Town or village?

[alisonsvintagechicboutique]

I looked at a little flat for sale in a village this week.  I really liked the flat, its about the same size as the one I already rent with the bonus of its own garden.  

I've lived in central Stevenage for around 18 years now.  Its a big town - not at all pretty but functional!  I've had to get in the car or on the bus to get to town or to supermarkets (approx 2 miles away) although have always been lucky enough to have a local shop and or post office in walking distance.  

The village is about 5 miles out of town down lots of windey country roads.  Not a problem but there is no longer a village shop or a post office which would have been useful    Its a pretty place with a lot of history.  There were 2 lovely old pubs but I noticed the bigger of the 2 is now up for sale.  Not sure if it will be a pub again.  This pub was 5 mins walk from the flat.  A bonus not just for a drink and escape but maybe for the occasional meal, music, social etc so it would be a shame if it stayed closed.

I'd drive into Stevenage for my clubs - yoga etc and would still have to drive to a supermarket.  

I fancy the quiet life to be honest and there is talk in the village of setting up a co-operative shop.  I feel like im feeling paranoid about needing a shop close by!  I'm sure i would make some friends in the village and I would get involved in local events etc.  

Just wondered if any of you have done the move from town to village?  Do you like the quieter life?  I've never been too much into nightlife and I really like my own space and the countryside.  I would have plenty here if I move!  I live on my own by the way since splitting with my partner earlier this year.  

Two minutes walk away is a large open green space - common ground with trees and bushes,  several acres, plenty of wildlife.  If I bought this flat I could maybe have a dog too   The village is surrounded by lovely countryside on all sides.  

Estate agent says flat has been on the market for over 6 months.  People like it but have found the location too isolated so its remained unsold.  No chain and I can afford it.  

Maybe I should move to this flat, give up Ebay and open the village shop again?!  Something is stopping me from getting excited about this - not keen on change and 2013 was a full year of it but maybe this opportunity is right for me?  

Any thoughts, advice welcome.  

[ilove2patch]

Hard to offer advice on such a personal thing. You say you don't feel excited about it. I think if it were the right place for you that you would be excited. 

I would not be happy in a remote place myself but I am on the wrong side of 65 so thinking more about my future mobility. Write down all the pros & cons as this sometimes helps in making a decision. Best of luck to you whatever you do.

[chickengrandma-2008]

I agree, it's a very personal thing, but as Maggie says, the not feeling excited doesn't sound good.  We moved from the town to the edge of a village about 35 years ago and would hate to go back,  It depends on what suits you really.  Could you rent a place in the country for a little while first to see if you like it?

[cee-dee]

Positives:-

Nice to be far from the madding crowd but still in a small community. Great for walks (and dogs) and usually safer. No need to give up ebay unless you really want to or the BB is slow. If it's remained unsold, they may be ripe for an offer (go low, you can always go up a bit).

Negatives:-

Country lanes = tractors and lunatics (in 4 x 4s) hogging the road and what're they like at snow clearing round there? Any flooding? No shop and snowed in? What's the power situation like? Any outages? Have they mains gas? Many street-lights? Re-open the village shop = a licence to worry!

Given a choice, is there anywhere a bit nearer town? I'm happy to be only 2 miles out of town.

[**towery**]

reasearch, research,  research if you want to open the village shop

expect the shop shut due to lack of local support

especially if there is no  PO , bank 

its much easier to do everything in one place, thats why the supermarkets are so prevelant

[petitecalicocat]

Its sounds like it may be a bit to isolated in the Winter .   You dont sound excited about moving there so think carefully .

[calibra101]

Maybe the lack of excitement is due to being scared of change as the OP indicated. Why not take a few trips to the pub that is still open and get chatting to the locals. Ask them things like the winter situation, why the village shop closed is it missed etc. Drive there at different timesof the day (if possible) to get a feel for the roads and traffic. This is a major decision and you need to be 100% sure as if you find you do not like it there it sounds as if re-sale may take a while.

[rose2008-2008]

Well i know you have more or less done it but write a definate list of pros and cons.

I live in a town Alison but given the chance i would jump at the chance to live in a lovely little village!, and there are so many lovely ones in Kent just outside Maidstone. But i would have to bus into town to work until i could possibly work in the village. I would so LOVE village life!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

You have to weigh things up,,whatever you decide make sure it will MAKE YOU HAPPY!!. But dont be fearful,,if its just that thats stopping you dont let it!. Make that JUMP!!.

[ed_blackadder_1]

We moved from a town to a village about 8 years ago and absolutely love it, given the chance and money we would move further out, we do have a shop, pub and post office and it is only 2.5 miles from the town, however we do need 2 cars as the buses are rubbish and in the winter when it is snowy or icy you really need a 4x4.  I was very uncertain about it as I don't really like change, where we were before I could walk to work, walk into town, walk everywhere, we had a dog but it wasn't nice walking her as it was just around town.  Now we walk for miles the roads are really quiet, there is a main road that goes around the village so it is only villagers that drive through it.

As your village is 5 miles out, you do have to take into consideration the winter months it can become quite isolated, however it doesn't happen all the time.

I would say go with your instinct and if there are more negatives than positives then you have your answer.

[merc1_clocks]

 As you probably know Alison...I'm in a village...no amenities at all...not even mains water or sewarage.

The nearest store is one hour round trip, & the same goes for pub or P.O.

