, contacts, music, social groups, etc., that I'd built up over those years. Now I'm retired, I enjoy them even more.

I love going to France, and go two or three times a year - but I would never live there...

Why start all over again, unless you have very few of these things and/or your locality is unpleasant to live in? Or - unlike me - you have a wanderlust you haven't slaked yet? :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Where would you move to?
From: Stu
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 10:12 AM

Montana or South Dakota for me. I'd love to spend a couple of years in the US.

Subject: RE: BS: Where would you move to?
From: Rapparee
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 10:02 AM

Pocatello, Idaho.

Subject: RE: BS: Where would you move to?
From: GUEST,HiLo
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 09:48 AM

Anywhere in Cornwall, one of the most beautiful spots on earth..and quiet...ahhhh, bliss.

Subject: RE: BS: Where would you move to?
From: Beer
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 07:42 AM

Come to Ormstown Quebec. We have all of the above to fill your needs.
ad.

Subject: RE: BS: Where would you move to?
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 07:22 AM

I would suggest the Isle of Wight but find out more about the Island first. Some parts that are out in the sticks could be a nightmare for public transport and shops but there are other places like West Cowes, Sandown, Shanklin, Rookley or Newport which is more central for buses etc. It depends, if you are happy and content not to leave the island too often then it will suit you fine. The cost of the ferry with a car can be pretty expensive as is the High-Speed Hydrofoil which deters a lot of people from making trips to the mainland too often. The views are lovely and it is a very laidback place just what you need when retiring. Each town has it's own carnival and some of the Agriculture shows are worth going to with local produce. The Garlic festival is great for trying the unusual like garlic ice-cream.

Subject: RE: BS: Where would you move to?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 07:07 AM

A lot to be said for Scotland, where there's a decent government, as well as pretty good music.

Subject: BS: Where would you move to?
From: I don't know
Date: 26 Jul 11 - 06:41 AM

Talking the other day my husband suddenly said that he thinks in 2 years time when he retires we should move.
I asked the question Where to, the answer was not sure but this is what both of us agree we would like.

a bungalow
small garden
FOLK CLUB/ music venues
local shops/doctors ect.
public transport
lovely views
friendly people

oh & not to expencive (LOL)

Any ideas on the best part of the country. We have been over most of the uk, & really don't which area we like best.