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[honeybun]

Houses or flats sorry aparrrrttttments. 

Are much cheaper here area dependent of course.  It's all relative though as the gaps are still the same.

Honeyb
X

[grumpy2008]

I've lived in various places/flats/houses as an adult... am currently in a house we bought 15 years ago so it's the longest I've been anywhere. I don't want it to be my 'forever' home though. We've had a lot of problems with it (subsidence) and we dream of a little cottage in a more rural area. Or near the sea-side. One day!!!

Actually I wouldn't have a problem living in a flat - I've rented a couple in years gone by - and the bonus is the maintenance is normally included in some way

[honeybun]

Flats are great if you have good neighbours. We didn't.....I could tell you stories that would make your hair curl.

I think that's one of the reasons I would love a country cottage. No neighbours except cows and sheep.   

The market is still static here and I think my OH might kill me if I said I wanted to move again.

I still don't want this to be my last house though.

Honeyb
X

[Elena]

PF your house sounds delightful.  I also appreciate a lot of natural light.

I'm with you HB, couldnt live in a flat.  I really need my own space and to be able to hear people above or below me would do my head in.  I even struggle when my daughter stays here sometimes 

Turning into a hermit!!!

[CLKD]

There are several flats for sale in Regency Square, Brighton - perhaps a meno bolt-hole anyone?

[Taz2]

Not for me I'm afraid.  Not that I could afford them anyway!

Taz x

[Hurdity]

Well this is our second house (bought that is) and have lived here over 27 years! Did not think we would be here this long and have got ready to move several times long in the past - when husband applied for other jobs. He didn't get those jobs but in the end he changed jobs several times and didn't have to move.

I can't imagine being here for ever lovely though it is. He would probably like to but I sort of hanker after somewhere a bit more lively nowadays (this is a small village in rural SW England) - as the children have (almost) left - well in a two or three years they will have I expect.  Or at least closer to somewhere more lively.  I can't imagine ever leaving the SW though after 35 years. We talk jokingly about selling up and living somewhere warmer (eg France) but the reality wouldn't be the dream in your 60's. On the other hand my husband also talks about being happy here for ever - he is a few years older though.  He also says well where would you like to move to then and I can't answer that! We don't have a shop, almost no public transport and the village pub has just closed again.

Who knows? Nothing is planned but I think I would need a reason to move because inertia and habit sets in after all this time! Also of course in the spring/summer I love it!!

Hurdity x

[Firewalker50]

First flat moving after being married and to the area - 2.5 years.  Very large and with superb views.
First bought house with husband - 9 years
Second bought house with husband - 10 years
..... husband and I separated.
First bought house on my own - supposedly for 2-3 years.  Stayed 10 years.
Second bought house on my own - five years ago....

I bought this one because my daughter and I needed more space and there was no sign of her moving out.   I also have a small spare room downstairs which we use as a family room but I planned to use as a treatment room for longer term complementary therapies (part of retirement income plan).
However, within 2.5 years she had found her fiance and moved into their own house.

It was a bit idealistic to buy this house - it takes everything to pay the mortgage and it is in negative equity against the purchase price (I bought immediately before crash and my house sold after :-(.  However, I am not complaining.

I did consider buying one of the new apartments/flats in a lovely new development, then thought of my grandson(grandchildren) not being able to play outside in the garden and not having BBQs, so did not pursue that.

So, I don't know if I will move.  Practically I should move since it is a bit difficult to upkeep myself.

so ................ possibly yes .................... possibly no.................... perhaps if I was more motivated I would create the future retirement income and change the house in preparation.   Now, where did I put that motivation....

Fx

[purplenanny]

This is our second house in 39 years and we have lived here 26 years. It was always our intention to stay here longterm in a solid family home.
We have a very small mortgage left(no thanks to the endowment shortfall!!) and loads of equity but the thought of moving fills me with dread. We have so much stuff in the loft (ours and the sons!) I would not know where to start. Hubby would be no help, so it would all be down to me!
We love the house and where it is, but I know if I was on my own I could not cope with it. The gardens are huge and take a lot of maintenance, not to mention indoors (5 bedrooms!) Hubby has lost all interest this past 2 years so it is becoming difficult to manage it. I would be sad to leave it though
Sometimes I dream of having an apartment with no work to be done, but not sure I would really like it. I feel very secure and settled here (for now!)
PN

[Oldteen]

This is only my third home. I moved from my parents' house to a one-bedroomed flat when we married, then we moved to the house we're living in now in 1985.

We too have the dream of a little place by the sea, BUT there are so many things to consider. I don't drive and we can't assume that my husband will always be able to drive so we'd need good public transport. Good health services need to be available too as we never know how long our health will hold out. We're lucky being so close to London and have hospitals and facilities nearby. My in-laws live in Sussex and my Fil had to go all the way to London for heart surgery. I'm rather pessimistic about this sort of thing as all my family's health plummeted in their sixties, and now with my in-laws their lives are one long round of hospital appointments, so easy access to health care is essential. I also wouldn't want to live in an area with a disproportionately high number of elderly people as I'd find that depressing. I have friends here and find it hard to make new ones so don't fancy starting over in a new place.

All in all, I think I want to stay put. Stair lifts anyone?

[Oldteen]

Though following on from what you said PN, I wonder how I'd cope with this house on my own. It's only a small three bed one, but the garden is 100 foot long and I never touch it, so don't know what I'd do. Neither of my children are interested in gardening either. Like you, PN, we have too much stuff to move, most of it the men's. I was thinking the other day: my stuff could fit into one trunk, whereas my husband's would need an entire removal van.

[purplenanny]

Well I guess I should admit that I equally have a lot of stuff, but at least I am able to sort it out, it is impossible with the mens stuff, they never want to let go of anything!! I do feel overwhelmed with it all sometimes, thank goodness it is in the loft where I don't see it often!
Does your hubby do all the gardening BOB?
I remember my Aunt saying that as you get older (she was 80 at the time) you do lose interest and energy in doing things. She absolutely loved her garden, but it did eventually become a chore and she was physically unable to do it. She moved to a flat and it made life a lot easier for her. PN

[Taz2]

Since my mum and dad died and I had to clear their house where they had lived for over fifty years I see my own clutter in a different light and flash forward to my sons having to deal with all the stuff we have accumulated over the years. Like some of you it is my husband who seems to have the problem with throwing things away. I can vividly remember my mum when in her late sixties fretting over all the stuff there was and trying to get my dad to clear his shed - a task which, after his death, took four of us seven hours!

Taz x

[purplenanny]

Yes Taz, I often think of what we would be leaving for our sons to sort out.
My hubby got his garage in such a mess it added to his illness last year. A lot was our sons car stuff from when he refurbished an aold classic. So, while he was in hospital, son came over and cleared the garage. It took 2 days and many trips to the dump.
I was really worried hubby would throw a wobbly when he came home, but he was delighted and said it was easier having someone make the decisions for him. He has not missed anything to this day, although most of it was rubbish!

[Rowan]

My OGH is a hoarder and won't throw anything away, I am the opposite and am always pruning my stuff, it really worries me about what to do if OH goes before me. In fact everything worries me about that scenario.