In winter we are always cut off & snowed in, but after 25 years, for the most part, I'm prepared.

We have lots of ground, & lots of walks, & can make enough noise as we like  lol

I very seldom venture into town, it's too busy & noisy for me.

I couldn't live now with people even near me...& to go & live in a town would be unbearable for me.

I have a 4x4 or I wouldn't get anywhere...no buses !

If the shop in your village closed - there is a reason.

Lots of people imagine the idyllic life-style - but it can be fierce...

& as Maggie says, as we're gettin g older, I do worry if my poor old corpse would ever be found

[saasher2012]

I agree with what every one says, I live in the country but couldn't do without my car, it can get desperate in the winter months. There is a reason the village shop has closed, lack of interest being the main one , they can't compete with the big stores, also probably why the pub also has gone the same way. Many Villages are a small knit community who look after each other, but that also means they know all your comings& goings. You say your not excited, not a good sign , listen to your intuition. The benefits are great for those who enjoy country living ,but it's not for everyone. I wish you luck in your new venture whatever you decide.

[aernethril]

You want to move to somewhere quiter and with your own garden, that you can afford.

So - you've found somewhere but there are 'buts'.

One thing that sticks out is that this flat has not sold for 6 months and unless you learn otherwise, isn't going to sell any time soon.

So you have time to look around and research areas first of all as you and others have said, there can be downsides to moving out into the villages.

I moved to a hamlet many years ago to get away from everything - it really was a drastic decision.  Sheep outnumbered humans by around 50 or more to 1.

No shops at all - local pub. 

I didn't have to work but I did find myself travelling the 10 miles plus to the nearest town just to go shopping and generally communicate with more beings than sheep.

Then petrol wasn't quite so expensive but now is different and that could be a factor to consider.

I only stayed there 8 months (renting) as I was on my own (with wee doggie then) and it became too isolating and too much hassle to do the journey to join in with things like swimming etc.

The other thing to think about is if you move there but don't like it, how easy would it be to sell?

I'd use it as a benchmark - listing all the things that are good and could work with a bit of adapting, and all the things you have reservations about.

When you then look for other properties, review them against your list as you may find that something which is good about this flat isn't quite so important when looking at another flat that doesn't have the 'reservations' that go with this first flat.

[xtf70]

So much negativity! OK, so living in a village isn't to everyone's taste but I swapped a town (Swindon, pop. 100K+) for Windermere in the Lake District (pop. 4K on a good day) and wild horses wouldn't drag me back.My daughter-in-law still lives there and she'd move here at the drop of a hat simply for the pace of life

I'll admit we have amenities as it's a tourist destination, but to be honest pubs are closing even in market towns like Kendal and being converted into apartments

One nearby village has re-opened its shop as a volunteer co-operative venture and is doing very well, others have shops and outreach POs or banks in the local pub, church or village hall, and many have choral or am-dram societies

You may be physically cut off in winter, but you'll find your social life rockets - you'll be surprised how much social activity goes on in small/isolated communities! Shopping a problem? Get home delivery from Asda, Tesco, store of your choice, and arrange trips into town with a like-minded neighbour for those must-see purchases

There's more plusses than minuses, but as I said at the start, it doesn't suit everyone

[captainbovine]

we live in a village,  the pub has just been sold and is being done up..this will be great for a drink or somewhere to eat in the summer time. the shop is part time and does have a post office. It's busy now as it's only open short hours. There is a little church too. Plenty of walks, sheep and cows all over the place!!!

We have a coffee morning on a Thurs for a couple of hours but mainly older peeps go to that. I've been to make some friends but so far my friends in the village are my immediate neighbours and my workmate who moved here too.

I would recommend the pro's and con's list but I haven't regretted it for a minute.

Good luck whatever you do.

[ilove2patch]

It certainly doesn't. I could think of nothing worse personally than living out in the sticks. I like being within easy reach of everything. I am on a bus route where they run every ten munutes. I have all the major shops withing 10 minutes drive & the doctors, dentist, chemist etc are walking distance. I do have the sea 2 minutes away too. Each to their own.

[aernethril]

There's villages and there's villages though.

I'd put Windermere as more of a small market town rather than a village and it certainly does help to have some amenities around for everyday living.

I'd not move right out into the sticks again, even though sometimes the thought of getting away from it all is very appealing.

Equally, I'd not want to be in even a medium sized town now because they seem to become too impersonal.

So a small market town is what I've come to be very happy with.

[alisonsvintagechicboutique]

Wow, thank you so much for your thoughts and detailed responses 

As it happens, my accountant rang just after I posted this thread and he recommended that I stay put as it might over-stretch me financially.  

It has been really interesting to hear about all of your experiences.  Its a shame really that the flat is not for rent as could have been better to try out the location this way.  

You have given me lots to think about!!  

[saasher2012]

If it's any consolation to you I am doing the same thing as you in reverse, so I do know the feelings of doubt!

[captainbovine]

we are only 20mins from a seaside town with all ameneties, but when we get older we'll move nearer to there I think, maybe a flat.

I'd like to be even more remote, but as I don't drive it would be really difficult for me if OH had to stop driving.

We do have a bus but only once an hour.

[aernethril]

Well that's kind of good news in a way - you no longer have to worry if you're taking the right decision on this one.

Perhaps, now you've put a toe in the water, you may come across something better and less of a strain on the finances.