your views peeps please re change of lifestyle....

[mrswadders]

we have tentatively been dipping our toes in the water...........

The background story - MrW is 15years older than myself and very close to retirement,we both love the great outdoors and peace,oo yes peace and quiet, hence the caravan..... Well we've been talking for a while now about selling up and moving to the countryside,somewhere quiet with a fairly large garden(well bigger than what we have now). Having looked into it, it appears that financially we could sell up clear the little bit of mortgage left,buy somewhere outright and have a fair bit left. It'll be a buffer for a while but not for years............so I know i'd have to get work only part-time, sooo dear peeps do you think we should go for it? Will I be able to find work(don't care what)? Are we mad even considering it?

all thoughts for or against welcome!

Thank you

[veggiechicken]

I'm a "Go for it" person. We took early retirement, paid off the mortgage, and enjoyed the freedom to do what we wanted to do. No regrets whatsoever.
If you add up the cost of going to work - clothes, lunch, travel etc - it surprising how much you save just by not going to work. You may find that the PT job isn't necessary
Enjoy it, Mrs W

[Bigmallly]

Go for it MrsW & call yourselves Tom & Barbara Good........................just keep your fingers crossed that your neighbour isn't called Margo..........

[mrswadders]

thanks VC, it's taken a while to get to this point, guess i'm just a wee bit scared of the what if's, it's beginning to feel a lot like 'now or never'. I think you could be right about the cost VC that is where most of our money goes so yes ummmm............

[mrswadders]

Go for it MrsW & call yourselves Tom & Barbara Good........................just keep your fingers crossed that your neighbour isn't called Margo..........

funny you should say that, we're known as tom and barabara in the cul-de-sac! that is the kind of life we're after, it is soooooooo tempting!

[happyhumph]

It sounds great and you both want it. The only thing I'd say is if the PT work is needed, have a look at the job market in the area you're moving to - having moved to a very rural area myself I know it can be tricky. That being said, you're not fussy what work you do, & you could consider being self employed as well. Good luck!!

[Happinessmeter!]

Just do it!

I'd say go for it, you have discussed your options, and I am sure this would be a good 'move' on life's path for you both.
I retired early (55) and have no regrets, I love life, and happily take on what each day has to offer. Some days at this time of year, it's lots of reading. But we are now both planning the garden for the coming spring/summer. I wish you well in your venture, keep us updated.

[scarey55]

We did it! I was 48 and OH was 56. It was hard at first, we didn't have a lot of spare money but I had the time to cook cheap meals and do lots of things that I used to pay people to do when I was working. Things are a little easier now financially but the quality of life balance was the main driving force for us.

One word of caution though, We have a huge garden/field and we are finding it more and more difficult to keep it under control. I don't know how much you are thinking about but keep it manageable especially as you get older.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do but, for me, there is more to life than work and money.

[veggiechicken]

Don't be scared - its an adventure!
Add up how much it costs you to do the work thing - you'll be surprised how much money is wasted going to work - even if its things like having decent shoes. Once you stop work its mostly garden clothes that last for years.
I "retired" at 48 and I was invited back to do some well-paid short term contract work. As soon as I walked back into that office I knew that no amount of money could compensate for the loss of my freedom - freedom to get up when I wanted, not have to sit in traffic jams to get to work, not have to pack everything I wanted to do into the weekend and evenings. I walked back out again!
Life is one long holiday once you retire

[mrswadders]

thank you folks, at least I now feel that we're not bonkers thinking about it! The time does feel right - all the kids are settled and where we're thinking of is fairly central to all of them (well except Gracie in OZ!)

[mrswadders]

It sounds great and you both want it. The only thing I'd say is if the PT work is needed, have a look at the job market in the area you're moving to - having moved to a very rural area myself I know it can be tricky. That being said, you're not fussy what work you do, & you could consider being self employed as well. Good luck!!

I've just done a quick search and there is PT work out there, so definately a chance of finding something

[veggiechicken]

We didn't say you weren't bonkers, Mrs W

[mrswadders]

We didn't say you weren't bonkers, Mrs W

you didn't but I was thinking it myself!

[Bigmallly]

Only you know what lifestyle you want & how much finance you have. The options are endless. When I went to America a few years ago, I was surprised how many houses were basically static caravans with clothes on. You wouldn't have known from the outside so there are living options available. Do you still want to go touring as that could limit you in the case of keeping animals......what family ties do you have.........so much to think about & I really hope lady luck shines on you & you find what you are looking for in life..............I retired @ 56 & lady luck indeed shone on me even though it was a massive step.

[mrswadders]

Thanks BM, it's about time lady luck did shine on us! We probably would give up on the touring if we could get the property we're after, to be honest the reason we caravan is to find the peace, so if we've got that at home I think we'll be happy enough to stay at home! We have ties but none that would stop us moving